USPP33621P2 - Senecio plant named ‘AMICU1908’ - Google Patents

Abstract

A new and distinct Senecio plant named ‘AMICU1908’ which is characterized by a compact and upright growth habit, a glaucous greyed-green stem, glaucous greyed-green foliage, narrowly oblanceolate and falcate foliage, semi-terete to terete foliage with an obvious longitudinal channel running the length of the leaf, foliar margins that occasionally develop two spines on opposite sides of the leaf, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Senecio hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Senecio disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMICU1908’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMICU1908’ is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Senecio kleiniiformis plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Curio ficoides plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2018 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the autumn of 2018, one seedling resulting from the crossing was observed to exhibit unique growth and foliage characteristics and was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMICU1908’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1908’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the winter of 2018 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMICU1908’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMICU1908’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMICU1908’ as a new and distinct Senecio cultivar:

• • 1. ‘AMICU1908’ exhibits a compact, upright growth habit with a single near-vertical stem bearing foliage that is held upright and outward; and
  • 2. ‘AMICU1908’ exhibits a glaucous yellow-green stem, generally appearing as a greyed-green coloration due to the thick layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax; and
  • 3. ‘AMICU1908’ exhibits glaucous green foliage, generally appearing as a greyed-green coloration due to the thick layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax; and
  • 4. ‘AMICU1908’ exhibits narrowly oblanceolate, falcate and semi-terete to terete foliage with a longitudinal channel running the length of the leaf; and
  • 5. ‘AMICU1908’ exhibits foliar margins that occasionally develop two spines on opposite sides of the leaf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, three exemplary plants of ‘AMICU1908’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. The plants are approximately 12 months old, shown planted in an 11 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘AMICU1908’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2020 describe averages from a sample set of three specimens of 12 months old ‘AMICU1908’ plants grown in 11 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Senecio plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMICU1908’ 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 characteristics 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, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMICU1908’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

• Plant description:
  • • Growth habit.—Compact, upright succulent perennial with foliage borne on a single unbranched stem.
    • Plant profile.—Ovate.
    • Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—14.0 cm.
    • Plant spread.—Average of 11.3 cm.
    • Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.
    • Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.
    • Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 25 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.
    • Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have not been observed to be any more or less susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to Senecio spp.
    • Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10 to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once established; high tolerance to wind.
• Root system:
  • • General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.
• Stems:
  • • Branching habit.—Leaves borne on a single unbranched stem; no lateral branching.
    • Quantity of main stems.—1.
    • Main stem dimensions.—10.2 cm long and 0.6 cm in diameter.
    • Internode length.—0.3 cm.
    • Aspect.—Rounded.
    • Attitude.—Nearly vertical.
    • Strength.—Moderately strong.
    • Texture and luster.—Glabrous, glaucous, matte.
    • Fragrance.—When crushed, stem exhibits a somewhat spicy fragrance typical of the species.
    • Color, when developing.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C; stem covered with a thick waxy layer colored nearest to in between blue-green and greyed-green, RHS 122D and 190C.
    • Color of mature stem.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; stem covered with a thick waxy layer colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 190C.
    • Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; stem covered with a thick waxy layer colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 190C.
• Foliage:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate.
    • Division.—Simple.
    • Attachment.—Sessile.
    • Quantity.—Approximately 33 leaves per stem.
    • Shape.—Narrow oblanceolate; distally falcate.
    • Dimensions.—7.3 cm long, 0.6 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on average.
    • Aspect.—Semi-terete to terete, typically with an obvious longitudinal channel.
    • Attitude.—At an average angle of 45 degrees to the stem.
    • Apex.—Narrowly acute.
    • Base.—Cuneate.
    • Margin.—Entire, occasionally with one or two spines of an average length of 0.3 cm; not undulated.
    • Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.
    • Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.
    • Fragrance.—When crushed, foliage exhibits a somewhat spicy fragrance typical of the species.
    • Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137C; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137C; the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188A.
    • Venation.—No venation is visible on the adaxial surface; parallel venation of the abaxial surface is colored yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.
    • Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.
• Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1908’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed and unpatented Senecio kleiniiformis plant, in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1
Characteristic	‘AMICU1908’	The seed parent.
Foliage aspect	Semi-terete to	Proximally terete,
and shape.	terete and narrow	progressing to semi-terete
	oblanceolate.	and ultimately opening up,
		distally, to a deltoid shape.
Foliage strength.	Stronger than	Weaker than ‘AMICU1908’.
	the parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1908’ differ from the pollen parent, unnamed and unpatented Curio ficoides plant, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2
Characteristic	‘AMICU1908’	The pollen parent
Stem diameter.	Thinner than the parent.	Thicker than
		‘AMICU1908’.
Foliage width.	Narrower than the parent.	Broader than
		‘AMICU1908’.
Foliage aspect.	Semi-terete to terete;	Terete; longitudinal
	typically with an obvious	channel is less
	longitudinal channel.	prominent.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1908’ differ from the closest known commercial comparator, the common form of the species Senecio ficoides ‘Mount Everest’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,188), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3
Characteristic	‘AMICU1908’	‘Mount Everest’
Growth habit.	More compact than	Less compact than
	‘Mount Everest’.	‘AMICU1908’.
Plant height.	Shorter than ‘Mount	Taller than ‘AMICU1908’.
	Everest’.
Foliage aspect.	Semi-terete to terete;	Terete; longitudinal channel
	typically with an obvious	is less prominent.
	longitudinal channel.
Foliage shape.	Narrow oblanceolate and	Oblanceolate; not falcate.
	distally falcate.
Foliar margins.	Occasionally producing	No spines are produced
	two spines on opposite	along the margins.
	sides of the leaf.

Claims (1)

That which is claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of Senecio plant named ‘AMICU1908’, substantially described and illustrated herein.

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