Patent Grant
PP20849
Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Dracaena deremensis.
Variety denomination: ‘WHITNEY’.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant, botanically known as Dracaena deremensis, of the family Agavaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘WHITNEY’.
Dracaena is a monocotyledonous tropical foliage plant which can be produced as a single or multi-stemmed plant for interior use or outdoors in shade in zones 9 or 10 only.
The new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ originated from a naturally occurring branch mutation of the Dracaena deremensis cultivar designated ‘Janet Craig’ (unpatented). The new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Juan Carlos Vasquez Vargas, in June of 2004 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated mutation in a controlled environment in Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Asexual reproduction of the new Dracaena cultivar by vegetative, air layer and rooted cuttings was first performed in June of 2004 in Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘WHITNEY’, which in combination distinguish this Dracaena as a new and distinct cultivar:
Plants of the new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ is the parental cultivar, Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ (unpatented), which is compared in Table 1 above.
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘WHITNEY’. The accompanying photographs show the distinctive light green and darker green variegated foliage streaks of a mature, typical plant of ‘WHITNEY’, following growth under appropriate growing conditions with colors being as true as possible with illustrations of this type.
The new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.
The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Dracaena ‘WHITNEY’ as grown in greenhouses in Apopka, Fla., under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice: (1) average day temperature of 90° F. and average night temperature of 70° F.; (2) light conditions of 80% shade from natural sunlight, (3) 80% relative humidity; (4) liquid feed 24-8-16 fertilizer applied weekly, and every 160 days, granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer is applied; and (5) no growth retardants used.
Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour, Chart (R.H.S.), (2001 edition), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the fall season in Apopka, Fla., when outdoor day temperatures averaged 85° F. and outdoor night temperatures averaged 70° F. The age of the plants described is 3 months, after planting from rooted cuttings.
