Hibiscus moscheutos
Encyclopedia
Hibiscus moscheutos is a cold-hardy perennial wetland
plant that can grow in large colonies. The hirsute leaves are of variable morphology, but commonly found as deltoidal in form and sometimes having up to three lobes. It is found in wetlands and along the riverine systems of the southeastern United States
from Texas to the Atlantic states, its territory extending northward to southern Ontario
.
There exists in nature numerous forms and petal colors range from pure white to deep rose, and, except for one genome, all have an eye of deep maroon. Taxonomic consensus is lacking for the nomenclature of the multiple sub-species. The complete flowers are born apically, whereas the related Hibiscus laevis carries bud and bloom along the stem. In Canada
it is listed as a species of special concern by the Species at Risk Act
.
Propagation can be accomplished by seed sown 0.6 cm (1/4-inch) below media and kept constantly moist, or by crown divisions during winter dormancy, and some success can be achieved by hard-wood stem cuttings. Numerous hybrids of the native North American Hibiscus species have been released by the commercial nursery trade. In cultivation the species or the hybrids can be an attractive addition to a bog garden or other water feature, not only adding visual appeal but also enhancing wildlife value for nectar-feeders and birds.
Many cold-hardy Hibiscus
cultivars are hybrids of H. moscheutos, Hibiscus coccineus
, Hibiscus laevis, Hibiscus militaris and Hibiscus palustris with indeterminate genetic
contributions from each parent species
. A number of hardy Hibiscus species will cross with each other. According the botanist Harold F. Winters, those that are compatible include H. coccineus, Hibiscus grandiflorus, H. laevis, Hibiscus lasiocarpos
, H. moscheutos, and Hibiscus mutabilis
. All are native to the eastern United States
except Hibiscus mutabilis
, which originated in China
. One source of information on these hybrids are Plant Patents. A search of Google Patents for http://www.google.com/patents?as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=0&as_miny_ap=&as_maxm_ap=0&as_maxy_ap=&q=Hibiscus+moscheutos&as_ptype=3&num=100&scoring=2Plant Patents referencing H. moscheutos identifies the ancestry of many popular cultivars of H. moscheutos. On interest is that the ancestry of un-patented but popular cultivars such as Lord Baltimore are identified in the patent of its progeny Lady Baltimore. While H. militaris and H. palustris are both referenced in plant patents, H. militaris is now classified as a sub-species of H. laevis and H. palustris is classified as a sub-species of H. moscheutos. Because some plant patents reference the historic species name, they will be used here to facilitate searching.
A careful reading of the plant patents reveals that Hibiscus breeders do not provide extensive details of their breeding strategies which could cover several decades when applying for a plant patent. Generally an outline of the breeding history of the seed and pollen parents and grandparents is provided, together with their breeding objectives, which can be quite useful. Hibiscus breeders do not preclude the possibility of open or self pollination
. However, recent research has show that artificial pollination just after the Hibiscus flower
has opened using a high pollen load will ensure that most of the resulting seeds
are from the selected pollen
parent. Early Hibiscus breeders were likely aware of this from their experience with Hibiscus and other flowering plants and used it to their advantage.
Plant Patent Searches by Cold-hardy Hibiscus Species:
Tropical-Hardy Hibiscus Cultivars:
If one searches the plant patents for references to H. rosa-sinensis and any of the North American
Hibiscus species, the following results are obtained.
Unfortunately the first thirteen (13) patents from 1994 through 2001 are false positives in that they compare H. rosa-sinensis with the North American Hibiscus species but don’t use H. rosa-sinensis for breeding. The three plant patents issued from 2002 are true hybrids between H. rosa-sinensis, H. moscheutos, H. coccineus and H. laevis and were issued to Fleming's Flower Fields using the trademark TROPICAL-HARDY . In the three plant patents the H. rosa-sinensis hybrids are reported to be cold-hardy to -30°F (-34°C).The next Google Plant Patent search just finds the hybrids registered from 2002.
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
plant that can grow in large colonies. The hirsute leaves are of variable morphology, but commonly found as deltoidal in form and sometimes having up to three lobes. It is found in wetlands and along the riverine systems of the southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Texas to the Atlantic states, its territory extending northward to southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
There exists in nature numerous forms and petal colors range from pure white to deep rose, and, except for one genome, all have an eye of deep maroon. Taxonomic consensus is lacking for the nomenclature of the multiple sub-species. The complete flowers are born apically, whereas the related Hibiscus laevis carries bud and bloom along the stem. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
it is listed as a species of special concern by the Species at Risk Act
Species at Risk Act
The Species at Risk Act is a piece of Canadian federal legislation which became law in Canada on December 12, 2002. It is designed to meet one of Canada's key commitments under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal of the Act is to protect endangered or threatened...
.
Propagation can be accomplished by seed sown 0.6 cm (1/4-inch) below media and kept constantly moist, or by crown divisions during winter dormancy, and some success can be achieved by hard-wood stem cuttings. Numerous hybrids of the native North American Hibiscus species have been released by the commercial nursery trade. In cultivation the species or the hybrids can be an attractive addition to a bog garden or other water feature, not only adding visual appeal but also enhancing wildlife value for nectar-feeders and birds.
Cold-hardy Hibiscus cultivars
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world...
cultivars are hybrids of H. moscheutos, Hibiscus coccineus
Hibiscus coccineus
Hibiscus coccineus or Scarlet Rose Mallow, is a hardy Hibiscus species that looks much like Cannabis sativa . It is also known as brilliant hibiscus, scarlet hibiscus and scarlet rose mallow....
, Hibiscus laevis, Hibiscus militaris and Hibiscus palustris with indeterminate genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
contributions from each parent species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. A number of hardy Hibiscus species will cross with each other. According the botanist Harold F. Winters, those that are compatible include H. coccineus, Hibiscus grandiflorus, H. laevis, Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus lasiocarpos is a species of hibiscus known by the common name hairy-fruited hibiscus. It is also one of several hibiscus called rosemallow. It is native to much of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of California and northern Mexico. It is a large, bushy perennial herb with...
, H. moscheutos, and Hibiscus mutabilis
Hibiscus mutabilis
Hibiscus mutabilis, also known as the Confederate rose or the cotton rosemallow, is a plant noted for its flowers.Confederate roses tend to be shrubby or treelike in Zones 9 and 10, though it behaves more like a perennial further north. Flowers can be double or single and are 4 to 6 inches in...
. All are native to the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
except Hibiscus mutabilis
Hibiscus mutabilis
Hibiscus mutabilis, also known as the Confederate rose or the cotton rosemallow, is a plant noted for its flowers.Confederate roses tend to be shrubby or treelike in Zones 9 and 10, though it behaves more like a perennial further north. Flowers can be double or single and are 4 to 6 inches in...
, which originated in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. One source of information on these hybrids are Plant Patents. A search of Google Patents for http://www.google.com/patents?as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=0&as_miny_ap=&as_maxm_ap=0&as_maxy_ap=&q=Hibiscus+moscheutos&as_ptype=3&num=100&scoring=2Plant Patents referencing H. moscheutos identifies the ancestry of many popular cultivars of H. moscheutos. On interest is that the ancestry of un-patented but popular cultivars such as Lord Baltimore are identified in the patent of its progeny Lady Baltimore. While H. militaris and H. palustris are both referenced in plant patents, H. militaris is now classified as a sub-species of H. laevis and H. palustris is classified as a sub-species of H. moscheutos. Because some plant patents reference the historic species name, they will be used here to facilitate searching.
A careful reading of the plant patents reveals that Hibiscus breeders do not provide extensive details of their breeding strategies which could cover several decades when applying for a plant patent. Generally an outline of the breeding history of the seed and pollen parents and grandparents is provided, together with their breeding objectives, which can be quite useful. Hibiscus breeders do not preclude the possibility of open or self pollination
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
. However, recent research has show that artificial pollination just after the Hibiscus flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
has opened using a high pollen load will ensure that most of the resulting seeds
SEEDS
SEEDS is a voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Act of India....
are from the selected pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
parent. Early Hibiscus breeders were likely aware of this from their experience with Hibiscus and other flowering plants and used it to their advantage.
Plant Patent Searches by Cold-hardy Hibiscus Species:
- Plant Patents referencing Hibiscus moscheutos listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view.
- Plant Patents referencing Hibiscus coccineus listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view.
- Plant Patents referencing Hibiscus laevis listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view.
- Plant Patents referencing Hibiscus militaris listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view
- Plant Patents referencing Hibiscus palustris listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view.
Tropical-Hardy Hibiscus Cultivars:
If one searches the plant patents for references to H. rosa-sinensis and any of the North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
Hibiscus species, the following results are obtained.
- Plant Patents referencing tropical H. rosa-sinensis and its cold-hardy North American cousins listed by oldest date first or by Thumbnail view.
Unfortunately the first thirteen (13) patents from 1994 through 2001 are false positives in that they compare H. rosa-sinensis with the North American Hibiscus species but don’t use H. rosa-sinensis for breeding. The three plant patents issued from 2002 are true hybrids between H. rosa-sinensis, H. moscheutos, H. coccineus and H. laevis and were issued to Fleming's Flower Fields using the trademark TROPICAL-HARDY . In the three plant patents the H. rosa-sinensis hybrids are reported to be cold-hardy to -30°F (-34°C).The next Google Plant Patent search just finds the hybrids registered from 2002.
- Plant Patents referencing tropical Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and its cold-hardy North American cousins listed from 2002 by date or by Thumbnail view.