Petunia plant named ‘Sunrovein’

#Botanical classification: Petunia hybrida.

#Varietal denomination: ‘Sunrovein’.

#The Petunia is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer season. There are only a few Petunia varieties which do not have an upright growth habit and which have a high resistance to rain, heat, and diseases. The Petunia plant varieties for which we previously filed patent applications, i.e., the ‘Revolution’ series (‘Revolution Purple Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,915), ‘Revolution Brilliant pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,914), ‘Revolution Brilliant pink-mini’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,899), and ‘Revolution Blue vein’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,322)) are decumbent type plants having long stems, a lower plant height, abundant branching, and a high resistance to heat, rain and diseases. However, there are only a few Petunia varieties having a great profusion of flowers, vivid colored flower petals and a high resistance to rain, heat, cold and diseases. Accordingly, this invention was aimed at obtaining a new variety which had many flowers having vivid purplish red colored petals with deep purplish red vein, many branching and decumbent growth habit together with the above features.

#The plants were reproduced by cutting and were photographed in September 2002 while growing outdoors in 24 cm pots at an age of approximately 6 months at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan.

#FIG. 1 is a photograph of flowers and leaves of the new variety of Petunia plant ‘Sunrovein’.

#FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of flowers of the new variety of Petunia plant ‘Sunrovein’.

#The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Petunia plant named ‘Sunrovein’, observed during September 2002 at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan at an age of approximately 6 months, are as follows: Plant: Growth habit.—Decumbent. Plant height.—Approximately 25 cm. Spreading area of plant.—Approximately 80 cm. Blooming period.—Mid April to late October in the southern Kanto area, Japan. Stem: Length.—Approximately 14.7 cm. Thickness.—Main stem approximately 2.2 mm. Pubescence.—Normal. Branching.—Approximately 21. Length of internode.—Approximately 2.0 cm. Color.—Modetate olive green (near R.H.S. 146A). Leaf: Whole shape.—Elliptic. The apex shape is acute, and the base shape is attenuate. Margin.—Entire. Length.—Approximately 4.8 cm. Width.—Approximately 3.2 cm. Color.—Upper-side color is moderate olive green (near R.H.S. 146A). Bottom-side color is moderate yellow green (near R.H.S. 147B). Pubescence.—Moderate. Flower: Facing direction.—Horizontal. Type.—Single. Shape of corolla tube.—Obconical. Shape of petal tip.—Obtuse. Lobation.—Medium. Waving of petal.—Medium. Diameter.—Approximately 7.0 cm. Flower depth.—Approximately 4.9 cm. Throat diameter (distal end).—Approximately 16.6 mm. Corolla tube diameter (proximal end).—Approximately 8 mm. Corolla tube length.—Approximately 2.7 cm. Number of petals.—Approximately 5. Shape of petal.—Very broadly obovate. Petal length.—Approximately 3.1 cm. Petal width.—Approximately 3.2 cm. Apex shape.—Mucronate. Margin.—Entire, undulated. Color.—Petal; Upper — vivid purplish red (near R.H.S. 71B) with deep purplish red (near R.H.S. 71A) vein, lower — near R.H.S. 70C. Inside color of the corolla throat; moderate purplish red (R.H.S. N77B). Outside color of the corolla tube; light purplish pink (near R.H.S. 62D). Sepal: Number.—Approximately 5. Shape.—Oblong. Apex shape.—Rounded. Margin.—Entire. Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm. Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm. Color.—Upper surface — Near R.H.S. 144A; Lower surface — Near R.H.S. 144B. Reproductive organs.—1 pistil and 5 stamens. Color of pistil is grayish olive green (near R.H.S. 137A). Color of stamen is light purple (near R.H.S. 87D). Peduncle.—Approximately 1.7 mm in thickness, and approximately 2.0 cm in length. Color — Near R.H.S. 144B. Lastingness of the bloom.—Approximately 5 days. Fragrance.—Absent.

#Physiological and ecological characteristics;—Moderate resistance to pests. Strong resistance to cold, rain, heat and diseases.

#This new variety of Petunia plant is most suitable for flower bedding, potting and large planters. Pinching of old blossoms will enhance the formation of new blossoms.