plant named ‘Maejo Green Pearl’

- Maejo University

A new and distinct cultivar of Curcuma plant named ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ is described, characterized by slender foliage, pale-green upper bracts with dark-green margins, and green lower bracts with a red-brown stripe. The new variety is a Curcuma, normally used as an ornamental garden or landscape plant.

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Description

Latin name of the genus and species: Curcuma alismatifolia x aurantiaca.

Variety denomination: ‘MAEJO GREEN PEARL’.

COPENDING APPLICATIONS

Curcuma ‘MAEJO PINK PEARL’ application Ser. No. 18/759,560

Curcuma ‘MAEJO WHITE PEARL’ application Ser. No. 18/759,605

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Curcuma ‘Maejo Green Pearl’, is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor. ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ is the result of the crossing of the seed parent, an unnamed, unpatented Curcuma alismatifolia x Curcuma aurantiaca, and the pollen parent, the unpatented Curcuma ‘Snow White’. The crossing occurred during October 2016, at a research nursery in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ was selected as an interesting new cultivar at the same location in October of 2018.

The first asexual propagation of ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ was performed in October of 2018 by tissue culture at the same research nursery in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ 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 ‘Maejo Green Pearl’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ as a new and distinct Curcuma cultivar:

    • 1. Slender foliage.
    • 2. Pale-green upper bracts with dark-green margins.
    • 3. Green lower bracts with a red-brown stripe.

PARENT COMPARISONS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ differ in the following:

    • 1. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of the seed parent.
    • 2. Leaves of the new variety are smaller and narrower than leaves of the seed parent.
    • 3. Flower color of the new variety is light-yellow with a light-purple stomata. Flower color of the seed parent is white.
    • 4. Peduncles of the new variety are longer than peduncles of the seed parent.
    • 5. Inflorescence of the new variety is larger and longer than the inflorescence of the seed parent.
    • 6. Upper bracts of the new variety are pale green with darker green margins, while upper bracts of the seed parent are white.
    • 7. Lower bracts of the new variety are green with a red-brown stripe, while lower bracts of the seed parent are green with a brown stripe.

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

    • 1. Plants of the new variety are larger than plants of the pollen parent.
    • 2. Leaves of the new variety are larger and broader than leaves of the pollen parent.
    • 3. Flower color of the new variety is light-yellow with a light-purple stomata. Flower color of the pollen parent is white with a deep purple lip.
    • 4. Peduncles of the new variety are shorter than peduncles of the pollen parent.
    • 5. Inflorescence of the new variety is larger than the inflorescence of the pollen parent.
    • 6. Upper bracts of the new variety are pale green with darker green margins, while upper bracts of the pollen parent are white.
    • 7. Lower bracts of the new variety are green with a red-brown stripe, while lower bracts of the pollen parent are green.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Maejo Green Pearl’ can be compared to the commercial variety Curcuma sieboldii ‘Sawasdee-Venus’, unpatented. Plants of the new variety are similar to ‘Sawasdee-Venus’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ differs in the following:

    • 1. Peduncles of the new variety are longer than peduncles of this comparator.
    • 2. Inflorescence of the new variety is longer and wider than the inflorescence of this comparator.
    • 3. Lower bracts of the new variety are green with a red-brown stripe, while lower bracts of this comparator are green with a brown stripe.
    • 4. Leaves of the new variety are smaller and narrower than leaves of this comparator.
    • 5. Flower color of the new variety is light-yellow with a light-purple stomata, while the flower color of this comparator is pinkish-orange.
    • 6. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this comparator.

‘Maejo Green Pearl’ can be compared to the co-pending variety Curcuma ‘Maejo White Pearl’, application Ser. No. 18/759,605. Plants of the new variety are similar to ‘Sawasdee-Venus’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Maejo Green Pearl’ differs in the following:

    • 1. Leaf sheaths of the new variety are yellow-green; leaf sheaths of this comparator are green.
    • 2. Lower bracts of the new variety are green with a red-brown stripe, while lower bracts of this comparator are green with no striping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were 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. All photographs are of a plant of approximately 4 to 5 months of age.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowering plant of the new variety.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of the new variety.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of typical foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of the new variety, along with a ruler with centimeter units.

 DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct Curcuma ‘Maejo Green Pearl’. The detailed description was taken from a 2-year-old container grown plant in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), London, Sixth Edition. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

  • Botanical classification: Curcuma ‘Maejo Green Pearl’.

PROPAGATION

  • Method: Tissue culture.

PLANT

  • Height: 50 to 60 cm.
  • Plant spread: 50.2 cm.

FOLIAGE

  • Leaf:
      • Arrangement.—Broad and alternate.
      • Length.—Average 40 cm.
      • Width.—Average 5 cm.
      • Shape.—Elliptic.
      • Apex.—Attenuate.
      • Base.—Narrow.
      • Margin.—Entire.
      • Aspect.—Initially upright, then about 45° from vertical.
      • Texture.—Top surface: Smooth, glabrous, matte. Bottom surface: Smooth, glabrous, matte.
      • Color.—Developing, upper side: RHS Green 138A. Developing, under side: RHS Green 138B. Fully expanded, upper side: RHS Green 137C. Fully expanded, under side: RHS Green 137C.
      • Venation.—Type: Pinnate and penninerved. Color: Near Green 143C upper and lower surfaces.
      • Leaf sheaths.—Length: Average 40 cm. Width: Average 5 cm. Texture: Top surface: Smooth, glabrous, moderately glossy. Bottom surface: Smooth, glabrous, slightly glossy. Color: Upper side: RHS Green Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Under side: RHS Green Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation: RHS Green Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWER

  • Inflorescence:
      • Arrangement.—Dense and upright terminal spike inflorescences developing directly from the basal shoots with numerous showy flower bracts; typically each spike with three flowers per bract; about 150 flowers developing per plant.
      • Time to flower.—In Thailand, plants begin flowering about 16 to 18 weeks after planting.
      • Inflorescence longevity.—About 1 month on the plant if the plant is well maintained.
      • Fragrance.—None.
      • Length.—About 20 cm.
      • Diameter.—About 10 cm.
  • Petals:
      • Length, dorsal petal.—About 4 cm.
      • Length, lateral petals.—About 3.5 cm.
      • Width, dorsal petal.—About 2 cm.
      • Width, lateral petals.—About 1 cm.
      • Shape.—Curved lanceolate.
      • Color.—From flowers in Upper Bracts, upper and lower surfaces: White 155C. From flowers in Lower Bracts, upper and lower surfaces: White 155C flushed Purple 76C.
  • Flower bracts:
      • Quantity.—About 10 upper bracts and about 20 lower bracts per inflorescence.
      • Length, upper bracts.—About 8 cm.
      • Width, upper bracts.—About 4 cm.
      • Length, lower bracts.—About 5 cm.
      • Width, upper bracts.—About 4 cm.
      • Shape, upper bracts.—Elliptic.
      • Shape, lower bracts.—Shallow U-shaped.
      • Apex, upper bracts.—Acute.
      • Apex, lower bracts.—Obtuse.
      • Base, all bracts.—Fused.
      • Margin, upper bracts.—Entire.
      • Margin, lower bracts.—Entire, undulate.
      • Texture, upper bracts.—Upper and lower surfaces smooth, glabrous, slightly glossy.
      • Texture, lower bracts.—Upper and lower surfaces smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.
      • Color.—Upper bracts, upper surface: RHS White 155D; margin Green 143B; towards the apex, strongly tinged with Green 143C. Lower bracts, upper surface: RHS Green 143C with Greyed-Purple 183A striping in upper half. Upper bracts, lower surface: RHS White 155D; margin Green 143B; towards the apex, strongly tinged with Green 143C. Lower bracts, lower surface: RHS Green 143C with Greyed-Purple 183A striping in upper half.
  • Peduncles:
      • Length.—About 40 cm.
      • Diameter.—About 8 mm.
      • Strength.—Strong.
      • Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.
      • Angle.—Upright, erect.
      • Color.—RHS Green 143B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

  • Pistils:
      • Pistil number.—1.
      • Pistil length.—About 4 cm.
      • Style length.—About 3 cm.
      • Stigma shape.—Club-shaped.
      • Stigma color.—RHS Yellow-Green N144B.
      • Ovary color.—RHS Yellow-Green 145C.
  • Stamens:
      • Stamen number.—2 per flower.
      • Filament length.—About 1.2 cm.
      • Filament diameter.—About 2 mm.
      • Filament color.—RHS Yellow-Green N144B.
      • Anther length.—About 5 mm.
      • Anther width.—About 2 mm.
      • Anther shape.—Narrowly oblong.
      • Anther color.—RHS Yellow-Green. N144A.
      • Pollen amount.—None.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

  • Fruit/seed: Not observed.
  • Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the normal pests and diseases of Curcuma has been observed.
  • Temperature tolerance: 20° to 40° C. or tropical climate conditions.
  • Drought tolerance: Unknown.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Curcuma plant named ‘Maejo Green Pearl’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Referenced Cited
Other references
  • Tenan, Shinmei. 2020. Maejo Univeristy Launches Three New Curcuma (Siam Tulip) Varieties. New from Shinmeiten-an in Chiang Mai. http://chaocnx.seesaa.net/article/477971728.html. (Year: 2020).
Patent History
Patent number: PP36800
Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 28, 2024
Date of Patent: Jul 1, 2025
Assignee: Maejo University
Inventor: Chalermsri Nontaswatsri (Chiang Mai)
Primary Examiner: Karen M Redden
Application Number: 18/759,588
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Curcuma (PLT/421)
International Classification: A01H 5/02 (20180101); A01H 6/00 (20180101);