Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargonium zonale ( L. ) L'Hérit. ex Ait.

Varietal denomination: ‘Zosa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Geranium , botanically known as Pelargonium zonale ( L. ) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Zosa.’

‘Zosa’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Zosa’ has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.

‘Zosa’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘J2218-2’ with salmon color, nice round plant shape, and big flowers. The male parent of ‘Zosa’ was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘H2167-2’ with salmon color, very well branching habit, long flower stem, and large umbel.

‘Zosa’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Zosa’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2001 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Zosa’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Zosa’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Zosa’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in August 2005 on 26 week old plants that were growing in window boxes. Culture of these plants started mid February, 2005 in the greenhouse; plants were transferred to window boxes mid May, 2005.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Geranium as a new and distinct variety.

Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from the plants of the female parent ‘J2218-2’ in the following characteristics:

The plants of the female parent ‘J2218-2’ have a darker salmon color and bigger flowers than plants of the new Geranium . The plants of the female parent ‘J2218-2’ are not heat resistant whereas plants of the new Geranium are heat resistant.

Plants of the new Geranium differ primarily from the plants of the male parent ‘H2167-2’ in the following characteristics:

The plants of the male parent ‘H2167-2’ have a darker salmon color, longer flower stem, and larger umbels than plants of the new Geranium.

• Plant:
  • • Plant height ( cm ).—20.
    • Plant height ( inflorescence included ) ( cm ).—28.
    • Plant width ( cm ).—45.
    • Plant shape. —Round.
• Foliage:
  • • Length ( cm ).—7.
    • Width ( cm ).—11.
    • Shape. —Reniform.
    • Base shape. —Cordate.
    • Base size ( cm ).—6.
    • Apex shape. —Very weak lobes.
    • Apex size ( cm ).—4.
    • Color of upper surface.— 146B.
    • Color of lower surface.— 146B.
    • Color of zone.— 187A.
    • Color of veins.— 146C.
    • Margin. —Bicrenate.
    • Petioles length ( cm ).—5-8.
    • Diameter of petiole ( mm ).—3.
    • Leaves smooth and hairy. —Only at nerves.
    • Texture of leaves. —Upper surface smooth.
    • Veins. —Palmate.
• Stem:
  • • Length of internodes ( mm ).—30-65.
    • Color of stem.— 144A.
    • Diameter ( mm ).—8.
• Inflorescence:
  • • Shape. —Round outline.
    • Diameter ( cm ).—12.
    • Umbel depth ( cm ).—6.
    • Length of peduncle ( cm ).—16-25.
    • Peduncle diameter ( mm ).—4-5.
    • Color of peduncle.— 146B; 183A near umbel.
    • Length of pedicel ( cm ).—3-4.
    • Color of pedicel.— 146C, upper half 183A.
    • Number of flowers per inflorescence.— 60.
• Corolla:
  • • Form. —Weakly semi-double type, appears almost as single type.
    • Shape. —Round outline, upper petals about the same size as the lower petals, semi cup shaped.
    • Length of flower ( cm ).—4.4.
    • Width of flower ( cm ).—4.1.
    • Number of petals.— 5-6.
    • Length of petals ( upper/lower ) ( mm ).—Upper 28. Lower 25.
    • Width of petals ( upper/lower ) ( mm ).—Upper 20. Lower 24.
    • Shape petals. —Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire.
    • Color upper side of upper petals. —Top 55B, mid section and base 52C.
    • Color upper side of lower petals. —Top 55B, mid section and base 52C.
    • Color lower side of upper petals.— 156A with nerves 55A.
    • Color lower side of lower petals.— 156A with nerves 55A.
    • Number of petaloids.— 3-4; laciniated.
    • Color petaloids. —Top 52C, mid section and base 56C.
    • Fading color when flower starts aging. —Yes.
    • Duration of flowering. —Continuous flowering throughout the Summer.
• Bud (just before opening):
  • • Shape. —Narrow elliptic.
    • Shape base of bud. —Truncate.
    • Shape top of bud. —Acuminate.
    • Sepals hairy and smooth. —Yes.
    • Length ( mm ).—11.
    • Width ( mm ).—6.
    • Color.— 144A.
    • Number of sepals.— 5.
    • Color of sepals.— 144C.
    • Length of sepals ( mm ).7.
    • Width of sepals ( mm ).—3.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Number of lobes of stigma.— 5.
    • Color stigma.— 52A.
    • Length of style ( mm ).—4.
    • Color of style.— 49C.
    • Number of anthers.— 8-10.
    • Length of anthers ( mm ).—3.
    • Shape of anthers. —Ovate.
    • Length filaments ( mm ).—7.
    • Color of filaments.— 155D, Top 55B.
    • Pollen present. —Yes.
    • Color of pollen.— 32A.
    • Fertility/seed set. —No.
• Seed development: No seed development has been observed on plants of the new Geranium.
• Disease/pest resistance: No disease/pest resistance has been observed to date.