Chrysanthemum plant named Pink Arola

#The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dentrenthema morifolium, Ramat., previously Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., and referred to by the cultivar name Pink Arola.

#Pink Arola, identified as 79L19J04, is a product of a mutation induction program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the color range of an existing seedling while retaining all other original traits.

#Pink Arola was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Mar. 25, 1983 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1400 rads. The irradiated parent cultivar was an unnamed seedling, identified as 79L19004.

#The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Pink Arola, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

#Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Pink Arola grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

#Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Pink Arola.

#Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Pink Arola is Excel, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,495. Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certain characteristics of Pink Arola to the same characteristics of Excel. Similar traits are capitulum form and type, diameter across face of capitulum and branching pattern. Pink Arola differs from Excel in ray floret color, photoperiodic flowering response to short days, and plant height.

#In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown in Salinas, Calif. on Dec. 17, 1985.

#Classification: