<i>Caladium </i>plant named ‘GPR OF16-241’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘GPR OF16-241’, characterized by its compact and upright to mounding plant habit; dense, leafy and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; lance-type leaves that are greenish white in color, variably flushed with purplish pink and veins that are dark green in color and flushed with dark purple; leaves that occasionally have leafy appendages attached to the lower leaf surface and are similar in color to the leaves; and petioles that are close to black in color.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘GPR OF16-241’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘GPR OF16-241’ grown in a container that has not had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

(3) The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is side perspective view of typical plants of the female parent, ‘GPR SWT STR OF13-993’ (left), ‘GPR OF16-241’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (right).

(4) The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Sangria’ (left), ‘GPR OF16-241’ (center) and ‘Xplosion’ (right).

(5) The photograph at the top of the third sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘GPR OF16-241’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

(6) The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet (FIG. 5) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘GPR OF16-241’ grown in an open production field.

(7) The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘GPR OF16-241’.

(8) The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet (FIG. 7) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘GPR OF16-241’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 1,300 μmol. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and full sunlight conditions. Plants grown in the shade house were seven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six 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, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘GPR OF16-241’. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘GPR SWT STR OF13-993’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,470. Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526. Propagation: Type.—By “chipping” the tubers. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at temperatures about 32° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at temperatures about 24° C. Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments are elliptic to irregular in shape. Height: About 2.5 cm to 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 cm to 6.2 cm. Segment height: About 2.1 cm to 2.5 cm. Segment diameter: About 2.3 cm to 3.2 cm. Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud height: About 3.5 mm. Axillary bud width: About 4 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm, freshly-harvested: Close to N199A. Periderm, dried: Close to 200A to 200B. Epidermis: Close to 159B; becoming closer to 159B to 159C with subsequent development. Cortical tissue: Close to 11C and 11D. Axillary buds: Close to 38B. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few lateral branches; color, close to N155D, 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: Medium density. Plant description: Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape plant in shaded areas. Plant and growth habit.—Compact and upright to mounding plant habit; dense, leafy and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants finish in saleable form in about six weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright and leaning outwardly with development. Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 20 cm to 24 cm. Plant height, from soil level to top of floral plane, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 15 cm. Plant diameter, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 38 cm to 43 cm. Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed.—About nine to twelve develop per #1 tuber. Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1 tuber. Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to emarginate. Base: Sheathing the stem. Texture and luster, outer and inner surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, outer surface: Close to 155C, streaked, stippled and flushed with close to 200A; distal end, close to 200A; color becoming closer to 200A stained with close to 187A with subsequent development. Color, inner surface: Close to 156D and 155C with colors and color patterns from outer surface visible. Leaf description: Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type; occasionally with leafy appendages attached to the lower leaf surface and similar in color to the leaves. Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 12 cm to 15 cm. Width, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 8.5 to 12 cm. Shape.—Broadly ovate, cordate. Apex.—Acute to acuminate. Base.—Sagittate-peltate; cordate. Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations. Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; thin; dull sheen. Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly glaucous; dull sheen. Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate. Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—When developing, upper surface: Background color: Close to NN155B or 155C variably tinged with close to 54C and/or 185D. Margins: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187C and 187D. Midvein: Close to NN137B, 177B and N186A. Lateral venation: Close to 137B, 177B and N186A; marginal venation, close to NN137B. Speckles: Close to NN137B and 155C. When developing, lower surface: Background color: Close to NN155A and NN155B tinged with close to 54D or close to N186A. Margins: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A and 187C. Midvein: Close to 191B flushed with close to 177D variably mottled and streaked with close to 200A and 200B. Lateral venation: Close to 191C tinged with close to 177D and variably streaked with close to 200A and 200B; marginal venation, close to 191A tinged with close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to 155C variably flushed with close to 65D and/or 185D. Margins: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A and 187B. Midvein and lateral venation: Close to N186A and 187C tinged with close to 177B with occasional streaks, close to 147A; marginal venation, close to 147A and 147A flushed with close to 182C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Background color: Close to 62D. Margins: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A and 187B. Midvein: Close to 191C flushed with close to 177D variably mottled and streaked with close to 200A and 200B. Lateral venation: Close to 191B and 191C tinged with close to 177D and variably streaked with close to 200B, 200C and 200D; marginal venation, close to 191A tinged with close to 189A. Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade house-grown potted plants: About 11.5 cm to 21 cm. Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 3 mm to 3.5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted plants: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; distally, glaucous. Color, shade house-grown potted plants: Close to 203A variably streaked with close to N170D or 199B and N199B stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 200C; just below the leaf junction, close to 202A streaked with close to 181C or entirely, close to 203A. Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown potted plants: About 5 mm. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen. Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Inner surface: Close to N155B, 156D and 155C; colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Outer surface: Close to 155C, densely streaked, stippled and flushed with close to 200A. Inflorescence description: Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape; spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at junction of female and male flower zones; near this junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male flowers. Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; jasmine-like with camphor note. Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer in central Florida; flowers develop about eight weeks after growth commences; inflorescences last about three days before fading; inflorescences persistent. Spathe.—Length, overall: About 8.5 cm. Length, distal open portion: About 5.7 cm. Length, proximal closed portion: About 2.8 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 2.4 cm. Depth, distal open portion: About 1.5 cm. Width, at constriction: About 8.5 mm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 1.7 cm. Shape, open portion: Elliptic to obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, front surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen. Texture and luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen; proximally, glaucous. Color, front surface: Distal open portion: Close to 155C and 145D; with subsequent development, distally becoming closer to N199A. Proximal closed portion: Close to 147D; color does not change with subsequent development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close to 146D and 145C; color does not change with subsequent development. Proximal closed portion: Close to 147C with areas and streaks, close to 147B; color does not change with subsequent development. Spadix.—Length, overall: About 5.6 cm. Length, male flower zone: About 2.4 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.2 cm. Length, female flower zone: About 2 cm. Diameter, male flower zone: About 5 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 3 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 6 mm. Shape: Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 155D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 155C to 155D. Color, mature, female zone: Close to 158D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 68. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Pollen amount: Sparse to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 80. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to 11D. Scapes.—Length: About 9.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Strength: Sturdy; somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect, straight. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy to slightly glaucous. Color: Close to 199C and 199D streaked and striped with close to 200A; just below the spathe, close to 199C and 199D streaked and striped with close to 200A and flushed with close to 147C and 147D. Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. Pathogen tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens common to Caladium plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring.