Poinsettia plant named ‘LAZZPONEO’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named LAZZPONEO, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large and full inflorescences with light red-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named LAZZPONEO as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of LAZZPONEO grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of LAZZPONEO.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Merano, Italy and under cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 C. to 20 C., night temperatures ranged from 10 C. to 15 C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 55 klux. Plants were pinched one time two weeks after planting, grown under natural daylength conditions and were five months 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, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. LAZZPONEO. Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. Monreale Marble, not patented. Propagation: Type.Terminal vegetative cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About two weeks at soil temperatures ranging from 22 C. to 25 C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 25 C. to 30 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 24 days at soil temperatures ranging from 22 C. to 25 C. and ambient temperatures ranging from 25 C. to 30 C. Root description.Medium to thin, slightly fleshy; typically pale creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; inverted triangle with rounded crown; large and full inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate. Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.About 27 cm. Plant diameter or spread.About 45 cm. Lateral branch description.Branching habit: Freely branching habit with about five to seven lateral branches developing after pinching. Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 146B. Leaf description.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 12 cm to 15 cm. Width: About 7 cm to 10 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: One to three shallow lobes; slightly undulate. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A to 139B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 184A. Color, lower surface: Close to 184C. Inflorescence description: Inflorescence type and habit.Large full inflorescences are compound corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia; one inflorescence per lateral branch with inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane. Fragrance.None detected. Natural flowering season.Plants flower naturally during the late autumn to winter under long nyctoperiod conditions; inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions; response time is about 8 to 8.5 weeks. Post-production longevity.Excellent post-production longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and bract color for about four to six weeks; flower bracts persistent. Inflorescence width.About 20 cm to 25 cm. Inflorescence height.About 4 cm to 6 cm. Flower bracts.Quantity per inflorescence: About 15. Length: About 10.5 cm to 12.5 cm. Width: About 6 cm to 9 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire or occasionally shallowly lobed; slightly undulate. Aspect: Horizontal to slightly drooping. Venation: Pinnate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately rugose, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing bracts, upper surface: Close to 44A. Developing bracts, lower surface: Close to 45B. Fully expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 42A; venation, close to 42A; color becoming closer to 45A with development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 43B; venation, close to 43B; color becoming closer to 45C with development. Bract petioles: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 46A. Color, lower surface: Close to 46C. Cyathia.Quantity per corymb: About six to eight. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Cylindrical to ovoid. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, developing, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 144A. Color, fully developed, inner surface: Close to 145A. Color, fully developed, outer surface: Close to 145B. Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: Typically one. Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Lip-shaped. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, fully developed, inner surface: Close to 14A. Color, fully developed, outer surface: Close to 13A. Pedicels.Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 145B. Reproductive organs.Stamens: To date, stamen development has not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia. Pistils: Quantity per cyathia: Typically, one or two. Pistil length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Style length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Style shape: Recurved. Fruits: Quantity: None to very few with one to three seeds. Length: About 8 mm to 12 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettia plants.