<i>Vriesea </i>plant named ‘BUNVRIOR’

Abstract

A new and distinct Vriesea plant named ‘BUNVRIOR’ which is characterized by a relatively compact rosette of glossy, dark green foliage that gives rise to a terminal, compound spike inflorescence with distichous flowers held within and above the foliage with an orange bract at the base of each branch of the inflorescence and vibrant orange-red conduplicate bracts with yellow tips, subtending each yellow flower, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Vriesea plant named ‘BUNVRIOR’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘BUNVRIOR’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 37 weeks old from the time of mericloning, shown planted in a 12 cm nursery container.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(2) The following observations and measurements made in November of 2020 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 37 week-old ‘BUNVRIOR’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery pots at a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. Plants were grown under shade cloth and maintained with a 0.8 EC fertigation program with regular overhead irrigation. No chemical pest measures were taken.

(3) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘BUNVRIOR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

(4) A botanical description of ‘BUNVRIOR’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial variety of Vriesea are provided below. Plant description: Growth habit.—Perennial; monopodial; broad, upright. Leaves arranged in a basal rosette, with no lateral branching, and the inflorescence growing from the center of the basal rosette and held above the foliage. Plant form.—Flattened globular. Average height.—18.4 cm, from the soil level to the top of the foliar plane, and 34.0 to the top of the floral plane. Plant spread.—Average of 38.0 cm. Growth rate.—Moderately fast. Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous. Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 2 to 4 weeks to initiate roots at 22 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 months at 22 degrees Celsius. Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to typical Guzmania pests and diseases has been observed. Temperature tolerances.—USDA Zones 10 to 13; at least tolerant of temperatures to 40 degrees Celsius. High tolerance to rain inundation; high tolerance to wind. Root system: General.—Thick; medium density. Texture.—Slightly fleshy. Foliage: Arrangement.—Basal rosette. No stems or lateral branches. Attachment.—Sessile. Division.—Simple. Quantity of leaves.—24. Lamina.—Dimensions — 26.7 cm long and 4.3 cm wide. Thickness — Approximately 0.9 cm. Shape of blade — Ensiform. Aspect — Moderately concave. Attitude — Upright and moderately reflexed. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Sheathing. Margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture and luster of adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth and glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth and glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS 137A and NN137A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 137B and 146A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 146A yet slightly darker. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 146A and 147B. Venation — Pattern — Parallel. Mature foliage venation, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green to yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 146A yet slightly darker. Mature foliage venation, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A. Sheath.—Sheath length — 7.3 cm. Sheath width — 7.6 cm. Sheath color, adaxial surface — Purple, nearest to in between RHS N77B and N77C, and fading to yellow-green towards the lamina, nearest to 146D. Sheath color, abaxial surface — Purple, nearest to RHS N77B, and fading to yellow-green towards the lamina, nearest to 146D. Inflorescence: Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal compound distichous spike. Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering. Time to flower.—Approximately 6 months. Inflorescence quantity.—One. Flowers per inflorescence.—Average of 90, with 30 open flower and 60 in bud stage and not opening. Inflorescence height.—Approximately 22.5 cm (measured from base of lowest flower to top of upper flower). Inflorescence width.—Average of 10.2 cm, excluding bracts, and 15.4 cm with bracts. Peduncle.—Dimensions — Approximately 23.1 cm long and 0.8 cm in diameter. Attitude — Near vertical. Strength — Strong. Texture and luster — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Color — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 196D, and strongly suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to a mixture of RHS 186B and 186C. Bud: Length.—Average of 1.7 cm. Diameter.—Average of 0.4 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth, and slightly glossy. Color.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148D; apex is darker, nearest to RHS 154B; base is greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 160C. Flower: Flower type and form.—Single; oblanceolate to narrow oblong. Attachment.—Sessile. Attitude.—Upright. Height.—Approximately 0.5 cm. Diameter.—Average of 0.5 cm. Depth.—Approximately 3.0 cm. Fragrance.—No fragrance. Lastingness.—4 weeks. Persistent.—Persistent. Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 3. Arrangement — Rotate; single whorl; petals free. Length — Approximately 2.5 cm. Width — Approximately 0.5 cm. Shape — Oblong Aspect — Concave. Apex — Obtuse. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture and luster of upper surface — Glabrous, smooth and slightly glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster of lower surface — Glabrous, smooth and slightly glossy. Color when opening, upper surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4C; apex is green-yellow, nearest to RHS 1A. Color when opening, lower surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4C; apex is darker, nearest to RHS 5B; tipped yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Color when fully opened, upper surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4C; apex is green-yellow, nearest to RHS 1A. Color when fully opened, lower surface — Yellow, nearest to RHS 4C; apex is darker, nearest to RHS 5B; tipped yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B. Fading, upper surface — Not fading. Fading, lower surface — Not fading. Venation color, fully opened, upper surface — No venation is visible. Venation color, fully opened, lower surface — No venation is visible. Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — Average of 3.0 cm. Diameter — Average of 0.55 cm. Sepals.—Quantity — 3 unfused sepals in a single whorl. Arrangement — Rotate. Length — 2.9 cm. Width — 0.5 cm. Shape — Lanceolate. Aspect — Strongly concave. Apex — Bluntly acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire. Pubescence, texture and luster of upper surface — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster of lower surface — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Color when opening, upper surface — Yellow, nearest to in between 10C; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS 10A. Color when opening, lower surface — Yellow, nearest to in between 10A; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS 11A. Color when fully opened, upper surface — Yellow, nearest to in between 10C; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS 10A. Color when fully opened, lower surface — Yellow, nearest to in between 10A; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS 11A. Bract.—General — One large, colorful bract is present at each node or branch of the inflorescence; one large, colorful bract subtends each individual flower. Bracts at the nodes of the inflorescence — Shape — Obovate. Aspect — Concave. Dimensions — Average of 4.9 cm long, including the sheath, and 2.2 cm wide. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Cuneate. Margins — Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface — Smooth and slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface — Smooth and glossy. Color, upper surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 197C, and strongly suffused with red, nearest to a mixture of RHS 54B and 54C; apex is yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148B. Color, lower surface — Red, nearest to RHS 53B; apex is suffused with yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A. Venation — No venation is visible. Bracts subtending the individual flowers — Shape — Ovate. Aspect — Conduplicate. Dimensions — Average of 4.6 cm long, including the sheath, and 1.3 cm wide. Apex — Acute. Base — Cuneate. Margins — Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface — Smooth and slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface — Smooth and slightly glossy. Color, upper surface — Orange, nearest to RHS 26B, and suffused with red at the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS 53C and 53D. Color, lower surface — Orange-red, nearest to RHS N30B, and fading to yellow towards the margins, nearest to RHS 21B; base and apex are orange-red, nearest to RHS 34A; tipped with a darker shade of orange-red, nearest to RHS N34A. Venation — No venation is visible. Reproductive organs: Stamens.—Quantity — 6, on average. Anthers — Attachment — Dorsifixed. Shape — Narrow oblong. Dimensions — 0.7 cm long and 0.18 cm wide. Color — Yellow, nearest to in between RHS 12B and 12C. Filaments — Length — 1.5 cm, on average. Color — White, nearest to RHS 157D. Pollen — Amount — Sparse. Color — Yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 12C and 12D. Pistil.—Quantity — 1. Length — 1.9 cm. Style — Length — 1.8 cm. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. Stigma — Shape — Irregularly club-shaped. Dimensions — Average of 0.1 cm long and 0.25 cm wide. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 151B. Ovary Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. Fruit and seed: To date, not observed.

Comparisons With the Parent Plants

(5) Plants of the new cultivar ‘BUNVRIOR’ differ from the unnamed Vriesea seed parent (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘BUNVRIOR’ Seed parent. Foliage length. Shorter than the seed Longer than parent. ‘BUNVRIOR’. Branching habit More freely-branched Not as freely-branching as of the than the seed ‘BUNVRIOR’; ranging inflorescence. parent, with 6 to from 4 to 6 lateral 8 lateral branches. branches. General color- Orange to orange-red, Yellow. ation of the generally appearing as floral bracts. more of a vibrant orange.

(7) Plants of the new cultivar ‘BUNVRIOR’ differ from the unnamed Vriesea pollen parent (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘BUNVRIOR’ Pollen parent. Foliage length. Longer than the pollen Shorter than parent. ‘BUNVRIOR’. Inflorescence Taller than the pollen Shorter than height. parent. ‘BUNVRIOR’. General color- Orange to orange-red, Red-orange. ation of the generally appearing as floral bracts. more of a vibrant orange.

Comparison With the Most Similar Vriesea Cultivar Known to the Inventor

(9) ‘BUNVRIOR’ is similar to the commercial variety Vriesea ‘TA41’ (not patented) in many horticultural characteristics. However, ‘BUNVRIOR’ differs from ‘TA41’ in the following characteristics described in Table 3.

(10) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘BUNVRIOR’ ‘TA41’ Plant height. Taller than ‘TA41’. Shorter than ‘BUNVRIOR’. Foliage size. Smaller and narrower Larger and broader than than the ‘TA41’. ‘BUNVRIOR’. Foliage luster. Foliage is not as glossy Foliage is glossier than as that of ‘TA41’. that of ‘BUNVRIOR’. Inflorescence Smaller than the ‘TA41’. Larger than size. ‘BUNVRIOR’. General color- Orange to orange-red, More towards a ation of the generally appearing as peach color. floral bracts. more of a vibrant orange.