Ficus benjamina L. named `Christine`

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sport of Ficus benjamina L., `Exotica` and is characterized by an exceptionally compact habit, with small leaves, and short internodes. The new cultivar is known as Ficus benjamina L. `Christine` and is especially suited for pot-plant production.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs and drawing illustrate the morphology and difference in size between `Christine` and the parent variety `Exotica` and is based on plants grown under the same conditions in which:

The top figure of the drawing depicts a typical specimen of the claimed plant `Christine` on the left and a comparably grown specimen of the parent variety `Exotica` on the right to illustrate the dramatic differences in size and compactness of the two plants;

The middle figure of the drawing depicts, in close perspective, the bark, lentilces, typical branch spacing, branch angles, internodes, and leaves of the claimed plant; and,

The bottom figure of the drawing shows a typical leaf of about average size of the claimed plant `Christine` on the left, and a typical leaf of about average size of the parent plant `Exotica` on the right, and shows the similar shape and coloration of the leaves of each plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plant

Origin: Bud-mutation and successive selections in asexually propagated material.

Form: Upright with strong development of side twigs from base to terminal buds.

Height: 25 cm., grown for 16 weeks in 9 cm. pot as multi-stemmed.

Diameter: 28 cm., grown for 16 weeks in 9 cm. pot.

Growth rate: Rather slow, producing a sturdy plant.

Type of cuttings: Semi-mature top and side shoots.

Rooting Time: 18-21 days.

Rooting habit: Dense and Fibrous

Twigs: Sideshoot of 10 c.m. have a thickness of 2.5 mm. Appearing alternate on main stems with an average distance of 18 mm. (from bottom to top of a 40 cm. plant).

Internode: 11-18 mm.

Bark: Young twigs bars are glabrous, green, HCC 148B. Semi-mature twigs are brown with a thin cover of longitudinal stripes of shedding epidermis. Mature stems are brown, HCC 199B, with small scattered lenticells.

Buds: New growth arrive from alternate, auxillary, terminal buds in a zigzag pattern. pattern. Color: light green, HCC 144 B. No stipules (leaf scales). Dormant buds are thin, pin-like, green of 5-8 mm. length.

Foliage

Arrangements: Alternate with a phyllotaxi of 5.

Shape of Leaves: Elliptic-ovate, subrounded at base, acuminate with a 8-10 mm. leaf-tip.

Leaf Canopy: Leaves present right from bottom to top.

Margin: Entire.

Venation: Medium size mid-rib, light green, HCC 144 C. lamina with close, fine pinnates extending to margin.

Size: Average length of lamine (without petiole) 52 mm. Average width: 21 mm.

Surface: Smooth.

Texture: Glabrous, shiny.

Variegation: None

Leaf color: Upper side HCC 144 A (young leaves) Ventral (underside) HCC 144 B (young leaves) Upper side HCC 139 A (old leaves) Ventral HCC 137 B (old leaves) Leaves exposed to sun: Upper side HCC 144 B.

Hydathodes: Minute, scattered along edges of upper side.

Petioles: Length 9-10 mm., color green HCC 144 B.

Form of lamina: Young leaves concave.

Flower and fruiting: Very rarely seen on greenhouse plants.

Growth rate: Rather slow to produce a sturdy compact plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Ficus benjamina L. plant named `Christine`, substantially as shown and described, characterized as a very compact, small leaved Ficus especially suited for pot-plant culture, the cultivar having proved to be constant through several generations of asexually propagated material, wherein the compactness, number of small leaves and short internodes distinguish `Christine` clearly from the parent plant, Ficus benjamina L. `Exotica`.