<i>Vriesea </i>plant named ‘SHADE’

Abstract

A new and distinct Vriesea cultivar named SHADE is disclosed, characterized by a compound, orange-red bipinnate spike inflorescence and light green foliage. The new variety is a Vriesea, typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Claims

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the new Vriesea cultivar SHADE 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 SHADE. The photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of SHADE at about 18 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(2) SHADE 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 SHADE 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 SHADE are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of SHADE: 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 SHADE described is about 18 months from potting size. Botanical classification: Vriesea hybrid SHADE.

PROPAGATION

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

PLANT

(4) Growth habit: Funnel form rosette. Height: Approximately: 40 cm. Plant spread: Approximately: 55 cm. Plant vigor: Good. Flowering season: A fully grown plant can flower year-round, starting approximately 16 weeks after induction of natural light or trough 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 165A.

FOLIAGE

(5) Leaf: Quantity.About 17. Average length.35 cm. Average width.3.5-4.5 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.Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young foliage under side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137B, flushed with RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Venation.Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: Indistinguishable from leaf blade. Petiole: No petiole present. Bract-like branches: Quantity.About 3. Length.About 12-14 cm. Width.About 5 cm. Color.RHS Orange-Red 34A. Bracts: Quantity of bracts on main spike.About 26. Arrangement.Alternate. Length.About 5 cm. Width.About 2.5 cm. Overall shape.Ovate. Color.RHS Orange-Red 34A.

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 27 cm. Inflorescence width.Approximately 13 cm. Shape.Bipinnate spike (main spike about 20 cm in length and about 8 cm in width, side spike about 12-14 cm in length and about 5 cm in width). Color.RHS Orange-Red 34A. Corolla: Form.Long and narrow, petals and sepals fused at the base around the ovary. Number.About 28 depending on the size of the plant. Petals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 5 cm. Width.About 0.5 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Obtuse. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth. Color.Upper surface: RHS Yellow 8A. Lower surface: RHS Yellow 8A. Sepals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 3 cm. Width.About 1 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Acute. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth. Color.Translucent, Yellow, closest to RHS Yellow 4D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(7) Androecium: Stamen.Number: 6 per flower. Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 4C. Anther.Length: About 0.6 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 4A. Pollen.Amount: Scant. Color: Yellow, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. Gynoecium: Pistil.Number: 1 per flower. Length: About 5.5 cm. Stigma.Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 0.5 cm. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 154C. Style.Length: About 5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 4C. Ovary.Shape: Conical. Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow 4D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

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