<i>Caladium </i>plant named ‘JPD OF14-457’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named JPD OF14-457, characterized by its compact, intermediate height and somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color with dark red-colored centers and venation; and petioles that are tan in color flushed with reddish purple.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named JPD OF14-457 as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium 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 Caladium plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 6) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of JPD OF14-457 in a container and grown in a shade house (tuber de-eyed).

(3) The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 6) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, BRZ Rd Fcy 07 (left), JPD OF14-457 (center) and the male parent, JPD 153-20 (right).

(4) The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3 of 6) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of John Peed (left), JPD OF14-457 (center) and Frieda Hemple (right).

(5) The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 4 of 6) is a comparison view of typical plants of JPD OF14-457 grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

(6) The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 5 of 6) is a side perspective view of typical plants of JPD OF14-457 grown in an open production field.

(7) The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 6 of 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of JPD OF14-457.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28 C. to 33 C., night temperatures ranged from about 22 C. to 25 C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29 C. to 35 C., night temperatures ranged from about 23 C. to 26 C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shade house were seven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were 28 weeks old when the photographs and the detailed 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: Caladium X hortulanum JPD OF14-457. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Caladium X hortulanum BRZ Rd Fcy 07, not patented, proprietary cultivar typically used for breeding. Male, or pollen, parent.Caladium X hortulanum JPD 153-20, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,944. Propagation: Type.By chipping the tubers. Time to initiate roots, summer.About seven to ten days at temperatures about 32 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About two to three weeks at temperatures about 24 C. Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown plants).Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments mostly round or ovate in shape. Height: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 8.3 cm to 10.6 cm. Segment height: About 2.7 cm. Segment diameter: About 3.1 cm. Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size: About 4 mm by 6 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm, freshly-harvested: Close to 177B to 177C and N199C. Periderm, dried: Close to 200A. Epidermis: Initially, close to 173D becoming closer to 161C to 161D with development. Cortical tissue: Close to 2D and 4D. Axillary buds: Close to 174D and 179D. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few lateral branches; color, close to NN155D. Rooting habit: Dense. Plant description: Plant type.Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape plant in shaded areas. Plant and growth habit.Compact, intermediate in height and somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; potted plants finish in saleable form in about six to seven weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright and leaning outwardly with development. Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade house-grown potted plants.About 24 cm to 34 cm. Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants.About 36 cm to 42 cm. Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.About four to seven develop per #1 tuber. Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed.About four to eight develop per #1 tuber. Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.Length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Linear to wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color: Outer surface: Close to 156C to 156D with stippling, streaks and tessellations, close to N199A to N199B and 199A; color becoming closer to N199B and 199A with development. Leaf description: Arrangement and type.Alternate; simple; fancy-type. Length, shade house-grown potted plants.About 13.5 cm to 18.5 cm. Width, shade house-grown potted plants.About 11.2 cm to 13 cm; when flattened, about 11.5 cm to 14 cm. Shape.Broadly ovate, roughly cordate. Apex.Acute, cuspidate to obtuse. Base.Sagittate-peltate, cordate. Margin.Entire with broad undulations. Texture and luster, upper surface.Rugose, glabrous; initially glossy becoming matte with development. Texture and luster, lower surface.Rugose, glabrous; slightly glaucous; matte. Venation pattern.Pinnate. Color, shade house-grown potted plants.Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to 137A and NN137A. Towards the margins: Close to 137A and NN137A. Leaf edge: Narrow, close to 183A, 187A and 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Leaf attachment point: Close to 187A. Midvein: Close to 53A and 53B. Lateral venation: Close to 53A tinged with close to N186D. Interveinal areas and areas surrounding venation: Close to 53A, lighter than 53A and close to 53A tinged with close to 183B. Developing and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Background color: Close to 191A. Towards the margins: Close to 191A. Leaf edge: Close to 183A and 187A to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 53A. Leaf attachment point: Close to 53A. Midvein: Close to 53A tinged with close to 59B. Lateral venation: Close to 53A tinged with close to 59B. Interveinal areas: Close to 191A, 157B, 184A and 185B. Petioles.Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade house-grown potted plants: About 21.5 cm to 28.2 cm. Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 6 mm to 9 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glaucous. Color, shade house-grown potted plants: When developing and fully developed: Close to N170D flushed with close to 181C and 177A and with variable and faint stippling, streaks and tessellations of close to 182B and 177D; just below the leaf junction, close to 60A tinged with close to 53B. Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants: About 5.1 cm to 7 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown potted plants: About 9.5 mm to 11 mm. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull. Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer surface: Close to 156C to 156D with stippling, streaks and tessellations of close to N199A to N199B and 199A. Inner surface: Close to N155C and N155B; colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence development has not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and other pathogens common to Caladium plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7 C. to about 40 C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones, tubers can be lifted prior to first freeze and stored in a cool dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring.