Anthurium plant named `Chanty`

Abstract

A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `Chanty`, characterized by its very compact growth habit; strong petioles and peduncles; flowers positioned above the foliage; early flowering; large, rounded, smooth, bright red flower spathes; and good post-production longevity.

Description

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant, botanically known asAnthurium scherzerianum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Chanty.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned selection program conducted by the inventor in Grolsheim, Germany. The new cultivar is the result of 30 years of selection from nonpatented proprietary Anthurium scherzerianum selections. The cultivar Chanty was discovered and selected in the spring of 1992 by the inventor in a controlled environment in Grolsheim, Germany. This new Anthurium was selected on the basis of its very compact growth habit, flowers positioned above the foliage, rounded flower spathes, early flowering, bright red spathe color, and strong petioles and peduncles.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by division at Rhede, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Anthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in succesive generations of asexual propagation.

The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Grolsheim, Germany, in a glass-covered greenhouse with an average day temperature of 25.degree. C and an average night temperature of 19.degree. C.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Chanty`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Chanty` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Very compact growth habit.

2. Strong petioles and peduncles.

3. Flowers positioned above the foliage.

4. Early flowering.

5. Rounded, large, smooth, and bright red flower spathes.

6. Good post-production longevity.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of `Chanty`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of `Chanty`.

The third photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical leaf of `Chanty`. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Grolsheim, Germany, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with average day and night temperatures ranging from 18 to 20.degree. C and average light levels of 30,000 lus.

Botanical classification:Anthurium scherzerianum cultivar Chanty.

Parentage:Selection of nonpatented proprietary Anthurium scherzerianum selections.

Propagation:By division or by tissue culture.

Time to initiate roots.--About 21 days at 20.degree..

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Upright, inverted triangle.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as leaves develop. Very compact, appropriate for 6.5 to 9-cm containers.

Plant height.--13 to 16 cm from soil level to top of leaf plane.

Plant vigor.--Low.

Growth rate.--Moderate.

Crop time.--Usually 7 to 8 months are required fom planting a young tissue-cultured plantlet to a finished plant with a height of 13 to 16 cm.

Foliage description.--Quantity of leaves per finished plant: 13 to 17. Leaf size: Length: 7 to 10 cm. Width: 4 to 5 cm. Leaf shape: Narrowly cordate. Leaf apex: Acuminate. Leaf base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Leaf texture: Leathery, smooth, glabrous, somewhat glossy. Leaf aspect: Horizontal to upwards. Leaf color: Young, upper surface: 146A. Young, lower surface: 147C. Mature, upper surface: 147A. Mature, lower surface: 147C. Venation, upper surface: Midrib, light green. Petiole: Length, primary shoot: 5 to 7 cm. Cross-section: Concave to round. Color: 145A. Geniculum: Light green, not conspicuous.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Spathe with spadix held clearly above the foliage. Flowers arise from leaf axils.

Flowering season.--Year-round, recurrent.

Postproduction logevity.--Spathe/spadix maintain good substance and color for 4 to 5 weeks. Spathe/spadix persistent.

Quantity of flowers per spadix.--150 to 200.

Flower shape.--About 1 mm.

Spathe.--Shape: Broadly cordate to rounded. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Dull to slightly shiny. Aspect: Flat to slightly concave. Size: Length: 4 to 5 cm. Width: 4 to 5 cm. Color: Abaxial surface: 42A. Adaxial surface: 42A.

Spadix.--Cross section: Rounded. Longitudinal axis: Straight to very slightly recurved. Size: Length: 1 to 2 cm. Diameter: 3 to 4 mm. Color: Base: 32A. Mature: Orange red. Apex: Yellowish.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and erect. Length: 9 to 13 cm. Cross-section: Round. Color: Dark green with strong anthocyanin, red coloration increasing at distal end.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Pollen color: Whitish. Gynoecium: Stigma shape: Ovoid.

Disease resistance: No resistance nor susceptibility to disease has been noted under commercial production conditions.

Seed development: Seed development is rarely observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `Chanty`, as illustrated and described.