<i>x Mangave </i>plant named ‘Sweet Tooth’

Abstract

A new and unique x Mangave plant named ‘Sweet Tooth’ characterized by a compact, rounded mound of thick, fleshy, lanceolate, glaucous, sarcous leaves that are mostly flat, slightly-arching and terminate in a large, firm, apical spine. The leaves have numerous large, slightly flexible, marginal teeth curving toward base. Foliage is variegated with dark green margins and the leaf centers becoming striated with grey and celadon. The new plant is suitable for the garden or as a potted plant in the garden or home.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental x Mangave plant named ‘Sweet Tooth’ as herein described and illustrated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The photograph of x Mangave ‘Sweet Tooth’ demonstrates the overall appearance of the new plant including the unique traits as a three-year-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Zeeland, Mich. The colors are as accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Ambient light spectrum, temperature, source and direction may cause the appearance of minor variation in color.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of the new plant.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the variegation coloration and marginal teeth.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following descriptions and color references are based on the 2015 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where common dictionary terms are used. The new plant, x Mangave ‘Sweet Tooth’, has not been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may vary slightly with different environmental conditions, such as temperature, light, fertility, moisture and maturity levels, but without any change in the genotype. The following observations and size descriptions are of a three-year-old plant in a greenhouse in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental water and fertilizer as needed. Parentage: Whole plant mutation of ‘Tooth Fairy’; Propagation: By plantlet division following coring; Time to initiate roots: About 28 days; Growth rate: Moderate to slow; Crop time: About 24 to 28 weeks to finish in a 3.8-liter container from a 35 mm tissue culture growing at about 21° C.; Rooting habit: Fleshy, lightly branching, with roots up to 15 cm long; Root color: Between RHS 161C and RHS NN155C; Plant shape and habit: Succulent, frost-tender herbaceous perennial with basal rosettes of about 34 leaves radially emerging outwardly from central stem, producing a radially-symmetrical, rounded mound with age; Plant size: Foliage height about 11 cm tall from soil line to the top of the leaves and about 20 cm wide at the widest point just above soil level; Stem: To about 2.5 cm across and about 2.0 cm long; covered with foliage, not visible; Foliage description: Lanceolate; simple; sessile; bi-laterally symmetrical; sarcous; apex narrowly acute with firm, sharp, terminal spine; base truncate; lightly glaucous adaxial and abaxial; margins flat, with semi-flexible, flexuose to curved pointed teeth; Foliage size: To about 8 cm long, 3 cm wide near middle and about 12 mm thick near base; Apical spine: About 14 mm long and 2 mm wide at base; Marginal teeth: Small, flexible even when mature; to about 5 mm long from margin and 2.5 mm wide at base, spacing to about 5 mm apart near center and; Variegation width: Centers to about 23 mm wide on adaxial side and 25 mm wide on abaxial side; Foliage fragrance: None observed; Leaf number: About 34 per plant; Leaf blade color: Adaxial.—Young and mature leaf margins between RHS 139A and RHS N137A. Abaxial.—Young leaf margins between RHS 139A and RHS N137A. Adaxial.—Young leaf centers with striations of variable lengths and sizes of between RHS 147D and RHS 138B and between RHS 190D and RHS 192D. Abaxial.—Young leaf centers with striations of variable lengths and sizes of between RHS 147D and RHS 138B and between RHS 190D and RHS 192D. Adaxial.—Mature leaf margins between RHS 189C and RHS 139A. Abaxial.—Mature leaf margins nearest RHS N138A. Adaxial.—Mature leaf centers with striations of variable lengths and sizes of nearest RHS 138B and between RHS 190D and RHS 188D. Abaxial.—Mature leaf centers with striations of variable lengths and sizes of nearest RHS 138B and between RHS 190D and RHS 192D. Teeth.—Variable with age, beginning between RHS 162D and RHS 158A, transitioning through RHS 163B, RHS 171B and RHS N172A, maturing between RHS 178A and RHS 183A. Apical spine.—Nearest RHS 178A as maturing and between RHS 183A and RHS 200B when mature. Petiole: Leaves sessile; Veins: Parallel; not distinct abaxial or adaxial; Flower description: Not yet observed; Fruit and seed: Not yet observed; Disease resistance: X Mangave ‘Sweet Tooth’ has not been observed to be resistant or susceptible to diseases beyond that which is normal for x Mangave, Agave or Manfreda. Growing conditions: The new plant is xeromorphic and survives well with minimal water once established. Winter hardiness: The new plant is estimated to be hardy at least from USDA zone 10. Full extent of winter hardiness has not been tested.