<i>Ranunculus </i>plant named ‘ABGUNRAY’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ABGUNRAY is disclosed, characterized by large vivid red flowers with long, thick pedicels and a typical vase life of 20 to 25 days. Plants have a unique foliage carriage, with foliage occurring densely at the base of the plant. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ABGUNRAY as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately six months old, grown in a greenhouse during March in Camporosso, Italy. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6.sup.th edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe 5-month-old ABGUNRAY plants grown in a greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant has been described in the month of February. In order to protect the crop against pests, some chemical treatments are performed. Treatments with growth regulators can be performed to limit the plant sizes. In particular, no growth regulators have been applied on the plant described. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12 C. to 26 C. during the day and from 0 C. to 6 C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ABGUNRAY.

PROPAGATION

(3) Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-12 C. Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. Root description: Tuberous root.

PLANT

(4) Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, semi-prostrate vegetation. Height to top flower: 55 to 65 cm. Leaf height: 40 to 50 cm. Plant spread: 60 to 65 cm. Growth rate: Medium. Branching characteristics: Main floral stems grow from a basal rosette with 3 or 4 lateral branches, each one of which has one or more flowers. Length of lateral branches: 50 to 60 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: 6 to 8 mm. Texture of lateral branches: Slightly tomentose. Internode length: Internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal rosette. Strength of lateral branches: Medium. Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Aspect/angle of branches: 25 to 35. Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

(5) The plant has a marked heterophylly that means that in the same plant the leaves may have different size and arrangement (simple, ternate and biternate), in relation to the degree of development (young leaf and mature leaf) and their position on the plant (basal leafleaf at the base of the plantand cauline leafleaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems). In other words, there are significant variation in leaf shape on a same plant. Leaf at the base of the plant: Arrangement.Simple or Ternate (young leaf); Ternate (mature leaf,). Average length.22 to 35 cm. Average width.20 to 25 cm. Overall shape of blade.Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf). Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection.Young leaves are generally not lobed or a little lobed; mature leaves are generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex.Rounded. Base.Acute. Attachment.Petiolate. Margin.Dentate. Texture of top surface.Glabrous. Texture of bottom surface.Glabrous. Appearance of top surface.Glossy. Appearance bottom surface.Glossy. Leaf internode length.The internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal rosette. Color.Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green RHS 138B. Venation.Type: Dichotomous; plunging into the limb at the upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: RHS Green 138B. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137B. Petiole.Cross section: Long, tubular, or slightly flattened. Length: Average range 11 to 20 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.5 to 1.0 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems: Arrangement.Biternate. Average length.18 to 30 cm. Average width.10 to 12 cm. Overall shape of blade.Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection.Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further divided in many lobes. Apex.Acute. Base.Acute. Attachment.Petiolate. Margin.Dentate. Texture of top surface.A little tomentose. Texture of bottom surface.A little tomentose. Appearance of top surface.Matte. Appearance bottom surface.Matte. Leaf internode length.Average 7 to 15 cm. Color.Foliage upper side: RHS Green RHS 137B. Foliage under side: RHS Green RHS N138B. Venation.Type: Dichotomous, plunging into the limb at the upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: RHS Green 138B. Venation color under side: RHS Green 137B. Petiole.General: Long, slightly flat in cross-section. Length: Average 10 to 18 cm. Diameter: Average 0.5 to 0.9 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

FLOWER

(6) Quantity per plant: 8 to 10. Bloom period: Winter to Spring. Vase life (cut flower): 20 to 25 days. Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. Bud: Closed bud.Shape: Flattened globular with a sharp point. Length: Average 1.0 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: Average 0.4 to 2.2 cm. Color: RHS Purple N77A. Slightly open bud.Shape: Flattened globular. Length: Average 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Diameter: Average 2.0 to 3.0 cm. Color: RHS Red 53B. Flower: Fully open diameter.Average 8 to 10 cm. Fully open height.Average 3 to 4 cm. Corolla: Round, regular, in cross-section. Petals: Arrangement.Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable, according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from the exterior toward the center. Average size. Lobe length.Average 4.0 to 5.0 cm. Lobe width.Average 3.0 to 4.0 cm. Quantity.Double flower, petals are very numerous (>100). Texture.Silky, thin, resistant. Lobe apex.Flat, blunt. Lobe shape.Obovate. Margin.Finely Crenate. Aspect.Concave. Color when opening.Upper surface: Near RHS Red 53B. Lower surface: Near RHS Red 53B. Color fully opened.Upper surface: Near RHS Red 45A. Lower surface: Near RHS Red 45A. Calyx/sepals: Quantity per flower.6 or 9. Shape.Concave. Length.Average 2.5 to 3.0 cm. Width.Average 0.7 to 1.2 cm. Apex.Acute. Base.Truncate. Margin.Entire. Texture.Lower surface: Tomentose. Upper surface: Glabrous. Color.Upper Surface: RHS Purple N77A. Lower Surface: RHS Green N137A, flushed Purple N77A along veins. Peduncle: None. Pedicel: Length.Average range 53 to 64 cm. Diameter.Average range 1.0 to 1.8 cm. Color.RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Orientation.Upright. Pubescence.Slightly tomentose. Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(7) Androecium: Absent. Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium. Pistil color.RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Nectar glands.Absent.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(8) Disease resistance: Not observed. Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: No differences have been noted in comparison to the common tolerance characteristics to other Ranunculus cultivars. Fruit/seed production: Not observed.