Poinsettia plant named `Fisbla`

Abstract

A distinct cultivar of poinsettia plant named Fisbla, characterized by the combined traits of light pink bracts with broad white margin, medium height, compact and bushy plant habit, medium green foliage, and medium early flowering response. Fisbla is a product of a mutation induction program carried out by the inventor in Hillscheid, Germany in 1991. The primary object of the induction program was to expand the bract color ranges of Peterstar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,259, and characterized by its bright red bract color, medium green foliage, comparatively compact plant habit, medium early response in autumn, and good branching ability. The irradiation program resulting in the new cultivar comprised exposing rooted cuttings taken from plants of the parent cultivar to an X-ray source in Ahrensburg, Germany under the supervision of the inventor. The dosage was 30 Gy. The irradiated plants were grown out in a greenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany and were asexually propagated by taking cuttings. These cuttings were grown outdoors near Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain, under the supervision of the inventor. Parts of plants showing mutation were cut from the remainder of the plants by the inventor and planted as cuttings. The plants grown from these cuttings were identified by the number and selections were made by the inventor in autumn 1991. The new cultivar evolved from a flowering branch of an irradiated plant in which part of the bracts showed pink or pink and white coloring. The mutated branch was designated No. 135 and was grown out and propagated several times by cuttings by the inventor in Hillscheid, Germany in order to eliminate unstable/partial chimera and select this specific chimera to obtain a plant with stable and uniform characteristics. Horticulture examination initiated in 1992 and continuing thereafter has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Fisbla are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Fisbla which in combination distinguish this poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar: 1. Light pink bracts with broad white margin. 2. Medium plant height. 3. Compact and bushy. 4. Medium Green foliage. 5. Medium early flowering response. Fisbla has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice. In comparison to the sibling variety Fispue, obtained from the same induced mutation program and also having pink and white variegated bracts, the marginal white are of Fisbla is far more distinct. The central pink part of Fisbla is slightly marbled and there are lighter and darker pink spots (RHS 51B and 51C), lighter pink (RHS 51C) in color. Further, the foliage of Fisbla has a more intense green color, its bracts are almost ovate in shape (the bracts of Fispue are larger and elliptical in shape) and rugose in texture, compared to the comparatively smooth bract surface of Fispue. In comparison to the commercial but unpatented cultivar Marbella, Fisbla grows less vigorously and has a more compact growth habit. The coloring of the bracts of Fisbla is more distinct and intense, with the white margin being much broader. The bracts of Fisbla are imbricated, almost ovate with long tips and form a close involucre with a narrow center. The bracts of Marbella are weakly imbricated, and shorter with a wedge shaped base and larger petioles whereby the middle of the involucre looks wider. Also, the bracts and cyathia of Marbella mature later. Compared to Peterstar, Fisbla has light pink and white bracts, whitish green leaf venation, somewhat darker foliage, and a taller plant height.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct poinsettia plant named Fisbla, as illustrated and described.