AU2004222741B2 - Dianella caerulea plant named 'DCNCO' - Google Patents

Description

DIANELLA CAERULEA PLANT NAMED 'DCNCO' LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dianella caerulea.

VARIETY DENOMINATION The inventive variety of Dianella caerulea disclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination 'DCNCO'.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial Flax Lilly variety of Dianella caerulea, which has been given the variety denomination of 'DCNCO'. Its market class is that of an ornamental grass-like plant. 'DCNCO' is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative grass-like plant, preferably grown and sold in 25mm to 300mm wide pots, but not limited to these sizes as larger or smaller sizes may be required in commerce.

The Dianella caerulea variety 'DCNCO' was first discovered in October 1996 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales after an extensive breeding program. In 1995, Dianella species were grown together in an open bed covering approximately 250 square metres of area. These were grown in groups of species and ecotypes including Dianella caerulea collected from the Sydney area, and other regions. The other Dianella species present were longifolia, revoluta and tasmanica. The plants were open pollinated with possible assisted pollination from general shaking of flower stems onto each other.

Seeds were collected and sown from the 'Sydney Ecotype' plants in December 1995. Approximately 30,000 plants were grown. In October 1996, a single plant was identified as having an absence of canes (aerial stems) and it was selected and potted into a 140 mm pot for further evaluation. It was named

'DCNCO'.

It was first asexually propagated by division the following April 1997 in the state of New South Wales, Australia and again during November 1997 and April 1998 and was found to be stable in character. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive 'DCNCO' variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

'DCNCO' has a densely tufted, slightly spreading and semi-compact growth habit, with a general absence of canes, which is unusual for a Dianella caerulea, particularly when compared to the 'Sydney Ecotype'. It was observed 'DCNCO' is less prone to falling over than the parent type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 'DCNCO' is a distinctive variety of Diane/lla caerulea which is characterized by the combination of its densely tufted, slightly spreading and semi-compact growth habit, a general absence of canes, and a less likely tendency to fall over when it grows to maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a 'DCNCO' plant. illustrates the absence of canes, low to medium height of inflorescence, and semi-compact.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Dianella caerulea ornamental grass-like plant known as 'DCNCO'.

The descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations of the plant grown in 140mm nursery pots and field plots in New South Wales, Australia. The plants were approximately 12-months-old. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants.

'DCNCO' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.

Where dimensions, sizes, colours 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 with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like.

'DCNCO' is a perennial Dianella caerulea plant which was produced through an innovative breeding program. After its selection, 'DCNCO' was asexually propagated by division. 'DCNCO' has a densely tufted, slightly spreading and semi-compact growth habit, with a general absence of canes, which is unusual for Dianella caerulea.

Growth Habit, Dimensions and Colour 'DCNCO' is a rhizomatous plant forming a semi-compact tussock. Its growth habit is erect, the height is medium (approximately 60cm), and the density of shoots is strong. Length of internodes on stem is short (less than 10mm). The leaf attitude erect, leaf width medium (mean 13.6 mm), leaf upper side colour with waxiness removed yellow-green (RHS 147B), leaf lower side colour with waxiness removed yellow-green (RHS 147B), leaf upper side glaucosity weak, leaf shape ligulate, leaf apex acute, leaf cross section slightly concave, leaf cross sectional shape with midrib keeled, spines on leaf margin present with medium prominence, spines on leaf lower side midrib present with medium prominence.

Basal sheath anthocyanin colour is approximately red-brown corresponding to RHS 178A to 182A, then fading to 182B.

The inflorescence (flower spike) is a panicle with a longer than average length (range 80-90cm) when compared to Dianella caerulea 'DCNCO'. The inflorescence is positioned above the level of the foliage. The flower spike is soft to the touch. Peduncle colour is yellow green (approximately RHS 146B-C).

Flowering season late spring -summer. The flower buds are 8-10mm long and 3- 4mm wide. Flower bud colour changes from yellow green (RHS 146B) to violet blue (approximately RHS 90A to 93D) prior to opening. Mature flowers have 6 petals with ovate shape. Petal colour is violet-blue (approximately RHS 97C) along the centre and violet-blue (approximately RHS 96B) along the margin.

Anther filament colour is yellow (RHS 6A) and yellow orange (approximately RHS 14A). Flower diameter range is 9-13mm. Petal attitude is reflexed. The fruit is a succulent berry, berry length to 11mm, fruit shape is globose, sometimes asymmetrical, colour of unripe berry is yellow green (RHS 146A) and colour of ripe berry is approximately violet blue (RHS 89A), surface texture is smooth and glossy. Seed colour is black. A representative "DCNCO' plant is shown in Figure 1.

'DCNCO' has good colour retention in winter compared with other known varieties of Dianella caerulea, with one known exception of 'DBB03', which has better winter colour retention than 'DCNCO'. 'DCNCO' is easier and more productive to propagate from division than normal Dianella caerulea.

These features and other characteristics of the plant are apparent from the figures.

'DCNCO' Compared to Other Varieties of Dianella caerulea.

'DCNCO' has a more compact habit than 'Sydney Ecotype', 'Blue Mountains Ecotype' and 'DBB03' and a less dense form compared to 'DCMP01'.

'DCNCO generally has canes absent like 'DBB03', whereas 'DCMP01' has compact canes above the ground, and the 'Sydney Ecotype' has canes of typical length above the ground. 'DCNCO' has a medium flower spike height compared to 'DCMP01', which has a medium to tall flower spike height, whereas 'DBB03' has a tall flower spike height, and the 'Sydney Ecotype' has a variable flower spike height. 'DCNCO' has pale blue flower colour (RHS97C to 96B), whereas 'DCMP01' has a deeper blue almost purplish flower colour (RHS92A-B), and the 'Sydney Ecotype' flower colour is variable (approximately RHS92A to 97D).

Further comparisons are presented in Table 1 below.

TABLE I. Comparison of Dianella caerulea varieties.

'DBB03' 'DCMP01' 'DCNCO' Sydney Blue Mountains ecotype ecotype PLANT: GROWTH HABIT erect erect erect erect to semi-erect to semi-erect erect PLANT HEIGHT (cm) LSD (P 0.01) 6.03 mean 23.4 c 24.6 C 65.6 a 63.0 a 49.4 b std deviation 2.2 2.6 5.0 5.5 PLANT: DENSITY OF SHOOTS strong strong medium-strong medium weak STEM: INTERNODE LENGTH short short short long very long LEAF: WIDTH (mm) LSD (P<0.01) 1.97 mean 14.9c 12.2 d 1 3 .6cd 17.1 b 22.2 a std deviation 2.1 0.6 0.8 0.9 2.9 LEAF: FOLIAGE COLOUR overall appearance of leaf blue-green yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green LEAF: COLOUR waxiness removed upperside 147A 147A 147B 146B ca 147A lower side 147A 147B 147B 146B 147B LEAF: GLAUCOSITY strong weak weak weak weak LEAF: CROSS SECTION concave concave slight concave slight concave concave LEAF: PRESENCE OF SPINES ON MARGIN absent absent present present present LEAF: PROMINENCE OF SPINES ON MARGIN n/a n/a medium medium very weak LEAF: PRESENCE OF SPINES ON LOWER SIDE MIDRIB absent absent present present present LEAF: PROMINENCE OF SPINES ON LOWER SIDE MIDRIB n/a n/a medium medium medium BASAL SHEATH: COLOUR overall appearance of sheath blue- red- red- brown red to green brown brown to red- red-brown brown BASAL SHEATH: INTENSITY OF ANTHOCYANIN COLOUR absent weak medium medium strong Mean values followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P0O.O0 according to an S-N-K test.

Environmental Tolerances. 'DCNCO' has shown potential for shade tolerance. The winter hardiness of 'DCNCO' is at least to -10 degrees Celsius.

'DCNCO' has been observed to hold colour to -7 degrees Celsius. 'DCNCO' has excellent drought tolerance compared with other Dianella caerulea varieties; most likely due to the massive root system. After severe wilting, 'DCNCO' has been noted to recover with watering.

Disease Resistance and Susceptibility. 'DCNCO' has good tolerance to pests (examples include snails, slugs, mites, aphids, whitefly, beetles, caterpillars moths) and diseases with good resistance to root rot caused by the disease causing organism phytophthora, which is a common problem in Dianella caerulea.

Claims (1)

1. A new and distinct variety of Dianella caerulea plant named 'DONCO', substantially as described and illustrated herein.