<i>Dracaena </i>plant named ‘PVDRAGCI’

Abstract

A new and distinct Dracaena plant named PVDRAGCI which is characterized by the combination of an upright growth habit with variegated foliage borne atop a large cane, lorate-shaped and spiraled foliage, variegated foliage which is green and axially striped with a darker shade of green and broadly and irregularly margined light yellow, mature foliage which edged with a darker shade of yellow, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant named PVDRAGCI, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of PVDRAGCI grown in Monster, the Netherlands. This plant, grown in a 15 cm nursery container, is approximately 18 weeks old from a rooted young plant; and

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the actively growing portion of an exemplary PVDRAGCI plant; and

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical upper foliage of PVDRAGCI; and

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical lower foliage of PVDRAGCI.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(5) The following observations and measurements, made in May of 2019, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 18 week-old PVDRAGCI plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots in Monster, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Dracaena sp. which consisted of growing under shade cloth, irrigating at regular intervals with ebb and flow flood benches, and fertigation. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

(6) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. PVDRAGCI has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

(7) A botanical description of PVDRAGCI and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial Dracaena cultivar known to the inventor are provided below. Plant description: Growth habit.Upright evergreen perennial with foliage born atop a cane. Plant profile.Obovate to broad elliptical. Average height from base to top of foliage.101.9 cm. Average width.Average of 46.0 cm. Growth rate.Moderately fast growing. Plant vigor.Moderately vigorous. Propagation details.Asexual propagation is accomplished by semi-hardwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots.Approximately 5 weeks are required to initiate roots at 25 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a marketable 15 cm potted plant.Approximately 15 to 30 weeks. Pinching will increase lateral branching. Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.Neither tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of Dracaena fragrans have been observed. Environmental tolerances.Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain and wind. Root system: General.Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense rooting. Distribution in the soil profile.Shallow to moderately deep. Texture.Smooth; glabrous. Color.Greyed-orange, RHS N 170A. Stems: Branching characteristics.Not freely branched in nature; typically develops lateral branches only when manipulated by man by way of pruning. In cultivation, there is typically one lateral branch that arises from the cane. Quantity of main stems.1 cane. Quantity of lateral branches.1. Main stem.Attitude Near vertical. Strength Very strong. Texture Glabrous; fissured. Color Nearest to a mixture of greyed-orange and greyed-brown, RHS 165C and 199B. Lateral branches.Attitude Near vertical. Strength Very strong. Stem texture Glabrous. Stem luster Matte. Color, developing stems Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 144D. Color, mature stems Yellow-Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C and 144D. Color at the internodes Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 146B. Foliage: Arrangement.Spiraled. Attachment.Sheathed. Division.Simple. Attitude.Foliage near the apex is upright to outward and becomes progressively more relaxed towards the cane. Number of leaves per lateral branch.17. Lamina.Dimensions 28.3 cm long and 6.4 cm wide, on average. Shape Lorate. Aspect Moderately axially twisted (i.e. spiraled); distal portion on the lamina pointing downward. Apex Acute with a short, soft but pointed tip. Base Sheathed. Sheath Length 2.4 cm. Width 2.4 cm. Color, adaxial surface Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A. Color, abaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Margin.Entire; coarsely undulate. Texture and luster of adaxial surface.Smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface.Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color.Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A; lightly axially striped with a darker shade of yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 146A; broadly and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and edged yellow, nearest to RHS 11A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 146A; broadly and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and edged yellow, nearest to RHS 11A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A and 138B; irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D, and edged yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 8A and 8B. Venation.Pattern Parallel. Color, adaxial surface Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 146A; broadly and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A, and edged yellow, nearest to RHS 11A. Color, abaxial surface The main vein, or midrib, is yellow-green, RHS 144B. All other veins are indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage: green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 138A and 138B, and irregularly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D, and edged yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 8A to 8B. Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed. Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed. Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed. Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed. Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed. Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar PVDRAGCI may be distinguished from its parent, Dracaena fragrans Golden Coast Plant Pat. No. 12,603, by the characteristics described in Table 1.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic PVDRAGCI Golden Coast Foliage size. Larger and broader Smaller and narrower than Golden Coast. than PVDRAGCI. General coloration of Margined with a darker Margined with a the foliage margins. shade of yellow. lighter shade of yellow.

(9) Plants of the new cultivar PVDRAGCI may be distinguished from the closest known commercial comparator, the common form of the species Dracaena steudneri (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic PVDRAGCI Dracaena steudneri Foliage aspect. More strongly spiraled Less spiralled. (i.e. axially twisted) Foliage attitude. Lower foliage is Lower foliage is more upright than more relaxed those of than those of Dracaena steudneri. PVDRAGCI. Internode length. Longer internodes Shorter internodes compared to compared to Dracaena steudneri. PVDRAGCI. Foliage size. Larger than that of Smaller than that Dracaena steudneri. of PVDRAGCI. General coloration Variegated foliage Has medium of the foliage. comprised of dark green leaves; green, medium green no variegation. and light green axial striations, as well as yellow margins.