plant ‘KRAKATOA’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named ‘KRAKATOA’ is disclosed, characterized by serrated, flanged, upright leaves with white and red protuberances, and a red flowered inflorescence. The new variety is an Aloe, typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Aloe hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘KRAKATOA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The seed parent is the unpatented Aloe ‘White Lightning’. The pollen parent is the unpatented Aloe divaricata x Aloe ‘Coral Fire’ x Aloe cv ‘White Lightning’. The crossing was made in November 2016 at a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. ‘KRAKATOA’ was found and selected by the inventor in June 2017 at the same greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KRAKATOA’ was first performed by tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Vista, Calif. in July 2017. ‘KRAKATOA’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KRAKATOA’ 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 ‘KRAKATOA’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRAKATOA’ as a new and distinct Aloe cultivar:

• • 1. Serrated, flanged, upright leaves.
  • 2. White and red protuberances on leaves.
  • 3. Red flowered inflorescence.
  • 4. Table top size Aloe, maturing at 6 to 8″ across.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KRAKATOA’ are similar to the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new variety differ from the seed parent in the following:

• • 1. The new variety produces more compact, upright rosettes than the seed parent.
  • 2. The new variety has brighter, more colorful leaves than the seed parent.
  • 3. The new variety has a redder more pronounced leaf edge than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KRAKATOA’ are similar to the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new variety differ in the following:

• • 1. The new variety is a smaller plant than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘KRAKATOA’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Aloe ‘Peppermint’. The two Aloe varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety differs in the following:

• • 1. Plants of the new variety are smaller and more compact than plants of this comparator.
  • 2. The new variety has brighter and more colorful leaves than this comparator.
  • 3. The new variety has a cleaner growth habit with better symmetry than does this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘KRAKATOA’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista, Calif. This plant is approximately 24 months old, shown in a 15 cm container. 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, 2007 edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘KRAKATOA’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 25° C. during the day, and 18° C. to 21° C. during the night. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 3000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

• Botanical classification: Aloe hybrid ‘KRAKATOA’.
• Age of the plant described: 2 years.

PROPAGATION

• Time to initiate roots: Approximately 25 days at 22° C.
• Root description: Fibrous. Brown, not accurately measured with the R.H.S. chart.
• Propagation method: Tissue culture.

PLANT

• Growth habit: Upright rosette, offsetting to form clumps with maturity.
• Container size: 6 inches.
• Height: Approximately 20 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately 38 cm to top of highest inflorescence.
• Plant spread: Approximately 22 cm.
• Growth rate: Moderate.
• Branching characteristics: Offsetting from base.

FOLIAGE

• Leaf:
  • • Arrangement.—Rosette, foliage growing upright, about 45° from center..
    • Average length.—Average 14-16 cm.
    • Average width.—Average 3-4 cm.
    • Shape of blade.—Lanceolate, slightly deltoid.
    • Apex.—Acuminate.
    • Base.—Clasping.
    • Margin.—Flanged colored edge.
    • Texture of top surface.—Bars and ribs.
    • Texture of bottom surface.—Bars and ribs.
    • Quantity of leaves per plant.—Average 10.
    • Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 136B, margin about 3 mm wide, colored near Red 44B. Between margin and leaf blade a thin line about 1 to 2 mm thick colored near White 155C. Sparse to moderate thin bars colored near Green-White 157A. Bars about 1 to 2 mm wide and 3 to 6 mm long. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 136B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 136B, margin about 3 mm to 5 mm wide, colored near Red 42A and 42B. Between margin and leaf blade a thin ling about 1 to 2 mm thick colored near White 155C. Moderate to dense (denser away from apex) thin bars colored near Green-White 157A. Bars about 2 to 3 mm wide and 3 to 6 mm long. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 136B.
    • Venation.—Linear. Color: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

FLOWER

• Natural flowering season: Rebloomer, three to four times a year in Southern California.
• Inflorescence type and habit: Panicle, seldom branched.
• Rate of flower opening: Moderate.
• Flower longevity on plant: 1.5 months.
• Quantity of flowers: 10 to 20.
• Total inflorescence size:
  • • Height.—Approximately 30 cm.
    • Width.—Approximately 8 cm.
• Corolla:
  • • Arrangement.—Perianth cylindrical/corolla small and reflexed.
    • Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.
    • Width.—Approximately 1 cm at widest point.
    • Color.—Tepals: When opening: Outer surface: Near RHS Red 44B. Inner surface: Near Yellow 13B. Fully opened: Outer surface: Near RHS Red 44C. Inner surface: Near Yellow 13B.
• Bud:
  • • Shape.—Cylindrical.
    • Length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.
    • Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.
    • Color.—Near RHS Red 44B.
• Pedicels:
  • • Length.—Approximately 1 cm.
    • Width.—0.02 cm.
    • Aspect.—Lateral.
    • Color.—Near Red 44C, base Green 137D.
• Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

• Stamens:
  • • Number.—6.
    • Filament length.—Approximately 2.5 cm.
    • Filament color.—Near White 155C.
    • Anther length.—0.25 cm.
    • Anther color.—Near Yellow 13B.
    • Anther shape.—Oval.
    • Pollen color.—Near Yellow 13A.
• Pistil:
  • • Number.—1.
    • Length.—Approximately 3 cm.
    • Style color.—Near White 155C.
    • Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: Near White 155C. Ovary color: Near Green 138D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Seeds and fruits: Pods about 10 mm long and 5 mm wide, colored near Green 137D when immature, ripening to Grey-Brown N199D. Seed dust like, colored near Grey-Brown 199C.
• Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately 0° to at least 35° C.
• Disease/pest resistance: Shows mite resistance and black spot resistance.

Claims

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