Bracteantha plant named `Redbrabro`

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Bracteantha plant named `Redbrabro`, characterized by its compact and bushy growth habit; upright, outwardly spreading and rounded plant form; freely-flowering habit; golden orange-colored involucral bracts and orange-colored disc florets; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Bracteantha plant, botanically known as Bracteantha bracteata and referred to by the name `Redbrabro`.

The new Bracteantha is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia. The objective of the program is to create and develop Bracteantha cultivars with a compact growth habit, numerous inflorescences with attractive involucral bract coloration, and long-lasting inflorescences.

The new Bracteantha originated from a cross by the Inventor of a proprietary selection of Bracteantha bracteata identified as code number 95-155, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Bracteantha bracteata identified as code number 95-148, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Bracteantha was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia in 1997. The selection of the new Bracteantha was based on its golden orange-colored involucral bracts and compact growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new Bracteantha by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, has shown that the unique features of this new Bracteantha are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The new Bracteantha has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, photoperiod, and water and nutritional status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of `Redbrabro` and distinguish the new Bracteantha as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact and bushy growth habit.

2. Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded plant form.

3. Freely-flowering habit.

4. Large inflorescences with golden orange-colored involucral bracts and orange-colored disc florets.

5. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

Plants of the new Bracteantha can be compared to plants of the female parent, the selection 95-155. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Bracteantha differed from plants of the selection 95-155 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Bracteantha have larger inflorescences than plants of the selection 95-155.

2. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha are round in shape whereas inflorescences of the selection 95-155 are star-shaped.

3. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha have more involucral bracts than inflorescences of the selection 95-155.

4. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha have golden orange-colored involucral bracts whereas inflorescences of the selection 95-155 have red-colored involucral bracts.

Plants of the new Bracteantha can be compared to plants of the male parent, the selection 95-148. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Bracteantha differed from plants of the selection 95-148 in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Bracteantha have larger inflorescences than plants of the selection 95-148.

2. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha are round in shape whereas inflorescences of the selection 95-148 are star-shaped.

3. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha have more involucral bracts than inflorescences of the selection 95-148.

4. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha have golden orange-colored involucral bracts whereas inflorescences of the selection 95-148 have pink-colored involucral bracts.

Plants of the new Bracteantha can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunraysia Splendour, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Bracteantha differed from plants of the cultivar Sunraysia Splendour in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Bracteantha have a more upright plant habit than plants of the cultivar Sunraysia Splendour.

2. Inflorescences of the new Bracteantha have golden orange-colored involucral bracts whereas inflorescences of the cultivar Sunraysia Splendour have yellow-colored involucral bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, 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 Bracteantha.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of `Redbrabro` grown in a 15-cm container for about 8 weeks.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of `Redbrabro`.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia, under outdoor conditions with day temperatures ranging from 20 to 30°C C. and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 15°C C. Rooted liners of the new Bracteantha were planted in 15-cm containers and grown for about 8 weeks. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Bracteantha bracteata cultivar Redbrabro.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.--Proprietary selection of Bracteantha bracteata identified as code number 95-155, not patented.

Male or pollen parent.--Proprietary selection of Bracteantha bracteata, identified as code number 95-148, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.--By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 7 days at 30°C C. Winter: About 14 days at 20°C C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.--Summer: About 21 days at 30°C C. Winter: About 28 days at 20°C C.

Root description.--Fine to fibrous; freely-branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Compact and bushy growth habit; upright, outwardly spreading and rounded plant form with dense foliage and inflorescences held above the foliage on strong peduncles. Freely branching, about 21 lateral branches per plant. Appropriate for 15-cm containers.

Crop time.--Rapid growth rate; to produce a finished 15-cm containerized plant from rooted cuttings, about 8 weeks are required.

Plant height.--About 15 cm.

Plant width.--About 26.5 cm.

Lateral branch description.--Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 6.1 mm. Internode length: About 8.3 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 138D.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Alternate, single, sessile. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 20. Length: About 12.6 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Linear elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Texture, both surfaces: Leathery; smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Narrowly arcuate to reticulate. Color: Young and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 137B; venation, 137B. Young and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 137C; venation, 146D.

Flowering description:

Inflorescence form.--Daisy-type composite inflorescence form. Inflorescences arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences rounded.

Inflorescence longevity.--Inflorescences last on the plant for about 36 days. Inflorescences persistent.

Natural flowering season.--Natural flowering season is year-round in Redland Bay, Queensland, Australia; flowering continuous.

Quantity of inflorescences.--One terminal inflorescence per lateral branch, about 21 inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence aspect.--Flat to slightly cupped.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 5.55 cm.

Inflorescence depth (height).--About 1.7 cm.

Disc diameter.--About 1.65 cm.

Fragrance.--Moderate; sweet.

Involucral bracts.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 312 in multiple whorls. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ligulate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, both surfaces: Smooth, papery, hard, satiny. Aspect: Initially incurved, becoming flat and eventually reflexed. Color: When opening, upper surface: Inner whorls of bracts, 31A; outer whorls of bracts, 31A, with 34A towards the apex. When opening, lower surface: Inner whorls of bracts, 23A; outer whorls of bracts, 175B. Fully opened, upper surface: Inner whorls of bracts, 14B; outer whorls of bracts, 21A. Fully opened, lower surface: Inner whorls of bracts, 23A; outer whorls of bracts, 176A.

Disc florets.--One inconspicuous whorl of female filiform florets surround the perimeter of the disc, remainder of disc covered with bisexual disc florets. Quantity per inflorescence: About 838. Shape: Tubular with five lobes. Length: About 1.32 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Color, immature and mature: 23B.

Peduncle.--Length: About 6.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 mm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 138D.

Inflorescence bud.--Length: About 1.68 cm. Diameter: About 1.73 cm. Shape: Spherical. Color: 175C with longitudinal streaks, 175A.

Androecium.--Present only on disc florets. Stamen quantity/arrangement: Fused anther tube with 5 long thin linear anthers surrounding the style. Anther color: Yellow. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Yellow.

Gynoecium.--Present on both filiform and disc florets. Pistil number: One per floret. Style color: 23A towards the stigma, pale yellow towards the base. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 23A.

Seed.--Length: About 2.65 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Color: 177C.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Bracteantha have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Bracteantha.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bracteantha plant named `Redbrabro`, as illustrated and described.