plant named ‘Aureus’

Abstract

A new and distinct Guzmania cultivar named ‘Aureus’ is disclosed, characterized a compact plant habit, and unique bright yellow bracts.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Guzmania hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Aureus’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, an unnamed proprietary variety of Guzmania hybrid with the pollen parent Guzmania lingulata, directed by the inventor in October of 2004.

‘Aureus’ was discovered by the inventor, Rolf Kurt Zornig, in October 2006 in Campinas, Brazil in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Aureus’ was first performed in Campinas, Brazil by tissue culture in July 2007. ‘Aureus’ has since produced several generations by micro-propagation and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Aureus’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Aureus’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Aureus’ as a new and distinct Guzmania cultivar:

• • 1. Compact plant shape.
  • 2. Long inflorescence.
  • 3. Yellow inflorescence color.
  • 4. Suitability as an indoor pot plant.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Aureus’ are similar to both parent varieties in most horticultural characterisitics. However, ‘Aureus’ differs from both the seed and pollen parents in having a more compact plant shape and longer inflorescence.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Aureus’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Guzmania ‘Deplakar,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,754. Plants of ‘Deplakar’ are similar to plants of ‘Aureus’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Aureus’ has shorter, narrow foliage, scape and terminal bracts more yellow than orange-yellow in color.

‘Aureus’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Guzmania ‘Marjan’ Plants of ‘Marjan’ are similar to plants of ‘Aureus’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Aureus’ has a wider inflorescence, and a shorter overall plant height than ‘Marjan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘Aureus’ grown in a greenhouse in Florida. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

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 ‘Aureus’ plants grown in a climate controlled greenhouse in Miami, Fla. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 28° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

• Botanical classification: Guzmania hybrid. ‘Aureus’.
• Age of the plant described: Approximately 1 year.
• Container size of the plant described: 6 inch.

PLANT

• Growth habit: Upright, arching, forming compact rosettes around a single axis. Single, straight, upright inflorescence arising from the center of plant.
• Height: Approximately 20 cm in a 6 inch pot, measured from the soil level of the pot.
• Plant spread: Approximately 39 cm in a 6 inch pot.
• Normal pot size: 4″, 6″, 8″ pots.
• Growth rate: Moderate.
• Branching characteristics: Upright, non-branching.
• Number of leaves per stem: Approximately 26.
• Stem length: Approximately 7.5 cm.
• Stem width: Approximately 4.5 cm.
• Stem color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.
• Stem texture: Smooth.
• Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

• Leaf:
  • • Arrangement.—Whorled, single occurring basal rosettes.
    • Average length.—Approximately 18.2 cm.
    • Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.
    • Shape of blade.—Ligulate.
    • Aspect.—Slightly recurved.
    • Apex.—Apiculate.
    • Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: Average 3.2 cm Sheath width: Average 3.2 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture of top surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.
    • Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.
    • Color.—Young foliage upper side: Coloration divided into 3 sections: ⅓ leaf blade closest to apex: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Middle ⅓ section: Near RHS N144C, very thin, margin Red-Purple 59C. ⅓ leaf blade closest to base: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C, very thin margin Red-Purple 59C. Young foliage under side: Coloration divided into 3 sections: ⅓ leaf blade closest to apex: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Middle ⅓ section: Near RHS N144C., very thin, margin Red-Purple 59C. ⅓ leaf blade closest to base: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C, very thin margin Red-Purple 59C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A.
    • Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: Indistinguishable from foliage coloration.
• Petiole: Not present, sessile.

INFLORESCENCE

• General description: Simple spike(scape) consisting of many bracts only. No individual flowers are visible. Spike emerges from the centre of the rosette. Inflorescence is formed by conspicuous bracts.
  • • Inflorescence height, excluding scape.—Approximately 8.5 cm.
    • Inflorescence width.—Approximately 14.5 cm.
    • Inflorescence lastingness.—Approximately 5 to 6 months.
• Scape:
  • • Length.—Approximately 9 cm.
    • Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.
    • Aspect.—Very straight, Approximately 75° angle to rosette.
    • Strength.—Very strong.
    • Color.—Near RHS Yellow 2C.
• Bracts:
  • • Scape/lowermost bracts.—Shape: Ligulate. Length: Approximately 10.1 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately 3.1 cm. Quantity: Average 4. Tip: Acute. Base: Sheathed. Sheath length: Approximately 2.1 cm Sheath width: Approximately 4 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow 13D. Margin: Entire. Color upperside: Tip coloration near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, thin margin near RHS Red-Purple 59C, steaks near Yellow 13C, blotches year Red-Purple 59C. Most of blade near RHS Yellow-Orange 15D with fine streaks near Red-Purple 59C. Color underside: Tip coloration near RHS Yellow-Green 144B, thin margin near RHS Red-Purple 59C, steaks near Yellow-Orange 15D, blotches year Red-Purple 59C. Most of blade near RHS Yellow-Orange 15D with fine streaks near Red-Purple 59C.
    • Terminal bracts.—Shape: Ligulate. Length: Approximately 10.1 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately 3.1 cm. Quantity: Average 12. Tip: Acute. Base: Sheathed. Sheath length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Sheath width: Approximately 4 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow 13D. Margin: Entire. Coloration terminal bracts: Upperside: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 17B, becoming lighter toward base, to Yellow-Orange 15C. Underside: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 21C, becoming lighter toward base, to Yellow-Orange 15D. To date, true flowers have not been observed. As no true flowers have been observed to date, the reproductive organs have not been observed for description.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.
• Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold temperatures has not been observed.
• Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘Aureus’ as herein illustrated and described.