<i>Dracaena </i>plant named ‘PVDRALC’

Abstract

A new and distinct Dracaena plant named PVDRALC which is characterized by a compact growth habit and a relatively short plant height, dark green foliage born on a single unbranched stem, relaxed foliage which is heavily curled downward, foliage with a relatively high length to width ratio, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant named PVDRALC, 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 PVDRALC grown in San Jose, Costa Rica. This plant, grown in a 15 cm nursery container, is approximately 26 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 typical foliage of PVDRALC.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical lower foliage of PVDRALC, shown from an alternate perspective.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(4) The following observations and measurements, made in May of 2019, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 26 week-old PVDRALC plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots in San Jose, Costa Rica. 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.

(5) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. PVDRALC 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).

(6) A botanical description of PVDRALC 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 on a solitary unbranched stem. Plant profile.Broad oblong. Average height from base to top of foliage.72.5 cm. Average width.Average of 75.0 cm. Growth rate.Moderately fast growing. Plant vigor.Highly vigorous. Propagation details.Asexual propagation is accomplished by 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 N170A. Stems: Branching characteristics.Not freely branched in nature; develops lateral branches only when manipulated by man by way of pruning. Naturally produces one main stem arising from the plant's base. Attitude.Near vertical. Strength.Very strong. Length.47.8 cm. Diameter.Average 1.8 cm. Internode length.Average 0.8 cm. Stem texture.Glabrous; smooth. Stem luster.Matte. Color, developing stems.Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 145C. Color, mature stems.Yellow-Green, nearest to in between RHS 145B and 147D. Color at the internodes.Yellow-Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146C and 146D. Foliage: Arrangement.Spiraled. Attachment.Sheathed. Division.Simple. Attitude.Foliage near the apex is upright to outward and becomes progressively more relaxed towards the base. Number of leaves per lateral branch.44. Lamina.Dimensions 46.1 cm long and 8.4 cm wide, on average. Shape Lorate. Aspect Flat and curled downward with the distalmost portion on the lamina pointing yet further downward at an average angle of minus 135 degrees to the rest of the lamina. Apex Acute with a short, soft but pointed tip. Base Sheathed. Sheath Length 4.5 cm. Width 1.9 cm. Color, adaxial surface Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A. Color, abaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 143C. Margin Entire; not undulate to very lightly undulate. Texture and luster of adaxial surface Smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface Smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy. Color Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface Green, nearest to in between RHS NN137A and 139A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 143A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface Nearest to in between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS NN137B, and fading to in between a darker shade of green and yellow-green towards the margins, RHS NN137A and 147A. Venation Pattern Parallel. Color, adaxial surface The main vein nearest green, nearest to RHS 137B. All other veins are indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage: nearest to in between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A. Color, abaxial surface The main vein is yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146A and 146B. All other veins are indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage: green, nearest to RHS NN137B, and fading to in between a darker shade of green and yellow-green towards the margins, RHS NN137A and 147A. 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

(7) Plants of the new cultivar PVDRALC may be distinguished from its parent, Dracaena fragrans Steudneri plant (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

(8) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristic PVDRALC Steudneri Growth habit. Less compact. More compact. Foliage attitude. Foliage is generally Foliage is generally more relaxed. more upright. Foliage aspect. Less spiraled (i.e. More spiralled. axially twisted) Foliage margins. Less undulate. More undulate. General coloration Darker shade of green Medium green. of the foliage. than the parent.

(9) Plants of the new cultivar PVDRALC may be distinguished from the closest known commercial comparator, Dracaena fragrans Golden Coast (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

(10) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristic PVDRALC Golden Coast Foliage attitude. Foliage is generally Foliage is generally more more relaxed. upright. Foliage margins. Undulate. No undulation. Internode length. Longer internodes Shorter internodes compared compared to to PVDRALC. Dracaena steudneri. General Darker shade of Green foliage with broad, light coloration green than the green to light yellow axial of the foliage. parent. striations towards the margins; narrowly margined yellow.