Alstroemeria Plant Named ‘TURCAL209’

Latin name of the genus and species: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘TURCAL209’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. The intention of the program was to create new Alstroemeria varieties which are compact, hardy, and free flowering. The cross pollination resulting in the new cultivar was conducted by the inventor at a nursery in Mazé-Milon, France during May of 2012 at a research nursery. The seed parent is the unpatented proprietary variety of Alstroemeria hybrida referred to as ‘10003’. The pollen parent is the unpatented proprietary variety of Alstroemeria hybrida referred to as ‘10002’. The new cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ was selected by the inventor in 2016 at the same location in Mazé-Milon, France.

The first asexual reproduction was performed by tissue culture in 2016, at the same nursery in Mazé-Milon, France. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Multiple generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

The inventor has filed an application with the CPVO Aug. 27, 2020, having application No. 2020/1769. ‘TURCAL209’ was not sold until 2024 due to a lack of commercial propagative material and distribution. The first sale was directly or indirectly from the inventor. This disclosure falls within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘TURCAL209’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘TURCAL209’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria cultivar:

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• 1. Dwarf/compact plant that stays very low. • 2. Excellent pot and garden performance. • 3. Long flowering period from June to October. • 4. Sturdy growth without floppy stems. • 5. Very floriferous producing bright purple flowers with a yellow center with stripes. • 6. Hardy to −12° C.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ are similar to the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. ‘TURCAL209’, however, differs in the following:

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• 1. Flowers of the new variety are larger than flowers of the seed parent. 2. Flower color of the new variety is bright purple with a yellow center with stripes; flower color of the seed parent is violet with no yellow center. • 3. Plants of the seed parent are about 1/3 taller than plants of the new cultivar.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ are similar to the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. ‘TURCAL209’, however, differs in the following:

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• 1. Flower color of the new variety is bright purple with a yellow center with stripes; flower color of the pollen parent is pure white with a yellow throat. • 2. Flowers of the new cultivar are much larger than flowers of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ can be compared to the commercial variety Alstroemeria ‘Leonie’, unpatented. Plants of these cultivars are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘TURCAL209’ differs in the following:

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• 1. Plants of the new cultivar are not prone to yellow foliage after the flowers open, as seen in this comparator. • 2. The new variety is more cold hardy than this comparator. • 3. Flowers of the new cultivar are larger than flowers of this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TURCAL209’ can be compared to the commercial variety Alstroemeria ‘Turcal139’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 36,828. Plants of these cultivars are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘TURCAL209’ differs in the following:

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• 1. The main flower color of ‘Turcal209’ is bright purple (Red-Purple N74C and 70A); the main flower color ‘Turcal139’ is pink/salmon (Red 41C).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Alstroemeria is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a flowering plant of ‘TURCAL209’ in a 14 cm pot during Summer in Gien, France. The plant is approximately 4 to 5 months old.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘TURCAL209’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘TURCAL209’ plants grown in 14 cm pots in Gien, France. Plants were approximately 4 to 5 months old. Temperatures ranged from approximately 3° C. to 22° C. at night and 10° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. No chemical treatments were given to plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

• Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘TURCAL209’.

PROPAGATION

• Method: Tissue culture. • Time to rooted plug: About 12 weeks to produce a 3 cm plug. • Root description: Fleshy and fibrous roots present. Cream colored.

PLANT

• Growth Habit: Compact, dwarf flowering perennial. • Height: 17 cm. At full mature height 25 to 30 cm. • Plant Spread: 19 cm. At full mature width about 40 cm. • Stem Characteristics: 8 primary basally emerging stems • Length of stems: Approximately 10 cm. • Diameter of stems: Approximately 4 mm. • Texture of stems: Glabrous. • Color of stems: Near Green 137B and 137C.

FOLIAGE

• Leaf:

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• Arrangement .—Alternate. • Average Length .—Approximately 5.2 cm. • Average Width .—Approximately 1.4 cm. • Shape of blade .—Obovate. • Apex .—Acute • Base .—Truncate. • Margin .—Entire. • Texture of top surface .—Glabrous. • Texture of bottom surface .—Glabrous. • Leaf internode length .—1.1 cm. • Attachment .—Sessile. • Color .—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A, 137C towards the base. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137A, 137C towards the base. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A, 137C towards the base. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137A, 137C towards the base. • Venation .—Type: Parallel Venation color upper side: Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Yellow-Green 145A.

FLOWER

• Natural flowering season: June to October. • Inflorescence type and habit: Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in umbels. Flowers outwardly facing. • Inflorescence size:

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• Diameter .—Approximately 10.5 cm. • Height .—Approximately 7 cm. • Inflorescences per plant: 5 to 6. • Flowers per inflorescence: 4 to 5. • Flower Longevity on Plant: About 7 days, after fully opened. • Flower size:

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• Diameter .—Approximately 4 cm. • Length .—Approximately 4.8 cm. • Perianth/Petals:

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• Arrangement .—Six arranged in two whorls, each whorl with two lateral and one median segment. • Inner lateral segment size .—4.8 cm long and 1.8 cm wide. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Finely serrate. Very slightly undulating. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous, all surfaces. Color: When opening, upper side: Red-Purple 70A, Lower 1/3 Yellow-Green 145A streaked White 155A. When opening, under side: Red-Purple 70A. Base Yellow-Green 145A streaked White 155A. Fully opened, upper side: Red-Purple 70A flushed 70B. Base Yellow 7D blotched Red 38D in center of base. Stripes Greyed-Purple 183A. Fully opened under side: Red-Purple 70B. Base Yellow 7D blotched Red 38D. • Outer lateral segment size .—4 cm long and 3.1 cm wide. Shape: Wishbone-shaped. Margin: Entire, very slightly undulate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous, all surfaces. Color: When opening, upper side: Red-Purple 70A. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. When opening, under side: Red-Purple 70A. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. Fully opened, upper side: Red-Purple N74C with hints of 70B towards the apex. Flushes of Yellow-Orange 15D Fully opened under side: Red-Purple N74C with hints of 70B towards the apex. • Outer median segment size .—4 cm long and 3.1 cm wide. Shape: Spatulate Margin: Lower half entire, upper half finely dentate. Undulate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous, all surfaces. Color: When opening, upper side: Red-Purple 70A. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. When opening, under side: Red-Purple 70A. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. Fully opened, upper side: Red-Purple N74C with hints of 70B towards the apex. Flushes of Yellow-Orange 15D Fully opened under side: Red-Purple N74C with hints of 70B towards the apex. • Inner median segment .—Size: 4.4 cm long and 2.1 cm wide. Shape: Spatulate Margin: Lower half entire, upper half finely dentate. Undulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous all surfaces. Color: When opening, upper side: Red-Purple 70A. Apex 71A. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. Lower margin 70C blotched Yellow 6D with stripes Greyed-Purple 183A. When opening, under side: Red-Purple 70A, apex 71B. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. Fully opened, upper side: Red-Purple 70A. Apex 71B. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. Lower margin 70D blotched Yellow 6D with stripes Greyed-Purple 183A. Fully opened, under side: Red-Purple 70B, Apex 71B. Base White 155D streaked Yellow-Green 145A. • Bud:

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• Shape .—Ovoid. • Length .—Approximately 1.8 cm. • Diameter .—Approximately 8 mm. • Texture .—Smooth, glabrous. • Color .—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C flushed 145B and 145A. Hints of Green 137C towards the top. • Fragrance: None. • Peduncle:

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• Length .—1.2 to 2 cm. • Diameter .—3 mm. • Color .—Green 137B. • Texture .—Glabrous. • Pedicel:

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• Length .—1 cm. • Diameter .—2 mm. • Color .—Green 137B. • Texture .—Glabrous.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

• Stamens:

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• Number .—6. • Filament length .—Approximately 3 cm. • Filament color .—Near RHS Purple 71B, Yellow-Green 149D base. • Anthers:

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• Length .—2 mm. • Color .—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B. • Pollen .—Color: Near RHS Yellow 2B. Quantity: Scant. • Pistil:

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• Number .—1. • Length .—Approximately 3.9 cm. • Style .—Length: Approximately 3 cm. Color: Near RHS Purple 71B, Yellow-Green 149D base. • Stigma .— • Shape .—3-parted. • Diameter .—7 mm. • Color .—Near RHS Red-Purple 72B. • Ovary Color .—Near RHS Green 137C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Fruit: Not observed. • Seed: Not observed. • Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Alstroemeria has been observed. • Temperature tolerance: Cold hardy to −12° C. • Drought Tolerance: Tolerance for drought not tested.