Patent Grant
PP32333
Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Sansevieria trifasciata.
Variety denomination: SPEARMINT.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sansevieria plant, botanically known as Sansevieria trifasciata, of the family Ruscaceae hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Spearmint’.
Sansevieria is a monocotyledonous flowering plant which can be produced in either hard-leafed or soft-leafed varieties for interior use as a house plant or outdoors. Sansevieria is a monocotyledonous and succulent, flowering plant which can be produced in either hard-leafed or soft-leafed varieties for interior use as a house plant or outdoors ornamental plant.
The new variety ‘Spearmint’ originated from a naturally-occurring mutation of the Sansevieria trisfasciata variety ‘Wintergreen’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,939). The new Sanseviera ‘Spearmint’ was discovered and selected by the inventor Francisco Emiliano Corrales Jiménez, as a single sprouting rare mutated plant in a ‘Wintergreen’ plantation, a controlled environment, in 2017 in Guatuso, San Carlos, Alajuela province, Costa Rica.
Asexual reproduction of the new Sansevieria cultivar by vegetative cuttings was first performed in 2017 in Guatuso, San Carlos, Alajuela, and 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 ‘Spearmint’, which in combination distinguish this Sansevieria as a new and distinct cultivar:
The new variety ‘Spearmint’ is considered a variety of Sansevieria in the group denominated as “long leaves Sansevieria varieties”. The new variety presents an average of 3-5 leaves per plant when it reaches its maturity (between 8-12 months). The new variety has an erect growth habit and the entire plant can reach a height range between 50-80 cm. The leaves are narrow (3-5 cm average measured at the widest part of the mature leaf) and lanceolate, with a soft waxy texture. The blades are thin and slightly wavy. The plant has a cylindrical shape.
The new variety is very drought tolerant, adapts to conditions of light and shade (interior and exterior), and shows high tolerance level to Anthrachnose (Colletotrichum sansvierae) disease.
The leaf blade is greyed-green colored (RHS 138D), with non-uniform horizontal variegated bands in both sides of the leaves dark green (RHS 141A) colored, and green margins (RHS 141A).
The leaf blade is green colored (RHS 133D), with non-uniform horizontal variegated bands in both sides of the leaves, dark green (RHS 133A) colored.
The variety ‘Wintergreen’ gave rise to the variety ‘Spearmint’. The ‘Spearmint’ is also considered part of the “long leaves varieties” group. The claimed variety shows little less vigor than ‘Wintergreen’, has a low number of leaves per plant (3-5), with an average width of 3-5 cm (measured in the middle of the mature leaf) The growth habit is erect and presents narrow leaves supported in a rosette. The entire plant can reach a size between 50-80 cm. The plant has, a cylindrical shape.
Plants of the new Sansevieria ‘Spearmint’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar, ‘Wintergreen’ (patented) 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 Sansevieria ‘Spearmint’ is the Sansevieria ‘Wintergreen’.
Plants of the new variety ‘Spearmint’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Sansevieria ‘Bantel Sensation’, unpatented. Plants of the new variety differ in the following characteristics:
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sansevieria cultivar ‘Spearmint’ 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 ‘Spearmint’.
The new Sansevieria ‘Spearmint’ 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 Sansevieria cultivar ‘Spearmint’ as grown in open-field conditions at Guatuso, San Carlos, Alajuela province, Costa Rica, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. 28° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Plants grow under natural light conditions. This crop does not require constant fertilization, to increase production per area about 200 kg ha−1 N, 150 kg ha−1 of P and 100 kg ha−1 K are required, the production is closely related with soil conditions in which they are grown.
Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S. online, March 2019), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the dry season in Guatuso, San Carlos, Alajuela province, Costa Rica when outdoor day temperature was 28° C. The age of the plants described is 8 months.
