Plants – Rose – Climber
Plant Patent
1999-11-02
2001-09-11
Campell, Bruce R. (Department: 1661)
Plants
Rose
Climber
Plant Patent
active
PP012081
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Symfonie Encore’. The genus Guzmania is a member of the family Bromeliaceae.
Guzmania is predominantly epiphytic with a few terrestrial species and is native to the tropics. For the most part, species vary in diameter from 7 or 8 inches to 3 or 4 feet and have rosettes of glossy, smooth-edged leaves.
Floral bracts of Guzmania frequently have brilliant colors and may last for many months. The range of colors for Guzmania is generally from yellow through orange but may also include flame red and red-purple. White or yellow, tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear on a stem or within the leaf rosette but are usually short-lived.
Guzmania may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse or home use. Desirably, the plants are shaded from direct sunlight, and during the spring to autumn period, the central vase-like part of the leaf rosette is desirably filled with water.
Guzmania is native to tropical America. Leaves of Guzmania are usually formed as basal rosettes, which are stiff and entire and in several vertical ranks. Guzmania plants have terminal spikes or panicles which are often bracted with petals united in a tube about as long as the calyx. The ovary is superior and the seeds plumose.
Asexual propagation of Guzmania is frequently done through the use of tissue culture practices. Propagation can also be from offshoots produced by the plant which may then be rooted. The resulting plantlets are detached from the mother plant and may be potted in a suitable growing mixture.
Methods for cultivation and crossing of Guzmania are well known. For a detailed discussion, reference is made to the following publications, which are incorporated herein by reference: Benzing, David H., THE BIOLOGY OF THE BROMELIADS, Mad River Press, Inc., Eureka (1980); Zimmer, Karl, BROMELIEN, Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin (1986); and Rauh, Werner, BROMELIEN, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (1981).
The new cultivar was discovered as a naturally occurring mutation among plants of the parent cultivar ‘Symfonie’, which is a non-variegated Guzmania plant. The female parent of ‘Symfonie’ was
Guzmania lingulata
var.
Splendens
. The male parent of ‘Symfonie’ was
Guzmania zahnii
. ‘Symfonie Encore’ was discovered and selected among plants of the cultivar ‘Symfonie’ by the inventor, Herbert H. Hill, Jr., in 1982, in Lithia, Fla.
‘Symfonie Encore’ is characterized by its medium to large plant size and its variegated leaves that are reddish-pink at the sheath becoming cream-white at the apex. The inflorescence is tall, large and brightly colored yellow and red.
The first act of asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by the inventor in 1982, from offshoots produced by the plant. Horticultural examination of these asexually reproduced plants initiated in 1982 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Symfonie Encore’ are firmly fixed and reproduces true to type through successive generations asexual reproduction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Symfonie Encore’ which in combination distinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Variegated foliage that is reddish-pink at the sheath becoming cream-white at the apex of the leaf;
2. Large, long-lasting inflorescence with a distinctive yellow and red contrast;
3. Plants that are resistant to extremes in temperature (38-95° F.) and light intensity thereby tolerating a wide range of cultural conditions; and
4. Easy, distinctly fast-growing variegated cultivar with few cultural problems.
‘Symfonie Encore’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without any change in genotype.
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Symfonie Encore’ are the cultivars ‘Symfonie’ (unpatented) ‘Siralbert’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/419,916). ‘Symfonie Encore’ differs from ‘Symfonie’ because ‘Symfonie Encore’ has variegated foliage. ‘Symfonie Encore’ and ‘Siralbert’ both have variegated foliage and yellow and red inflorescence. The plants of ‘Symfonie Encore’ grow taller and larger than those of ‘Siralbert’. ‘Symfonie Encore’ has a wider leaf-sheath, longer leaf-length and wider leaf-blade than ‘Siralbert’. The leaf variegation of ‘Symfonie Encore’ is distinctly wider than ‘Siralbert’. The leaves of ‘Symfonie Encore’ are erect with a well-defined droop at the last 11-18 cm of the blade. ‘Siralbert’ has erect arching leaves with no droop. The inflorescence of ‘Symfonie Encore’ is taller, straighter and has more intensely contrasting color than ‘Siralbert’. ‘Symfonie Encore’ is a faster, stronger and more robust cultivar with fewer cultural problems than ‘Siralbert’. ‘Symfonie Encore’ will tolerate a wider range of temperature and light conditions than ‘Siralbert’. ‘Symfonie Encore’ is a distinctly fast-growing variegated cultivar with few cultural problems. ‘Symfonie Encore’ is not sensitive to the fungal disease Fusarium, its root system is strong and the plant is quite vigorous when compared to other variegated Guzmania plants. In a growing time of 9 months, ‘Symfonie Encore’ outgrows Guzmania ‘Siralbert’ by 30%. The leaves of ‘Symfonie Encore’ are strong and despite being variegated, they are not sensitive to spotting caused by cell burst.
REFERENCES:
patent: P.P. 9476 (1996-03-01), Kent
patent: P.P. 10069 (1997-10-01), Kent
patent: P.P. 10383 (1998-05-01), Bos
Bell Kent L.
Campell Bruce R.
Foley & Lardner
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