Chrysanthemum plant -- Improved Funshine cultivar

#The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., and hereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name Improved Funshine.

#The new Improved Funshine cultivar is a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation which was discovered and carefully preserved during the course of plant selection work which was conducted by me. The new cultivar was discovered during June, 1987 among plants of the Funshine cultivar (U.S. Ser. No. 07/719,461, filed concurrently herewith) being grown under my direct supervision at De Lier, The Netherlands.

#It was observed that a plant consistently formed bicolored flowers with white petals which included a more intense red coloration on the distal ends of the disc florets (as illustrated) than the Funshine cultivar. The plant also exhibited more vigor than the parent Funshine cultivar. All of the other characteristics of this plant were found to be substantially identical to those of the Funshine cultivar. Had I not discovered, carefully studied, and preserved this new cultivar, it would have been lost to mankind. This new cultivar is particularly well suited for growing in the production of a cut anemone spray.

#The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, a typical specimen of an overall plant of the new cultivar. The plant was grown in a greenhouse at De Lier, The Netherlands.

#The chart used in the identification of colors described hereinafter is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon under natural daylight conditions at De Lier, The Netherlands, during December, 1990. The plants described were grown under standard greenhouse conditions which approximate those commonly utilized for the production of cut mums.

#Classification:

#Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat., cv. Improved Funshine.