<i>Vriesea </i>plant named ‘FLARE’

Abstract

A new and distinct Vriesea plant named FLARE characterized as a funnel form rosette plant, measuring about 34 cm in height (when flowering) and 40 cm in diameter, producing compound, orange-red in color, bipinnate spike inflorescence, measuring about 25 cm in length and about 12 cm in width, and about 6 to 7 branches, and yellow-green foliage, measuring about 26 cm in length and about 3.5 cm in width.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vriesea plant named FLARE as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying figure illustrates the overall appearance of the new Vriesea cultivar FLARE showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of FLARE. The photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of FLARE at about 18 months of age from potting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) FLARE has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of the plant. The afore mentioned photograph, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Vriesea cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of FLARE 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 FLARE are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of FLARE: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 parts magnesium. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 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 FLARE described is about 18 months from potting. Botanical classification: Vriesea hybrida FLARE.

PROPAGATION

(3) Type of propagation typically used: Tissue culture.

PLANT

(4) Shape: Funnel form rosette. Height: Approximately: 34 cm. Plant spread: Approximately: 40 cm. Plant vigor: Good. Flowering season: A fully grown plant can flower year-round, starting 15 weeks after induction of natural light or through flowering treatment. Cold tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5 C. may damage plants. Fragrance: None. Root description: Densely branched, non-fibrous, non-fleshy, colored Greyed-orange; near RHS 165C.

FOLIAGE

(5) Leaf: Quantity.About 20. Average length.About 26 cm. Average width.About 3.5 cm. Shape of blade.Broad and linear. Apex.Abruptly acuminate. Base.Strap-like around central axis. Margin.Entire. Texture of top surface.Smooth, glabrous. Texture of bottom surface.Smooth, glabrous. Color.Leaf color can vary depending on growing conditions. Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 139A. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137A. Venation.Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: Indistinguished from leaf blade. Petiole: No petiole present. Branchlets: Quantity.About 6-7. Length.About 9 cm. Width.About 3 cm. Color.RHS Orange-Red 33A. Texture.Glabrous. Bracts: Quantity of bracts on main spike.About 12. Arrangement.Alternate. Length.About 3 cm. Width.About 2.4 cm. Overall shape.Ovate. Color.RHS Orange-Red 33A. Apex.Broad acute. Margin.Entire. Base.Clasping. Texture.Glabrous all surfaces.

INFLORESCENCE

(6) General description: 1 flower per floral bract, typical for the genus Vriesea; flowering is normally in progression from base to tip of scape. Inflorescence height.Approximately 25 cm. Inflorescence width.Approximately 12 cm. Shape.Bipinnate spike (main spike about 12 cm in length and about 4 cm in width, side spike about 9 cm in length and about 3 cm in width). Color.RHS Orange-Red 33A. Corolla: Form.Long and narrow, petals and sepals fused at the base around the ovary. Number.About 44 depending on the size of the plant. Size.About 3.4 cm long and 0.7 cm in diameter. Petals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 3.5 cm. Width.About 0.8 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Obtuse. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth all surfaces. Margin.Entire. Color.Upper surface: RHS Yellow 9C. Lower surface: RHS Yellow 9C. Sepals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 2.5 cm. Width.About 0.8 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Acute. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth all surfaces. Margin.Entire. Color.Closest to RHS Yellow 8A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(7) Androecium: Stamen.Number: 6 per flower. Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 11C. Anther.Length: About 0.6 cm. Color: Closest to RHS Yellow 11A. Pollen.Amount: Not countable. Color: Yellow, too small to qualify R.H.S. Gynoecium: Pistil.Number: 1 per flower. Length: About 4.2 cm. Stigma.Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 0.4 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Style.Length: About 3.5 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 11C. Ovary.Shape: Conical. Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 150C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(8) Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Vriesea observed. Temperature tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5 C. may damage plants. Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.