St. Augustine grass

#This invention relates to a new and distinct perennial St. Augustine grass selected from the progeny of an open pollinated purple stigma diploid parent Ea611081. This purple stigma genotype was labeled 615866 and propagated vegetatively by stolons to provide planting stock for studying performance and making comparisons to present commercial varieties.

#Genotype 615866 has a wide leaf blade, a short leaf length, and an outstanding dark green color. These characteristics along with the rapid spread, its medium level of flowering shoot production, its good gray leafspot (Piricularia grisea) resistance, and its cold tolerance can be used to distinguish 615866 from other St. Augustine grasses.

#FIG. 1 is a photograph of 615866 St. Augustine turf showing generally the characteristics of this new grass;

#FIG. 2 shows the leaves and stem of a 615866 St. Augustine grass plant;

#FIG. 3 shows a spike of a 615866 St. Augustine grass plant; and

#Genotype 615866 possesses a Munsell color designation 7.5 GY 4/4 .sup.1/ and is characterized by compressed and branched culms. The leaf blades are relatively short, averaging 44.8 mm. long, but are very coarse, averaging 7.66 mm. wide. These characteristics can be used to distinguish 615866 from both the dwarf and non-dwarf St. Augustine grasses. The average internode length is 35.0 mm., thus allowing this semi-dwarf to have a vigorous lateral spread. Genotype 615866 has a purple stigma color and an unreduced chromosome number of 18.

#Total soluble salts measured in micromhos/cm. specific conductance using a Beckmann Solu-Bridge will allow differentiation between 615866 and other St. Augustine grasses. The average reading for 615866 was 146.1 micromhos/cm. The chromosome numbers, stigma colors, morphological measurements of 615866 and other St. Augustine grasses are compared in Tables 1, 2 and 3.

#Table 1 ______________________________________ Chromosome Numbers and Stigma Colors of 615866 and other St. Augustine grasses ______________________________________ Chromosome Number Stigma Selection/Variety (Unreduced).sup.2 Color ______________________________________ 615866 18 Purple 45176 18 " 73176 18 " Ea611081 18 " Floratine 27 " Bitter Blue 27 " Texas Common 18 White ______________________________________ .sup.1 The Munsell designated color is of plant material grown in the greenhouse. The color is subject to variation depending upon the environmental conditions under which the grass is grown. .sup.2 Chromosome Number determinations made on pollen mother cells.