USPP1902P - Ilex crenata plants - Google Patents

Description

ROWLAND, JR LEX CRENT PLANTS (JAPANESE HOLLY) Filed May SP 1959 United States Patent O My presentdiscovery relates to improvements in Ilex crenata varieties and originated as a seedling in my nurseries in Clarke County, Georgia, near Athens, where I grow and test many varieties of Ilex crenata. Although its parentage is not definitely known, its male parent was -probably Ilex crenata f. Latifolia; andkits female parent was doubtless Ilex crenata f. Convexa, as this was the only pistillate form in the nursery at the time. Asexual reproduction of my new variety has been accomplished at my nurseries in Clarke County, Georgia, by means of cuttings, and its outstanding characteristics appear to be permanent.

My new variety has some of the characteristics of each of its probable parents but its most outstanding features are the very dark, blue-green color and symmetrically elliptical form of its leaves, the size ofwhich is midway between that of the leaves of the two probable parents; the dark, purplish-brown color of its stems in cool weather; and its ease of rooting and growth.

It difI'ers from the typical species of Ilex crenata in the blue-green rather than yellow-green color of its leaves, in the dark color of its stems in cool weather, in its more divaricate branching, and in its ease of propagation.

The accompanying illustrations show in the upper central position, abranch of my new variety of Ilex crenata in approximately its true colors in cool weather. The varieties Ilex crenata f. Latifolia (lower left), and Ilex crenata f. Convexa (lower right) are pictured for comparative purposes only and show the relative leaf sizes and shapes, and the forms and colors of branches of the plants grown under similar conditions.

In the following detailed description, references to color plates indicate Ridgways Color Standards and Nomenclature. Other reference to color indicates the ordinary dictionary meaning of the term.

Plant type: Staminate.

Growth habit: Very vigorous, upright grower.

Size: Medium. At 5 years of age, plants have attained a height of 3 to 4 feet and a diameter of 2 to 3 feet.

Form: Stil and upright, with divericate branching.

Rooting: This variety possesses unusual ability to root easily from cuttings. Propagation in coarse sand over several seasons shows rooting success to be 95 to 100 percent from both medium-softwood and hardwood cuttings. Under identical conditions, f. Latifolia rooted 85 to `90 percent, and f. Convexa 75 to 80 percent. Survival of plants in the eld shows approximately the same percentages.

Hardness: Resists low temperatures. Tests have been made as low as 6 degrees Fahrenheit with no ill effects to the plants.

Resistance to chlorosis: This new variety is much less affected by chlorosis than either of the other abovenamed varieties. In the bed of about 3,000 of each of the three varieties in my nurseries, there was no apparent chlorosis on the new variety. There was slight chlorosis on 25 percent of the f. Latifolia, and

Patented F eb. 12', 19.60

100 'percent of the f. Convexa were chlorotic. Whatever affected the f. ConvexaV variety so seriously had 11o` :effect 'upon the new variety;

Stems: Stiff. Branches spreading. New growth ne'ly puberulent, with internodes approximately 3 to 5 mm. in length.

Lentcels.-Not noticeable.

Colon-Light yellowish-green (approximately Yellowish Oil Green, Plate V), turning dark purplish-brown with the rst cool weather.

Flowers: Staminate and with no apparent difference from the flowers of the species.

Berries: Lacking.

Leaves:

Form.-Symmetrically elliptical, with rounded base and obtuse apex. Flat to very slightly convex. Impressed midrib. Margin crenulate with 9 to 11 small appressed teeth on each side.

Appearance.-Upper surface glabrous, dull to shining, with pale midrib. Lowersurface punctate, glabrous with slightly raised midrib. Lateral veins not noticeable.

Substance.-Leathery.

Size.-Blade 10 to 18 mm. long and 6 to 10 mm.

Comparison The two varieties known to me which are most like my new variety are its probable parents, Ilex crenata f. Convexa and I lex crenata f. Latifolia (sometimes known as Rotundifolia, Fortuneii, or Major). The chief differences are as follows:

My new variety differs from llex crenata f. Convexa principally in that:

(l) The branches of my new variety are more spreadmg.

(2) Its leaves are not convex above, and have a pointed apex, whereas the leaves of f. Convexa are convex and the apex is very rounded.

(3) lts leaves have a darker, blue-green color, and are slightly larger.

(4) It grows more vigorously and attains a considerably greater height.

(5) It roots much more readily.

(6) It transplants with much greater percentage of survival.

(7) Its stems are darker in cool weather.

(8) It is not affected by chlorosis, whereas test showed f. Convexa percent affected under the same conditions.

(9) It is a staminate plant, whereas f. Convexa is pistillate.

My new variety differs from Ilex crenala f. Latifolia principally in that:

(l) It grows more vigorously, becoming slightly taller.

(2) Its leaves are darker in color.

(3) Its leaves are smaller and narrower.

(4) It roots more readily.

(5) It transplants with a greater percentage of survival.

(6) It is not affected by chlorosis While tests showed f. Latifolia to have been 25 percent affected under the same conditions.

l A 3 l (7) Color of its stems turn dark in cool weather wherefrom cuttings and high percentage of survival from transas those of f. Latifolia remain light green. plants; the almost complete absence of chlorosis; the dark Having thus disclosed my discovery, I claim: g purplish-brown color of its twigs and stems in cool The new and improved variety of Ilex crenata (Iapaweather; and the dark blue-green color and at, sym- Anese holly) plant, substantially as herein shown and de- 5 metrically elliptical form of its leaves of medium size.

scribed, characterized particularly by Vits vigorous, upright growth and divaricate branching; its ease of rooting N0 references cited.

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