Guzmania ‘REDTIX’

Abstract

A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named REDTIX characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 50 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 25 to 45 cm length and about 4.5 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; bracts are red in color (closest to RHS 42A), head inflorescence, measuring about 10 cm in height when flowering commences to about 15 cm in height at maturity, and about 12 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

Claims

1. A Guzmania plant named REDTIX, representative seed deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and accorded ATCC Accession No. PTA-124092.

2. A Guzmania seed that produces the plant of claim 1.

3. A plant part obtained from the Guzmania plant of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The patent or application file contains one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fees.

(2) The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Guzmania hybrid REDTIX 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 REDTIX.

(3) FIG. 1 illustrates a side view perspective of the primary and top bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of REDTIX, at 14 months of age from potting size.

(4) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up top view perspective of the inflorescence and top bracts produced by a typical potted, flowering plant of REDTIX, at 14 months of age from potting size.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The present invention was created by the inventors, Elly Bak and Nicolaas D. M. Steur in 2011, and flowered for the first time in 2014 in Assendelft, The Netherlands.

(6) This invention is directed to a Guzmania plant having all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the hybrid REDTIX produced from seeds which are the product of crossing the parental Guzmania inbred lines identified by the codes 830275 and 11016957. Both parents have a sufficient degree of homozygosity such that the progeny of the cross were, and continue to be, phenotypically uniform. The new hybrid REDTIX can therefore be produced by sexual reproduction by crossing of the inbred selections identified by the codes 830275 and 11016957 to produce a population of progeny plants, each of which has the combination of characteristics herein disclosed for the new hybrid REDTIX.

(7) The new hybrid REDTIX can also be produced by asexually reproducing progeny from the cross of the parental inbred lines identified by the codes 830275 and 11016957. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2014, in Assendelft, the Netherlands. The first REDTIX plants propagated through the use of such cuttings flowered in 2016, in Assendelft, the Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true-to-type and that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of REDTIX which in combination distinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar: 1. Stemless growth habit; 2. Funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 50 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); 3. Numerous, green colored foliage (measuring about 24 to 45 cm in length and about 4.5 cm in width. 4. Superior floral bract production; 5. Bracts are red in color (closet to RHS 42A) 6. Head inflorescence, measuring about 10 cm in height, when flowering and about 14 cm in diameter 7. Long-lasting floral bracts.

(9) Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Guzmania hybrid REDTIX is the Guzmania cultivar Tropix, U.S. Pat. No. 8,507,777. Plants of the new hybrid REDTIX differ from plants of Tropix primarily in the color of the inflorescence.

(10) REDTIX has not been tested and observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, frequency of fertilization, composition of fertilizer, flowering treatment, day length and humidity, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

(11) For example, substantial differences in plant height and diameter; number of leaves, can result depending on the size of the plant at the time that flowering is induced by flowering treatment. Since treatment to include flowering disrupts normal watering and fertilization regiments. Flowering treatment of relatively smaller plants adversely affects the growth of the plant.

(12) The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Guzmania REDTIX as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, the Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of REDTIX 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 the plants of REDTIX are forced into flowering. The following fertilizer is added when growing plants of REDTIX: 1 part nitrogen, 0.6 parts phosphor, 2 parts Kalium and 0.1 part magnesium.

(13) Color reference are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 2001 edition, 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 REDTIX described is about 17 weeks after flowering treatment.

(14) Classification;

(15) Botanical: Guzamania sp.

(16) Parentage:

(17) Female Parent: Guzmania lingulata inbred line identified by code 830275 (unpatented)

(18) Male parent: Guzmania wittmackii conifer inbred line identified by the code 11016957 (unpatented)

(19) Plant: General Appearance and Form: Height About 40 to 50 cm (when flowering) Width: About 60 cm Shape: Funnel form rosette Growth habit: Stemless Plant Vigor: Good Flowering Season: A fully grown plant can flower year round, starting 15-18 weeks after induction of natural light or through flowering treatment. Cold Tolerance: Frost tender. Temperatures below 5 C. may damage plants. Fragrance: None

(20) Foliage: Quantity: About 18 (depending on the size of the plant) Size of Leaf: Length: About 25 to 45 cm (when flowering) Width: About 4.5 cm Overall Shape: Linear to lanceolate Apex Shape: Acuminate Base Shape: Strap-like around central axis Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Orientation: Leaf blades arch continuously from base. Color: Leaf color can vary somewhat depending on the growing conditions. Immature and Mature: Upper surface: Yellow-Green, closest to RHS 147A Under surface: Yellow-Green closest to RHS 147A, with anthocyanin flush close to Greyed-Purple 183B Venation: None

(21) Inforescence: Borne: Erect Shape: Head Size: Length: About 10 cm in height when flowering commences, to 14 cm at maturity. Diameter: About 12 cm Time of Bloom: A fully grown plant can produce an inflorescence containing about 150 flowers (depending on the size of the plants), and can bloom the whole year starting 15-18 weeks after natural induction or through flowering treatment. Duration of Bloom: Each flower blooms one (1) day and the total blooming of the whole inflorescence is about 12 weeks.
Petal:

(22) Number: 3 per flower

(23) Length: About 6 cm

(24) Width: About 0.5 cm

(25) Overall Shape: Ligulate

(26) Apex Shape: Obtuse

(27) Base Shape: Fused

(28) Color:

(29) Upper and under surfaces: Yellow, closest to RHS 8A

(30) Sepals:

(31) Number: 3 per flower

(32) Length: About 2.7 cm

(33) Width: About 0.5 cm

(34) Overall Shape: Ligulate

(35) Apex Shape: Acute

(36) Base Shape: Fused

(37) Color: Upper and under surfaces: White, closest to RHS 155B

(38) Bracts:

(39) Scape Bracts: Quantity: About 10 Arrangement: Alternate Size: Length: About 30 cm (lowest) to 10 cm (scape bracts positioned just below the primary bracts). Width: About 4 cm Overall shape: Linear lanceolate Apex shape: Acute Base shape: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Color: Upper: Green, closest to RHS 137A Under: Green 137A mixed with Greyed-Purple 183B

(40) Primary Bracts: Quantity: About 6 Arrangement: Alternate Size: Length: About 10 cm (lowest) to about 8 cm (primary bracts become shorter closer to the top of the plants). Width: About 3 cm Overall shape: Lanceolate Apex shape: Obtuse Base shape: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Color: Upper and under surfaces: Red, closest to RHS 42A.

(41) Floral Bracts: Quantity: About 150 Size: Length: About 8 cm (lowest) to about 5 cm (shorter closer to the top of the plants). Width: About 1.0 to 1.5 cm Overall shape: Lanceolate Apex shape: Obtuse Base shape: Fused Margin: Entire Texture: Smooth Color: Lower floral bracts upper and under surfaces: Red, closest to RHS 42A. Upper floral bracts upper and under surfaces: Red, closest to RHS 42A, with yellow bract aspices, closest to 2C.

(42) Reproductive Organs:

(43) Androecium:

(44) Stamen: Number: 6 per flower Length: About 3 cm Diameter: About 1 mm Color: Yellow-White, too small to distinguish RHS value.

(45) Anther: Length: About 0.5 cm Color: Cream, too small to distinguish RHS value.

(46) Pollen: Amount: None
Gynoecium:

(47) Pistil: Number: 1 per flower Length: About 4.0 cm

(48) Stigma: Shape: 3-parted Width: About 0.2 Cm Color: Yellow-White, too small to distinguish RHS value

(49) Style: Length: About 3.5 cm Color: Yellow-White, too small to distinguish RHS value.

(50) Ovary: Position: Superior Shape: Conical Length: About 0.7 cm Diameter: About 0.3 cm Color: Yellow-Green, closest to RHS 150D

(51) SEED/FRUIT: Not observed to date.

(52) DIESASE/PEST RESISTANCE: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Guzmania observed to date.