Lavandula plant named ‘RUYLAS1704’

Abstract

RUYLAS1704 is a new and distinctive variety of Lavandula plant which is characterized by a relatively compact growth habit, strong and thick greyed-green foliage with dense tomentose pubescence, strong stems and branches, an abundance of dark violet flowers borne on terminal spike inflorescences, and very large sterile bracts at the apex of each inflorescence. The new variety propagates successfully by stem cuttings and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Lavandula plant named RUYLAS1704, substantially as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, an exemplary RUYLAS1704 plant at approximately 30 months old, potted into a 13 cm nursery pot, grown outdoors in Oudenaarde, Belgium.

(2) FIG. 2 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical foliage of the plant in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, the typical inflorescence of the plant in FIG. 1.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

(4) The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Lavandula known as RUYLAS1704, based upon observations of 30 month old field-grown plants in 13 cm nursery containers, produced in Oudenaarde, Belgium. Plants were grown using conventional production protocols for Lavandula plants which consisted of regular overhead irrigation and fertigation applications as needed. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production. Plants were produced with full sun exposure and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants. Observation data was recorded in August of 2017.

(5) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. RUYLAS1704 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 measurements 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, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

(6) A botanical description of RUYLAS1704 and comparisons with the parent plants are provided below. General plant description: Growth habit.A broad, spreading to upright perennial subshrub. Plant form.Broad oblong to broad obovate. Height.15.6 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 19.7 cm to the top of the floral plane. Spread.23.6 cm. Plant vigor.Low to moderate. Growth rate.Low to moderate. Propagation.Softwood stem cuttings; rooting is initiated in approximately 14 days when grown in a greenhouse with an ambient average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a finished plant.Approximately 12 weeks are required to produce a marketable finished plant in a 13 cm pot. Pest resistance and susceptibility.Not any more or less tolerant or susceptible to pests or diseases known to effect Lavandula. Environmental tolerances.Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 7 to 10 and temperatures to at least 40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. Root system: Dense fibrous root system; relatively shallow; color of juvenile roots is nearest to yellow-white, RHS 158B; older roots are greyed-orange, RHS 163C. Stem: Branching habit.Basally branching main stems; freely branching with lateral branches. Stems and branches are strongly aromatic, typical of Lavandula stoechas. Pinching isn't required but will improve branching. Number of primary (main) stems per plant.5. Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.32. Lateral branch length.10.6 cm. Lateral branch diameter.0.2 cm. Lateral branch internode length.0.8 cm. Appearance and shape.Quadrangular. Aspect of main stems.60 degrees from vertical, on average; varying between 0 and 70 degrees. Aspect of lateral branches.30 degrees to main stems. Luster.Matte, due to the dense woolly pubescence. Strength.Moderately strong. Color, juvenile.Yellow-green, nearest RHS 144B. Color, mature.Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144A and N144A. Color of oldest stems.Brown, nearest to RHS N200B. Color at internodes.Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144A and N144A. Pubescence.Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.03 cm and colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Foliage: Arrangement.Opposite. Attachment.Sessile. Division.Simple. Attitude.Upward; apex occasionally curled upward or downward. Quantity.Average of 28 leaves per lateral branch. Fragrance.Strongly aromatic, typical of Lavandula stoechas. Lamina.Dimensions 2.5 cm long and 0.4 cm wide, on average. Shape Narrow oblanceolate. Aspect Flat to very slightly twisted; slightly to moderately revolute. Apex Acute. Base Cuneate. Margin Entire; slightly undulated. Pubescence of adaxial surface Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D but lighter. Pubescence of abaxial surface Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D but lighter. Luster of adaxial surface Matte. Luster of abaxial surface Matte. Color Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 137B. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 138B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 189A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A. Venation Pattern Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 138C. Venation color, abaxial surface Green, nearest to RHS 138B. Inflorescence: Type.Terminal spike. Natural flowering season.Late spring through late summer in Oudenaarde, Belgium. Time to flower.Approximately 13 weeks. Dimensions.4.8 cm high, not including peduncle, and 1.5 cm in diameter; the sterile bracts at the apex of each inflorescence have an average spread of 1.9 cm. Abundance of inflorescence.Very abundant. Quantity of open flowers and buds per inflorescence.140 flowers. Quantity of open flowers per plant.Approximately 900. Quantity of buds per plants.Approximately 3,200. Attitude.Upright. Peduncles.Length Average of 5.2 cm. Diameter Average of 0.175 cm. Attitude Upright; 0 degrees to the lateral branches. Strength Strong. Texture Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.03 cm and colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Luster Matte. Color Green, RHS NN137D; yellow-green, nearest to 151B. Flower buds: Shape.Oblong. Length.Average of 0.45 cm. Diameter.Average of 0.15 cm. Texture.Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.03 cm and colored white, nearest to RHS NN155D. Luster.Matte. Color.Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C; apex where immature petals are exposed is violet, nearest to RHS 86A. Flower: Flowering habit.Moderately freely flowering. Form.Salverform; petals fused into one upper lip which is split into two identical petal lobes, and one lower lip which is split into three identical petal lobes. Flower vertical height.0.4 cm. Flower diameter.0.4 cm. Flower length.0.7 cm. Floral throat diameter.0.15 cm. Floral throat texture.Glabrous; smooth. Diameter of floral tube.0.1 cm. Length of floral tube.0.45 cm. Floral tube texture, outer and inner surfaces.Distal one-third portion is moderately covered with a very short pubescence with an average length of 0.2 cm and colored violet, nearest to RHS N88D; the proximal two-thirds portion is glabrous and smooth. Aspect.Flowers are outward facing. Fragrance.Non-fragrant. Lastingness.Approximately 4 weeks. Persistent.Self-cleaning. Pedicels.Dimensions 0.175 cm long and 0.075 cm in diameter. Aspect Upward; approximately 50 degrees to the peduncle axis. Strength Moderately strong. Texture Moderately woolly pubescent; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored green-white; hairs are so minute that it is impossible to accurately assign an R.H.S. color designation. Luster Matte. Color Yellow-green, RHS 147A. Petals.Quantity of Petals 2. Arrangement Labiate; one upper lip and one lower lip; proximal 75% of the petals are fused. Shape of petal lobes Upper and lower petal lobes are spatulate. Dimensions, free portion of the upper petal 0.7 cm long and 0.15 cm wide. Dimensions, free portion of the lower petal 0.7 cm long and 0.15 cm wide. Apex Both the upper and lower petal lobes are obtuse. Base Fused into a tube. Margin All petal lobes with entire margins which are moderately undulated. Aspect Slightly curled upward at the apex of the lobes. Texture and luster of upper surface Velvety; matte. Texture and luster of lower surface Moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Petal color when opening, upper surface Violet, nearest to RHS N87A. Petal color when opening, lower surface Violet, nearest to RHS N87A. Petal color when fully opened, upper surface Violet, nearest to RHS 83A yet slightly darker; color does not fade. Petal color when fully opened, lower surface Violet, nearest to RHS 83A yet slightly darker; color does not fade. Petal venation No venation is visible. Floral throat color Violet, nearest to RHS 83C. Floral throat venation color No venation is visible. Corolla tube color, when fully opened Violet, RHS 83B, and fading white towards the base, RHS NN155D. Floral tube venation color No venation is visible. Calyx.Shape Campanulate. Length 0.5 cm. Diameter 0.15 cm. Sepals Length 0.5 cm. Width 0.075 cm, but folded so appears narrower. Arrangement Fused into a campanulate shape. Quantity 5. Shape Linear; fused into a campanulate shape. Apex Obtuse. Base Fused; only the distal 10 percent is free. Sepal lobe margin Entire; not undulated. Texture and luster, upper surface Glabrous, smooth; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored white, nearest to RHS NN155D; matte. Color when opening, upper surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C. Color when opening, lower surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C. Color when fully opened, upper surface Yellow-green, nearest to a combination of RHS 146C and 146D, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C. Color when fully opened, lower surface Yellow-green, nearest to a combination of RHS 146C and 146D, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 145C. Bract.Quantity One fertile bract present at the base of each group of 5 individual flowers; 5 sterile bracts at the apex of each inflorescence. Fertile bract Shape Broad rhomboidal. Dimensions Average of 0.6 cm long and 0.9 cm wide. Apex Aristate. Base Cuneate. Margins Entire; not undulated. Texture and luster, upper surface Glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface Tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored white, nearest to RHS NN155D; matte. Color, upper surface Translucent purple, nearest to RHS 76C. Color, lower surface Translucent purple, nearest to a combination RHS 76C and76D. Venation color, upper surface Green, nearest to RHS 143A. Venation color, lower surface Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B. Sterile bracts Shape Obovate to narrow obovate. Dimensions Average of 1.5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Apex Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base Narrow cuneate. Margins Entire; slightly undulated. Texture and luster, upper surface Glabrous; rugose; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface Glabrous and rugose except for the main vein which is lightly tomentose; average length of hairs is 0.02 cm and colored white, nearest to RHS NN155D; matte. Color, upper surface Purple-violet, nearest to RHS N82B. Color, lower surface Purple-violet, nearest to in between RHS N81B and N82B. Venation color, upper surface Main vein is violet, nearest to RHS 83A. Venation color, lower surface Main vein is purple, nearest to RHS N77A. Reproductive organs: Stamens.Quantity 4. Anthers Attachment Dorsifixed. Shape Short kidney-shaped. Dimensions Approximately 0.075 cm long and 0.01 cm wide. Color Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS N164B. Filaments Length 0.075 cm, on average. Color Purple-violet, nearest to RHS N82D. Pollen, amount Moderately abundant. Pollen color Yellow-orange, nearest to RHS 15A. Pistil.Quantity 1. Length 0.35 cm. Style Length 0.3 cm. Color Greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Stigma Shape Club-shaped. Length 0.05 cm. Diameter 0.05 cm. Color Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186A. Ovary Color Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C. Seed and fruit: No fruit or seeds have been produced to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

(7) Plants of the new cultivar RUYLAS1704 differ from its seed parent and closest known commercial comparator, Lavandula pedunculata LOW2010-05 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,157), by the characteristics described in Chart 1.

Comparison Between RUYLAS1704 and LOW2010-05

(8) TABLE-US-00001 CHART 1 Characteristic RUYLAS1704 LOW2010-05 Length of lateral Shorter than Longer than branches. LOW2010-05. RUYLAS1704. Rate of growth. Slower rate of growth; no Fast growth; plant growth plant growth regulators regulators required during required during production. production. Flower size. Flowers are longer. Flowers are shorter.

(9) Plants of the new cultivar RUYLAS1704 differ from its pollen parent, Lavandula stoechas Papillon (not patented), by the characteristics described in Chart 2.

Comparison Between RUYLAS1704 and Papillon

(10) TABLE-US-00002 CHART 2 Characteristic RUYLAS1704 Papillon Winter hardiness. Not winter hardy. Winter hardy. Flower size. Smaller than Papillon. Larger than RUYLAS1704.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

(11) Plants of the new cultivar RUYLAS1704 differ from its closest known commercial comparator, Lavandula pedunculata IBPRU41016 (Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2017/0621), by the characteristics described in Chart 3.

Comparison Between RUYLAS1704 and IBPRU41016

(12) TABLE-US-00003 CHART 3 Characteristic RUYLAS1704 IBPRU41016 General coloration of Greyed-green. Yellow-green. the mature foliage. Foliage attitude. Upward. Outward. General coloration of Dark violet. Light violet. open flowers.