<i>Guzmania </i>plant ‘PUNTA’

Abstract

A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named PUNTA characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 35 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 40 to 60 cm length and about 4 to 6 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; bracts are orange-red in color (closest to RHS 34A), head inflorescence, measuring about 11 cm in height and about 14 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

Claims

1. A Guzmania plant named PUNTA, representative seed having been deposited at the NCIMB in Aberdeen Scotland, having accession number NCIMB 43484.

2. A Guzmania seed that produces the plant of claim 1.

3. A plant part obtained from the Guzmania plant of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fees.

(2) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Guzmania hybrid PUNTA showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of PUNTA.

(3) FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of the primary and top bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of PUNTA, at 14 months of age from potting size.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence and top bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of PUNTA, at 14 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The present invention was created by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nicolaas D. M. Steur in 2015, and flowered for the first time in 2018 in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

(6) This invention is directed to Guzmania plant having all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the hybrid PUNTA produced from seeds which are the product of the cross of the Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 880465 (unpatented) as the female or seed parent with the Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code 151173135 (unpatented) as the male or pollen parent. Both parents have a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of the cross were, and continue to be, phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid PUNTA can therefore be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing of the inbred selections identified by the codes 880465 and 151173135 to produce a population of progeny plants, each of which has the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new hybrid PUNTA.

(7) The new hybrid PUNTA can also be produced by asexually reproducing progeny from the cross of the parental inbred lines identified by the codes 880454 and 151173135. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2018, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The first PUNTA plants propagated through the use of such cuttings flowered in 2019, in Assendelft, The Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type and that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of PUNTA which in combination distinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar: 1. Stemless growth habit; 2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 35 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); 3. Numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 40-60 cm in length and about 4 to 6 cm in width. 4. Superior floral bract production; 5. Bracts are orange-red in color (closest to RHS 34A) 6. Head inflorescence, measuring about 11 cm in height, when flowering commences to about 14 cm in height at maturity. 7. Long-lasting habit.

(9) Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Guzmania hybrid PUNTA is the Guzmania cultivar REDTIX(U.S. Pat. No. 10,098,294). Plants of the new hybrid PUNTA differ from plants of REDTIX primary in color of the floral bracts ends.

(10) PUNTA has not been tested and observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, flowering treatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

(11) For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter, number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at the time that flowering is induced by flowering treatment. Since treatment to induce flowering disrupts normal watering and fertilization regimens. Flowering treatment of relatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant.

(12) The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania PUNTA as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of PUNTA were grown in a greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20 C. to 28 C. and night temperatures ranging from 18 C. to 23 C. No artificial lighting or photoperiodic treatments were conducted, but plants of PUNTA are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of PUNTA: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium.

(13) Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of PUNTA described is about 17 weeks after flowering treatment.

(14) Classification: Botanical: Guzmania sp.

(15) Parentage: Female Parent: Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 880465 (unpatented) Male Parent: Guzmania conifera inbred line identified by code 151173135 (unpatented)

(16) Plant: General Appearance and Form: Height: About 35 cm (when flowering) Width: About 85 cm Shape: Funnel form rosette Growth habit: Stemless Plant Vigor: Good Flowering Season: A fully grown plant can flower year-round, starting 16 weeks after induction of natural light or through flowering treatment. Cold Tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5 C. may damage plants. Fragrance: None

(17) Foliage: Quantity: About 20 (depending on the size of the plant) Size of Leaf: Length: About 40 cm to 60 cm (when flowering) Width: About 4-6 cm Overall Shape: linear lanceolate Apex Shape: acuminate Base Shape: Strap-like around central axis Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Orientation: Leaf blades arch continuously from base. Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on growing conditions. Immature and Mature: Upper surface: green, RHS 139A Under surface: green, RHS 139A, with 187A with greyed purple Venation: None

(18) Inflorescence: Borne: Erect Shape: head Size: Length: About 11 cm in height when flowering Diameter: About 14 cm Time of Bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence containing about 95 flowers (depending on the size of the plants), and can bloom the whole year starting about 16 weeks after natural induction or through flowering treatment. Duration of Bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total blooming of the whole inflorescence is about 12 weeks. Petals. Number: 3 per flower Length: About 5.5 cm Width: About 0.6 cm Overall Shape: Ligulate Apex Shape: Obtuse Base Shape: Fused Color: Upper and under surfaces: yellow, closest to RHS 7A Sepals: Number: 3 per flower Length: About 2.7 cm Width: About 0.4 cm Overall Shape: Ligulate Apex Shape: Acute Base Shape: Fused Color: Upper and under surfaces: translucent to orange-white, closest to RHS159C

(19) Bracts: Scape Bracts: Quantity: About 10 arrangement: Alternate Size: Length: About 30 cm (lowest) to about 13.5 cm (scape bracts positioned just below the primary bracts). Width: About 4-4.5 cm Overall shape: linear lanceolate Apex shape: acute Base shape: fused Margin: entire Texture: Smooth Upper and under surfaces: Scape bracts are green, closest to RHS 139A to greyed-red, closest of RHS 179A and 177A Primary Bracts: Quantity: About 8 Arrangement: Alternate: Size: Length: About 13.5 cm (lowest) to about 10 cm (primary bracts become shorter closer to the top of plant) Width: About 4 cm Overall shape: strongly recurved and ovate-lanceolate Apex shape: Acute Base shape: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Color: Upper and under surfaces: orange-red, closest to RHS 34A Floral bracts: length: about 5.5 to 7 cm Width: about 1 to 1.5 cm Color: orange-red RHS34A with a yellow tip RHS13A

(20) Reproductive Organs: Androecium: Stamen: Number: 6 per flower Length: About 3.5 cm Diameter: About 1 mm Color: Yellow, closest to RHS 8D Anther: Length: About 0.6 cm Color: yellow, closest to RHS 8D Pollen: Amount: Not observed.
Gynoecium: Pistil: Number: 1 per flower Length: About 5 cm Stigma: Shape: 3-parted Width: About 2 mm Color: green, too small to accurately distinguish RHS value Style: Length: About 4 cm Color: yellow-white, closest to RHS 158D Ovary: Position: Superior Shape: Conical Length: About 0.9 cm Diameter: About 0.3 cm Color: yellow-green, closest to RHS 151D

(21) SEEDS/FRUIT: No seed or fruit detected to date

(22) DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE/SUSCEPTIBILITY: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Guzmania observed to date.