<i>Celosia </i>plant named ‘ZANCENTHOS’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Celosia plant named Zancenthos, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with greyed purple-colored spots; freely flowering habit; bright reddish purple-colored flowers arranged on spicate-type inflorescences; and good container and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named Zancenthos 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 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of Zancenthos grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of Zancenthos.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 9-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 20 C. to 22 C. and light levels averaged 2,500 lux. Plants were grown under photoinductive long nyctoperiods, pinched one time about 2.5 weeks after planting and were ten 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 argentea Zancenthos. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Proprietary Celosia argentea selection identified as code number 13-0044, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Proprietary Celosia argentea selection identified as code number 13-0249, not patented. Propagation: Type.By terminal cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About 12 days at temperatures about 21 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 19 days at temperatures about 21 C. Root description.Fine, fibrous and fleshy; close to 199D in color. Rooting habit.Freely branching; dense. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.Herbaceous annual typically grown as a potted plant; compact and broadly upright plant habit; freely branching habit with about five to six lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate. Plant height.About 25 cm to 30 cm. Plant width (spread).About 25 cm. Lateral branches.Length: About 25 cm to 28 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm. Texture: Ribbed, glabrous. Color: Close to 138A to 138B. Leaf description: Arrangement.Alternate; simple. Length.About 7 cm to 12 cm. Width.About 3 cm to 8 cm. Shape.Elliptic to broadly elliptic. Apex.Acuminate. Base.Attenuate to truncate. Margin.Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces.Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern.Pinnate. Color.Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; lower leaves with random sectors and spots, close to N187A; venation, close to 149D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; lower leaves with random sectors and spots, close to 186D; venation, close to 139D. Petioles.Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 149D. Color, lower surface: Close to 139D. Flower description: Flower type and flowering habit.Single elliptical flowers arranged in terminal and axillary spikes; spicate-type inflorescences; flowers face mostly upright; freely flowering habit, about 70 to 160 flowers per inflorescence and about 5,500 flowers developing per plant. Fragrance.None detected. Natural flowering season.Plants begin flowering about 5.5 weeks after planting; in the garden, plants flower continuously during the summer in The Netherlands. Postproduction longevity.Inflorescences last about two months on the plant; flowers persistent. Inflorescence height.About 2.5 cm to 6 cm. Inflorescence diameter.About 1 cm to 1.8 cm. Flower diameter.About 2 mm. Flower depth.About 6 mm. Flower buds.Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: Close to 72A. Petals.None observed. Sepals.Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 64C; color does not fade with development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 64C; color does not fade with development. Pedicels.Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 45 from vertical. Strength: Weak; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145C. Reproductive organs.Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to N74A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to N74A. Stigma color: Close to N74C. Ovary color: Close to N144D. Seeds.Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color: Close to 202A. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Celosia have not been noted 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 tolerate rain and temperatures ranging from about 10 C. to 30 C.