New Poinsettia Plant Named 'Snowcap' Has Creamy White Flower Bracts

Summary: A new poinsettia plant named 'Snowcap,' cultivated by Ecke Ranch's chief hydridizer, Franz Fruehwirth, has creamy white flower bracts.

side view of poinsettia 'Snowcap' in images included in Franz Fruehwirth's patent application, filed Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, as application number 09/004042, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); United States Plant Patent No. US PP11,100; Date of Patent Oct. 19, 1999; color scans via Plant Patents Image Database, Digital Collections @ University of Maryland Libraries

A new poinsettia named 'Snowcap,' a self-branching sport cultivated by Ecke Ranch's chief hybridizer, Franz Fruehwirth, has creamy white flower bracts framed by medium dark green leaves.

On Oct. 19, 1999, Fruehwirth filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a patent for his new poinsettia named 'Snowcap.' He listed Paul Ecke Ranch Inc. in Encinitas, southern California, as assignee. Howard J. Locker reviewed the application as primary examiner. Kent L. Bell served as assistant examiner. On Oct. 19, 1999, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office assigned plant patent number 11,100 to a new poinsettia named 'Snowcap.'

'Snowcap' originated as naturally occurring genetic mutation, known as a sport, of a Euphorbia pulcherrima seedling. Designated as “L-16,” the seedling is a proprietary, unpatented plant in an Ecke Ranch greenhouse in Encinitas.

Fruehwirth selected 'Snowcap' for its creamy white flower bracts and medium dark green leaves. Other distinctive traits capturing Fruehwirth's attention included large flower clusters, self branching and a nine-week flowering response time.

Vegetative propagation via stem cuttings demonstrated the firm retention and true reproduction of the sport's distinctive traits over successive generations.

The inventor's descriptions in his application concern flowering poinsettias in December 1996. Plants were grown as one branch plant in a pot with a diameter of 14 centimeters (5.51 inches) and a height of 11 centimeters (4.33 inches). The short- to medium-sized, potted shrub reached an overall height of 41 centimeters (16.14 inches). Its spread, or overall width, measured 26 centimeters (10.236 inches).

Axillary branches do not require pinching in order to develop a terminal inflorescence. Fruehwirth, however, recommends pinching to encourage fast, uniform development of axillary branches.

Flowering occurs in about nine weeks as a response to continuous long night conditions. The desirable night temperature range is about 16 to 18 degrees Celsius (60.8 to 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Medium-sized leaves have typical lengths of 14 centimeters (5.51 inches). The blade width typically measures 9 centimeters (3.54 inches).

Leaf shape is generally ovate, or egg-shaped. Leaf blade margins may be lobed with one indentation on each side.

Leaves display uniform medium dark greenness. Upper surfaces are a dark medium green that is darker than dark green (Royal Horticultural Society color chart color 137A; nearly RHS 147A dark green). Lower surfaces have a greenness that nears dark green (RHS 147A).

'Snowcap' poinsettia's foliage lasts very well. The low light intensities that characterize consumers' homes do not interfere with leaf retention.

Usually, 20 to 22 variously-sized bracts subtend, or underlie, 'Snowcap' poinsettia's cuplike floral heads, known as cyathia (Ancient Greek: κύαθος. kyathos, "drinking cup"). Primary bracts typically have lengths of 12 to 13 centimeters (4.72 to 5.11 inches) and widths of 7 to 8 centimeters (2.75 to 3.14 inches).

Primary bracts have ovate shapes, with margins that are entire, or smooth and untoothed. The variously sized secondary bracts have broadly elliptical shapes.

Fruehwirth finds that 'Snowcap' poinsettia's creamy white flower bracts are far whiter than most “white” commercial poinsettias. Upper surfaces are whiter than yellow green (RHS 2D). The whiteness of lower surfaces nears yellow green (RHS 2D). Veins are greenish.

At full bloom, 'Snowcap' poinsettia bears about 21 to 24 cyathia per inflorescence. Cyathia are green-colored. The distal end, farthest from the point of attachment, has creamy white fringes. Protruding from the side of each cyathium are one or two yellow nectar cups. Nectar exudate, or secretion, is abundant.

'Snowcap' poinsettia exhibits a better than average retention of cyathia. Cyathia may last three weeks beyond full floral maturity.

The takeaway for the poinsettia plant named 'Snowcap' that has creamy white flower bracts framed by medium dark green leaves is the sport's desirable self branching, good flowering response time, attractive color contrasts and good bract, cyathia and leaf retention.

A poinsettia plant named 'Snowcap' lives up to its desirable description as a cap of creamy white bracts, whiter than most commercial “white” poinsettias, dramatized by medium dark green leaves and desirable branching.

top view of poinsettia 'Snowcap' in images included in Franz Fruehwirth's patent application, filed Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, as application number 09/004042, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); United States Plant Patent No. US PP11,100; Date of Patent Oct. 19, 1999; color scans via Plant Patents Image Database, Digital Collections @ University of Maryland Libraries

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

side view of poinsettia 'Snowcap' in images included in Franz Fruehwirth's patent application, filed Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, as application number 09/004042, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); United States Plant Patent No. US PP11,100; Date of Patent Oct. 19, 1999; color scans via Plant Patents Image Database, Digital Collections @ University of Maryland Libraries, @ https://digital.lib.umd.edu/plantpatents/id/PP11100; (former URL @ http://www.lib.umd.edu/plantpatents/binaries/11100/pp11100.pdf)

top view of poinsettia 'Snowcap' in images included in Franz Fruehwirth's patent application, filed Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, as application number 09/004042, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); United States Plant Patent No. US PP11,100; Date of Patent Oct. 19, 1999; color scans via Plant Patents Image Database, Digital Collections @ University of Maryland Libraries, @ https://digital.lib.umd.edu/plantpatents/id/PP11100; (former URL @ http://www.lib.umd.edu/plantpatents/binaries/11100/pp11100.pdf)

For further information:

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Available @ http://www.upov.int/edocs/mdocs/upov/en/tc_edc/2007/tgp_14_draft_1_section_2_3_2.pdf

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/12/poinsettia-3-91-with-blushed-red-bracts.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Poinsettia 'Ice Punch' Has Cherry Red and Pink Bicolored Flower Bracts.” Earth and Space News. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/12/poinsettia-ice-punch-has-cherry-red-and.html

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“Poinsettia Plant Named 'Snowcap.'” United States Patent and Trademark Office > Program in Word (PIW). Oct. 19, 1999.
Available @ http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=PP011100

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