<i>Athyrium </i>plant named ‘JA1966’

Abstract

A new and distinct fern variety, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘JA1966’, is disclosed. The new variety is a distinct sterile hybrid mutation of the ‘Ghost’ variety characterized by exceptional grey-green colored, vertical new fronds that change color to black with arching fronds as the leaf ages. The new variety displays a stark contrast of its immature grey-green colored fronds with its mature black colored fronds.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Athyrium plant named ‘JA1966’ characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) forms new erect fronds of glowing grey-green colored foliage that gradually change to arching and black colored with a unique contrast of color, (b) is sterile, and (c) exhibits no stems above ground; substantially as herein shown and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

(1) The accompanying photographs of the drawings show as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of plants of the new variety and that of the parent variety. The Athyrium plants of the new variety and the parent variety were approximately three years of age and were observed growing in 2-gallon containers at a greenhouse in Dallas, Tex.

(2) FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of the new variety; circled areas show green versus black colored foliage.

(3) FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of the new variety; circle area shows contrast of new green colored fronds with black colored mature fonds.

(4) FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of the new variety; circled area shows frond color in transition to black.

(5) FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of the new variety; circled area indicates a young black colored frond with green colored tips pinna.

(6) FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of the new variety; circled areas show old black colored frond with black colored tips pinna and cresting tips of pinna in summer.

(7) FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of young blade of the new variety; circled area shows rachis of young blade.

(8) FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of the new variety—blade black in color, with sori shapes and rachis.

(9) FIG. 8—illustrates a mature specimen of the ‘Ghost’ variety (i.e., the parent variety)

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(10) The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001 edition), London, England. The terminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The description is based on the observation of three-year-old specimens grown in two-gallon containers in a heated and cell-pad water cooler equipped greenhouse in Dallas, Tex. during August 2022. The observed specimens are from tissue culture of the original mutant foundling and were transplanted first to 72-cell trays and then repotted in several stages to a 2-gallon container over the course of three years. Tissue culture was completed in a laboratory and transplanted/potted plant were grown in a heated and cell-pad water cooler equipped greenhouse. The entire process took place in Dallas, Tex. Botanical classification: Athyrium spp. cultivar JA1966. Commercial classification: Athyrium Plant. Plant: Habit.—Clumping and upright; as the plant fronds mature the outer frond flex into an arching form to create a broader appearance. Height.—Approximately 18-24 inches on average. Width.—Approximately 18 inches on average. Form.—Terrestrial, rhizomatous fern. Root.—Rhizomatous. Stem.—None above ground, rhizomatous are short. Foliage: Type.—Compound. Number of fronds.—More than 20. Pinna.—Shape is lanceolate, twice pinnate pinnule is lanceolate to oblong; length is 12.5 cm on average for the third pinna from the bottom; width is 2.5 cm on average; and apex is acute. Frond color.—Both upper and lower surfaces young fronds are a vibrant grey-green color, commonly near Grey-Green Group 191B. Both upper and lower surfaces of maturing fronds turn a blend of colors as they transition from a color near Grey-Green Group 191B to their final, mature color of near Black Group 202A. Plants remain a color near Black Group 202A until the winter season, when they go into dormancy; tips of pinna remain a color near Grey-Green Group 191B longer and gradually turn a color near Black Group 202A. Blade length.—Approximately 40 cm on average. Frond size.—Width is approximately 14 cm on average; height approximately 53.8 cm. Margins.—2 pinnate; pinnule is lobed and incised. Apex.—Acuminate, pinnatifid. Base.—Round to truncate. Texture.—Upper surface is glabrous and lower surface is bumpy due to sori. Pinnule.—Apex is acute; length is approximately 1.2 cm on average; and width is approximately 2.0 cm on average. Pinna rachis.—Grooved; length is approximately 11.0 cm on average, width is approximately 0.5 mm; and texture is glabrous. Blade rachis color.—Immature growth is commonly near Greyed-Green Group 191B; as growth matures transitions to near Greyed-Purple Group 186A intermixed with about 50% blotches of near Black Group 202A. Blade rachis texture.—Multicellular hairs on rachis V groove on rachis not continuous to pinna but disconnected from pinna V groove. Blade rachis.—Grooved; length is approximately 40.0 cm on average; width is approximately 2.0 mm on average 6.5 cm from apex of blade. Venation.—Color is commonly near Greyed-Green Group 191B on young leaves; venation color slowly transition as the plant matures to intermediate grey tones and finally to near Black Group 202A when fronds become black; pattern is pinnate. Petiole (stipe).—Texture is glabrous with chaffy scales which are commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 167A that are mainly at the base but occasionally elsewhere; color is commonly near Greyed-Purple Group 186A; grooved; length is approximately 13.8 cm; and width is approximately 1.4 cm on average. Fruiting body: Type.—Sporangium; all fronds have sori. Fertility.—Sterile. Sori.—Size: length is approximately 0.1 mm and width is approximately 0.02 mm. — color: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 150C. — shape: covered with indusium; most are elongated, opening on the edge that is facing the edge of the pinna, although it is common for some to be slightly curved into a J or C shape, a trait similar to those observed on the parent variety ‘Ghost’. — location: dorsal, on every pinnule at the tip of the vein. Development: USDA hardiness zone.—Zones 6-9 and possibly colder to zone 2. Tolerance to disease.—To date no diseases have been observed. Pest resistance/susceptibility.—To date no susceptibility to pests has been observed.

(11) The new ‘JA1966’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.