Ficus benjamina L. named `Christine`

- L. Daehnfeldt, Ltd.

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.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
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`.

Referenced Cited
Other references
  • Bailey, L. H. "Ficus:13. Benjamina" The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, The MacMillan Co., N.Y., 1943 p. 1232. Weiner, M. A. "FIG, Benjamin" Plant A Tree, Collier Books, N.Y. 1975, pp. 168 and 171. Herwig, R. "Ficus" Healthy House Plants, H.P. Books, Tucson, Ariz., 1979, p. 77. Graf, A. B. "Ficus" Exotica Roehrs Company, Rutherford, N.Y., U.S.A., 1963, p. 1614.
Patent History
Patent number: PP7893
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 26, 1990
Date of Patent: Jun 23, 1992
Assignees: L. Daehnfeldt, Ltd. (Odense), Tropical Foliage House (Homestead, FL)
Inventor: Svend Nielsen (Tommerup)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Law Firm: Malloy, Downey & Malloy
Application Number: 7/514,400
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Plt/88
International Classification: A01H 500;