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Description:
The present invention relates to a new and distinct
cultivar of Hosta plant, botanically known as
Hosta fortunei, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar
name 'Anne'.
The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in
Noordwijk, The Netherlands, as a naturally-occurring
mutation of the non-patented
Hosta fortunei cultivar 'Aureo
Marginata'
(Note), and was observed as a single plant in a
group of plants of the parent cultivar of July., 1988.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar at Noordwijk,
The Netherlands, by division and by tissue culture, has
shown that the unique features of this new Hosta plant
are stable and reproduced true to type in successive
generations of asexual propagation.
The new Hosta has not been observed under all possible
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary
somewhat with variations in environment such as
temperature and light intensity, without, however, any
variance in genotype.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and
are determined to be the unique characteristics of 'Anne'. These characteristics in combination distinguish 'Anne' as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Unique variegation pattern with relatively large
light yellow margins.
2. Thick, rounded leaves.
3. Numerous purple and light purple-striped flowers that
are positioned well above the foliage on strong and
erect peduncles.
The new Hosta can be compared to its parent cultivar,
the cultivar 'Aureo Marginata'. The variegation pattern
is different as plants of the new Hosta have a more
uniform and larger light yellow margin. In addition,
plants of the new Hosta grow faster and have thicker and
more round leaves than plants of the cultivar 'Aureo
Marginata'.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
In the following description, color references are made
to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except
where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance
are used. The following observations and measurements
describe three-year old plants grown outdoors in
Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
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Botanical Classification: Hosta fortunei cultivar 'Anne'.
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Parentage: Naturally-occuring mutation of Hosta fortunei
cultivar 'Aureo Marginata' (not patented).
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Propagation: |
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Method. - By division and by tissue culture.
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Time to initiate roots from division. - About 4 weeks.
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Time to initiate roots from tissue culture. - About 4
weeks. |
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Rooting habit. - Freely branching, numerous fleshy roots.
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Plant description:
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Plant shape. - Mounding, dome-shaped, symmetrical.
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Growth habit. - Upright and erect when young, becoming
outwardly arching as leaves develop. Moderate to freely
branching. Appropriate for 2-liter containers.
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Plant height. - About 25 cm (10 in.) from soil level to top of
leaf plane. |
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Plant diameter. - About 75 cm (29.5 in.) .
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Plant vigor and growth rate. - Moderate to high.
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Crop time. - Usually one year is required to produce a
finished 2-liter plant under Northern European
conditions. |
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Foliage description. - Leaf shape: Cordate with apiculate
apex and cordate base.
Leaf margin: Entire.
Leaf
texture: Leathery, smooth, glabrous. Older leaves weakly rugose.
Leaf size: Length: About 16 cm (6.3 in.) . Width: About 12 cm (4.7 in.) .
Venation pattern: Camptodrome. Leaf color: Center:
Young and fully expanded, upper surface: 147A, becoming
lighter, 147B, towards margin. Young and fully expanded,
lower surface: 138A/138B, dull.
Margin: Young, upper
surface: 144B/144C. Young, lower surface: 144C. Fully
expanded, upper surface: 151D. Fully expanded, lower
surface: 8C. Older, upper surface: 10B. Older, lower
surface: 11B.
Petiole length, primary shoot: 21 to 23 cm (9 in.) .
Petiole color: Center: 137C. Edge: Lighter than
151D. |
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Flower description:
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Flower arrangement. - Clusters of single flowers with six
fused petals arranged on a raceme. Flower peduncles
arise from leaf axils. Typically three flower stems per
plant. Flowering recurrent throughout the summer.
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Flower shape. - Star-shaped.
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Flower diameter. - About 3.5 cm (1.4 in.) .
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Flower depth (height). - About 6.0 cm (2.4 in.) .
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Petals. - Appearance: Satiny. Arrangement: Three
interior, three exterior, fused. Apex: Apiculate.
Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Size: Length: About 4.0 cm (1.6 in.) . Width: About 1.0 cm (0.4 in.) . Color: upper and lower surfaces:
White background with purple 87C/87D, stripes.
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Peduncle. - Aspect: Strong and erect. Length: About 50 cm (19.6 in.) . Flowers held well above the foliage. Color: Dark
green. |
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Scape. - Quantity: One. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.
Margin: Entire. Color: Green with reddish-brown at the
margins. |
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Reproductive organs. - Androecium: Stamen number: Five.
Anther size: About 4 mm. Anther color: Brownish black.
Pollen color: Dark yellow. Gynoecium: Stigma color:
White. Style color: White. Style length: About 6.0 cm (2.4 in.) .
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Disease resistance: Not susceptible to root pathogens.
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Seed development: Seed development is rarely observed.
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(Note from Mr PGC:
The parent plant being referred to as 'Aureo Marginata'
is actually H. 'Fortunei
Aureomarginata'. Also, the plant once considered a
species, Hosta fortunei, has been changed to
cultivar status as H. 'Fortunei'. |
According to the U.S. government, a new Hosta cultivar is an "invention". Therefore, it is
eligible to receive a patent, just like Edison's electric light
bulb. In the case of hostas and other plants, a patent means
that for the next 20 years, nobody may propagate and sell this
cultivar without providing compensation to the owner of the
patent. This is a different process than registering a Hosta with 
