<i>Celosia </i>plant named ‘BKCECAPI’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Celosia plant named ‘BKCECAPI’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on tall and narrow conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCECAPI’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKCECAPI’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical developing and developed inflorescences and the upper and lower surfaces of leaves of ‘BKCECAPI’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 11-cm containers during the autumn in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under commercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa ‘BKCECAPI’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 99-0245, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia plumosa identified as code number 99-0913, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 days at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 26 days at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C. Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically grown as a potted plant; upright plant habit; elliptic to obovate in overall shape; freely branching habit with about two basal branches each with about six lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 29.7 cm. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 53 cm. Plant width (spread).—About 33 cm. Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 150D slightly tinged with close to 68C. Color, developed: Close to N170D; distally, strongly tinged with close to 151A and 151B; towards the base, close to 63B. Leaf description: Arrangement.—Alternate; simple. Length.—About 10.2 cm. Width.—About 3.3 cm. Shape.—Narrowly ovate to close to lanceolate. Apex.—Long apiculate. Base.—Attenuate. Margin.—Entire, moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy. Venation pattern.—Pinnate. Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B and 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; irregularly flushed with close to 200A; venation, close to 157D tinged with close to 65B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to N148C. Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 157D; towards the margins, close to 148A to darker than 148A; proximal end, tinged with close to 65A. Color, lower surface: Close to 157A to 157B; towards the margins, close to 146; proximal end, tinged with close to 65B. Flower description: Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged in long and narrow conical terminal compound spikes; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on position on spike. Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 180 flowers per inflorescence and about 2,500 flowers developing per plant during the flowering season. Fragrance.—None detected. Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight weeks after pinching; under natural season conditions, flowering continuous from spring into the autumn in The Netherlands. Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for about six weeks on the plant; flowers persistent. Inflorescence height.—About 27.6 cm. Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.8 cm. Flower diameter.—About 9 mm by 9 mm. Flower height.—About 6 mm. Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 64A to 64B. Petals.—None observed. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically six per flower arranged in two whorls. Length: About 6.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to N74D; midvein, close to 72B. When opening, lower surface: Close to N74C to N74D; midvein, close to 72B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N74D to lighter than N74D; midvein, close to 72B; color becoming closer to 76B and midvein, closer to 72C, with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N74D; midvein, close to 72B; color becoming closer to 76B and midvein, closer to 72C, with development. Peduncles.—Length: About 27.3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: Upright to about 25° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to between 69A and 182D strongly flushed with close to 148B. Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.75 mm. Angle: About 50° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 70C. Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to N74A to N74B. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 183C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to N74A. Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to N74B. Ovary color: Close to N74B. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Celosia. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Celosia have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia plants. Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 12.