<i>Vriesea </i>plant named ‘BRIGHT DAY’

Abstract

A new and distinct Vriesea plant named BRIGHT DAY characterized as a funnel form rosette plant, measuring about 38 cm in height (when flowering) and 45 cm in diameter, producing compound, red in color (RHS 45B), bipinnate spike inflorescence, measuring about 20 cm in height and about 18 cm in diameter, about 7 branches, and yellow-green foliage, measuring about 25-30 cm in length and about 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm in width.

Claims

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the new Vriesea cultivar BRIGHT DAY 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 BRIGHT DAY.

(2) The photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical potted flowering plant of BRIGHT DAY at about 18 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(3) BRIGHT DAY 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 BRIGHT DAY 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 BRIGHT DAY are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of BRIGHT DAY: 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 (RHS) 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 BRIGHT DAY described is about 18 months from potting size. Botanical classification: Vriesea BRIGHT DAY.

PROPAGATION

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

PLANT

(5) Growth habit: Funnel form rosette. Height: Approximately: 38 cm. Plant spread: Approximately: 45 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

(6) Leaf: Quantity.About 26. Average length.25-30 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 Yellow-Green 147A. Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Venation.Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: Indistinguishable from leaf blade. Petiole: No petiole present.

INFLORESCENCE

(7) 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 15 cm in length and about 4 cm in width, side spike about 14-20 cm in length and about 4 cm in width). Typically 7 branches. Color.RHS Red 45B. Corolla: Form.Long and narrow, petals and sepals fused at the base around the ovary. Petals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 4.7 cm. Width.About 0.8 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Obtuse. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth. Color.Upper surface: RHS Yellow 7C, Yellow-Green 144B at tip. Lower surface: RHS Yellow 7C, Greyed-Orange 164B at tip. Sepals: Number.3 per flower. Length.About 2.5 cm. Width.About 0.7 cm. Overall shape.Ligulate. Apex shape.Acute. Base shape.Fused. Texture.Smooth. Color.Translucent, yellow with red flush, closest to RHS Yellow 8C and Red 43C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(8) Androecium: Stamen.Number: 6 per flower. Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 8C. Anther.Length: About 0.6 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 8D. Pollen.Amount: Numerous. Color: Yellow, too small to accurate measure with RHS chart. Gynoecium: Pistil.Number: 1 per flower. Length: About 5.5 cm. Stigma.Shape: 3-parted. Width: About 0.3 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 151C. Style.Length: About 5 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 8C. Ovary.Shape: Conical. Length: About 0.4 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow 8D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(9) 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.