Yellow Indiangrass plant named ‘Thin Man’

Abstract

Thin Man is a new and distinct plant variety of Sorghastrum nutans, more commonly known as yellow indiangrass or simply indiangrass. The new variety has blue foliage coloration instead of the more common green coloration; with a growth habit exhibiting an upright and tightly growing vegetation with apical flowering; and exceptional drought and heat tolerance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of yellow indiangrass as described and illustrated herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH(S)

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall, typical appearance of the new and distinct yellow indiangrass plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of conventional photography. Due to color variation reproduced in the photographs, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than a reliance on the photographs alone. Photographs were taken outdoors on Sep. 1, 2015 of a three-year-old plant. The different photographs are intended to represent the distinctive characteristics of Thin Man.

(2) FIG. 1, demonstrates growth habit and overall appearance of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a close up view of the flower spikes and leaves of the same plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following is a detailed description of the new variety Thin Man. Characteristic data was collected in the Fall of 2016. The color determinations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England), except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used and color readings were observed under natural, outdoor light.

VARIETY DESCRIPTION

(5) Classification: Botanical.Sorghastrum nutans. Common.Yellow Indiangrass. Parentage: Female.An improved pasture selection of Sorghastrum nutans Llano (unpatented). Male.Sorghastrum nutans Llano (unpatented). Propagation: Crown divisions. Plant: Type.Herbaceous perennial grass. Ploidy.Diploid. Growth habit.Dense upright tuft with flowering spikes held upright above the foliage. Height, unpruned (average) (m).1.4 m. Spread (average) (cm).46 to 60 cm. Root description.Fibrous and fine, deeply rooted. Root color: RHS 199A to 199C. Life cycle duration.Perennial. Cold tolerance.USDA 4 to 8. Optimal temperature range.Very tolerant of a wide range of growing temperatures including triple digit summer heat and subzero winter cold. Culm (stem): Cylindrical, hollow pith, thin but strong, and erect. Number (average).40, forming a tight clump. Size (average).3.0 mm in diameter and 90.0 cm in height (from the base to the base of the peduncle). Surface.Glabrous, smooth, and lightly striate and glaucescent near nodes. Color (during summer and fall).RHS182A to 182C and lightly suffused with 150D (sun exposed portion of culm) and RHS150D (shade side). Internode.Length (average) (cm): 27.0 cm. Leaf: Leaves per culm (average).3 on flowering culms. Leaf shape.Narrowly lanceolate. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf margin.Entire, scaberulose. Leaf base.Sheathed to base of the node. Leaf venation.Parallel, not distinguishable in color from leaf coloration. Leaf width.An average of 8.0 mm at widest section. Leaf length (average) (cm).Blade: 35.0 cm. Sheathed portion: 18.0 cm. Leaf color.Blend between RHS 138A and 139B (upper and lower surfaces). Ligule.Hairy type with fine hairs. Height (average) (mm): 2.5 mm. Width (average) (mm): 4.0 mm en masse. Color: RHS 155B. Inflorescence: Slender, upright, freely branched panicle at terminus of stem, with paired spikelets. Blooming period.Late summer to fall (as observed in Santa Fe, N. Mex., United States located at 35.6870 N, 105.9378 W). Number.One per culm. Size (average) (cm).Length (cm): 25.0 cm. Width (cm): 3.0 cm. Color.Panicles en masse RHS 161A to 161B. Spikes.Number (average): 200 per panicle. Shape: Elliptic. Length (average) (mm): 7.0 mm. Width (average) (mm): 1.5 mm. Awn.Present. Length (average) (cm): 1.7 cm. Color: Bend between RHS 161A and 175B. Lemma.Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Truncate base: Glabrous, smooth, glossy surface. Length (average) (mm): 6.0 mm. Width (average) (mm): 1.0 mm. Color: RHS 165B to 165C. Glumes.Symmetrical and feather-like with many thread-like hairs feathering out from a central axis. Shape: Elliptic. Surface: Translucent and glossy. Length (average) (mm): 6.0 mm. Width (average) (mm): 0.7 mm. Color: RHS NN155D. Rachis.Length (average) (cm): 40.0 cm (from last leaf). Panicle portion: Length (average) (cm): 24.0 cm. Width (average) (mm): 1.2 mm. Surface: Glabrous, smooth. Color: Blend between RHS158A and 181D. Lateral branches: Peduncle-like. Number (average): 5 bunches of 4 peduncle-like branches spaced evenly along the rachis. Surface: Glabrous, smooth. Length (average) (cm): 5.5 cm (shortest at the terminus). Width (average) (mm): 0.2 mm. Color: Blend between 161C and 181B. Pedicel.Very fine and wiry. Surface: Glabrous, smooth. Length (average) (mm): 5.0 mm. Width (average) (mm): 0.1 mm. Color: RHS 161C to 161D. Reproductive organs: Androecium.Stamen Number: 3. Length (average) (mm): 4.5 mm. Width (average) (mm): 0.3 mm. Anthers: Basifixed on very fine, translucent filaments. Color: RHS 155A. Pollen: Not present. Gynoecium.Pistil: 1 to 2 plumose stigmas on short fine styles. Length (average) (mm): 1.5 mm. Width (average) (mm): 0.5 mm. Color: RHS NN155B. Ovary: Unilocular, superior. Shape: Oval. Length (average) (mm): 1.0 mm. Width (average) (mm): 0.5 mm. Color: RHS 163C. Best mode growing conditions: Soil conditions.Grows well in clay, loam, silt, silt-loam soil conditions. Water use/drought tolerance.Drought tolerant when planted in the ground. Fertilization.Propagation: Use standard water soluble 15-15-15 or similar formulation every week to two weeks during growing season. Landscape cultivation: Top dressing of garden/landscape plants in fall with a blend of compost and good quality natural/organic fertilizer.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

(6) In comparison to Parents (both unpatented), Thin Man has a visibly tighter growth habit and denser foliage.

(7) In comparison to the commercially available variety of Sorghastrum nutans named Indian Steel (unpatented), Thin Man is slightly taller; and its mature form is more uniform, both in height and width; the blue foliage coloration is more uniform in Thin Man. The genetics in Thin Man are more xeric and heat tolerant due to its origination in the western United States climate. Further, Thin Man is propagated by crown division, whereas, Indian Steel is propagated via seed.

(8) The comparison variety to Thin Man is the commercially available variety of Sorghastrum nutans named Sioux Blue (unpatented), which was introduced by Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, Pa. and was selected as a seedling of variety Osage. The growth habit of the stems and foliage are more upright for Thin Man. The genetics in Thin Man are more xeric and heat tolerant due to its origination in the western United States climate of eastern New Mexico, which is drier and hotter than where variety Osage originated in Oklahoma and Kansas.

(9) Thin Man differs from the commercially available Sorghastrum nutans named Cheyenne in that Thin Man has very blue foliage compared to the green foliage of Cheyenne, is more uniform in mature size (both height and width), and is propagated by crown divisions, not via seed as is the case of Cheyenne.