Astrantia Star of Magic Variegated Foliage and Blooming
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a new cultivar of Astrantia that exhibits unique variegated foliage and prolonged blooming periods, as existing varieties either lack variegation or have foliage that loses its color during summer and has limited blooming seasons.
Innovation Solution
The cultivar 'Star of Magic' is developed, characterized by white and green variegated foliage, purple-red young foliage, and purple-red inflorescences, with two blooming periods in May-June and September-October, achieved through asexual propagation by division and tissue culture, distinguishing it from other Astrantia varieties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If existing Astrantia varieties are used, then the plant is easy to grow and maintain, but the foliage loses its variegation during summer and blooming period is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating plants with specific genetic parameters that maintain variegation throughout the summer and extend the blooming period. The cultivar 'Star of Magic' was developed through careful selection of plants exhibiting stable variegation and prolonged blooming, then propagated asexually to preserve these parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asexual propagation methods including division and tissue culture to create exact copies of the parent plant with stable variegation and extended blooming characteristics. This copying process ensures that the desirable traits are replicated true to type in successive generations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If existing Astrantia varieties are used, then the plant has simple foliage structure, but it lacks variegation or loses variegation during summer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the genetic parameters of the Astrantia plant to incorporate stable variegation in the foliage. Through selection and asexual propagation, the cultivar maintains the complex variegated foliage structure throughout the summer while preserving the overall plant simplicity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If existing Astrantia varieties are used, then the plant is easy to propagate, but the blooming period is limited to one season
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asexual propagation methods (division and tissue culture) to create exact copies of the parent plant, ensuring that the extended blooming period and variegation characteristics are replicated true to type in successive generations while maintaining ease of propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves continuous blooming action by selecting plants that bloom in May-June and again in September-October, extending the useful action period. The asexual propagation ensures this continuous blooming capability is maintained in all propagated plants.
Data Source
AI summary
A new cultivar of Astrantia ‘Star of Magic’ that is characterized by its foliage that is variegated with white and green with the variegation retained throughout the summer, its young foliage that is tinged with purple-red, its inflorescences that are purple-red in color, and its two blooming periods; blooming in May to June and then again in September to October in The Netherlands.