USPP8247P

USPP8247P - Cactaceae plant `Sleigh Bells`

Info

Publication number: USPP8247P
Application number: US07/834,629
Authority: US
Inventors: Barnell L. Cobia
Priority date: 1992-02-12
Filing date: 1992-02-12
Publication date: 1993-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-12

Abstract

A new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family is of the type known commercially as a "Christmas Cactus" and has a growth habit which is similar to that of the 'Kris Kringle' variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,688) but which, nevertheless, differs, among other things, by having phylloclades with thicker midribs and with thicker and wider wings and longer teeth, and sterile flowers with longer tube laminating tepals and a greater number of tube attached stamens with greater length dimensions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family and which has been named the Zygocactus truncatus `Sleigh Bells` by the inventor.

Certain plant varieties of the Cactaceae family are well known in the foliage plant market and among these are those which are commonly referred to as the Christmas Cactus varieties because they tend to bloom during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season in the northern hemisphere.

The Christmas Cactus varieties on the market have blooms which vary in color from one variety to the next as is evident from the current U.S. patent art. One of the more popular varieties sold commercially in the market place is the variety that has been named Zygocactus truncatus `Kris Kringle`. The variety has a red colored bloom and forms the subject matter of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,688.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general objective has been to develop a new plant variety with a red colored bloom and which is distinguishable from the "Kris Kringle" variety and capable of being marketed in competition therewith. The objective has been fully realized in the development of the new plant variety hereinafter described in detail. The new plant variety was developed in a nursery located at Winter Garden, Fla., as a hybrid secured by cross-pollinating the flower of an unnamed research variety (ZH16088-T-C) with the pollen from the flower of yet another unnamed research variety (ZH6658). The paternal parent (ZH6658) was secured by cross-pollinating the flower of the `Kris Kringle` variety with pollen from yet another unnamed research variety (ZH2030). The seeds taken from the fertilized seed pod (ZH16088-T-C×ZH6658) were cultivated at the mentioned nursery location and after prolonged observation of the seedlings, the hybridized plant of the new variety was selected and asexually reproduced by propagation of cuttings taken from the original hybrid.

The maternal variety is similar in growth habit and bloom color to the new plant variety. The paternal parent of the new variety is less upright than the new variety, and in general, has smaller phylloclades and blooms. The paternal variety also has blooms that can be generally described as less intense in color. Both parents of the new variety are fertile whereas the new plant variety is sterile.

Through successive propagation of cuttings taken from the seedling of the new variety, it has been ascertained that specimens of the new plant variety generally resemble the `Kris Kringle` variety in most respects but are distinguishable from this variety and from other related varieties known to the inventors by a growth habit which is evident in plant specimens of the new plant variety that have been propagated and grown under nursery conditions utilized in the growing of tropical plants in Winter Garden, Fla., as combining the following principal characteristics:

1. An erect growth habit,

2. Phylloclades which, in comparison to the `Kris Kringle` variety, have (a) midribs with generally greater thickness dimensions, (b) wings with generally greater thickness dimensions and width dimensions, and (c) teeth with generally greater length dimensions.

3. Flowers which, in comparison to the `Kris Kringle` variety, are sterile and have (a) a tube laminating tepal series with generally greater length dimensions, (b) and a tube attached group of stamen that is generally greater in number and having generally greater length dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings serve by color photographic means to illustrate the new plant variety and wherein one sheet shows a twelve (12) month old specimen which was grown from the propagation of a single phylloclade in a conventional 3.5" plastic pot (trade designated size) found in the marketplace. A second sheet shows an enlargement of a fully open bloom taken from the specimen shown in the first mentioned sheet. Still another sheet shows a bloom as sectioned generally longitudinally through the perianth tube and ovary to expose the style and stamen arrangement.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new plant variety with colors and hues, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the text, as for example, through the absence of color notations, being named in accord with the ISCC-NBS Method of Designating Colors (U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Circular 553) the named colors being interpreted from color notations derived by comparison with color specimens of the Munsell Book of Color. The description is further based on observations of well fertilized plants about one year old from initial propagation of a single phylloclade and which were grown under 50-75% shaded glass house nursery conditions in the Winter Garden, Fla. area and wherein temperatures range from 60°-85° F. during the winter months, from 75°-95° during the summer months, and are ambient during the intervening periods.

I. Name: Zygocactus truncatus `Sleigh Bells`.

II. Parentage:

A. Maternal.--An unnamed and unmarketed fertile research variety that is similar in apparent growth habit to the subject new plant variety.

B. Paternal.--An unnamed and unmarketed fertile research variety having a heritage that includes the patented `Kris Kringle` variety as the maternal parent and having an apparent growth habit which is similar to the `Kris Kringle` variety but which provides specimens that are less erect with generally smaller foliage and blooms, and bloom colors that are less intense.

III. Classification:

A. Botanic.--(Britton and Rose, The Cactaceae, Constable and Co., Ltd., London 1937, vol. IV). (1) Family: Cactaceae. (2) Tribe: Cereeae. (3) Sub-Tribe: Epiphyllanae. (4) Genus: Zygocactus. (5) Species: Truncatus (Haworth) Schumann.

B. Commercial.--Thanksgiving-Christmas blooming cactus.

IV. Form: Epiphylic and terrestrial, shade loving, succulent, leafless plant with jointed and branched stems.

V. Stems:

A. General.--Irregular with usually multichotomous branching of both upright and pendulous, adventitiously rootable, flattened phylloclades that have a prominent midrib and prominently toothed lateral wings.

B. Phylloclades.--(1) General: Elongated and flat with a transversely elongated, areole bearing, truncated apex, with inwardly tapering basal wing margins that merge with a usually broadly pointed basal juncture with the phylloclade therebelow, and with an axially located areole usually being associated with each tooth. (2) Midrib: (a) General -- Extends longitudinally of phylloclade and continuously through joints and with a laterally tapering cortex at the wing insertions. Pith surrounding vascular bundles of the vascular system to the marginal teeth. (b) Texture -- Smooth, waxy epidermis with wax in small embedded scales and becoming woody in basal stem areas with specimen aging. (c) Size (at maturity) -- 1. Length: Usually 27-54 mm. (Avg.=44.2 mm.) (Dev.=6.33 mm.) 2. Thickness: Usually 1.0-8.5 mm. (Avg.=4.0 mm.) (Dev.=1.80 mm.) (d) Color (at maturity) -- Usually dominated by a yellow green and/or olive green hue. Commonly moderate yellow green (7.5 GY 6/6) (7.5 GY 5/6) and/or moderate olive green (7.5 GY 4/6). (3) Wings: (a) General -- Dentate and generally flattened from midrib cortex to tooth insertion and with slight thinning taper toward margins. (b) Margins -- Toothed. (c) Texture -- Succulent to leathery with smooth, waxy epidermis where the wax is arranged in small embedded scales of higher density than in midrib area, and becoming corky in the basal stem areas with specimen aging. (d) Size (at maturity) -- 1. Thickness: About 1-3 mm. in the area intermediate the margin and midrib. (Avg.=1.5 mm.) (Dev.=0.43 mm.) 2. Width -- Usually 13-26 mm. as measured from phylloclade axis to most offset lateral areole. (Avg.=19.6 mm.) (Dev.=2.98 mm.) 3. Color (at maturity) -- Usually dominated by a yellow green and/or olive green hue. Commonly moderate yellow green (7.5 GY 5/6) and/or moderate olive green (7.5 GY 4/6) (7.5 GY 4/4). (4) Teeth: (a) Shape -- 1. General: Generally flattened and tapered along the margins and from the wing insertion to an apex having a hyaline, single cell, pointed spine with nonpredictable bending. 2. Abaxial margin: Usually straight to convex. 3. Adaxial margin: Usually straight to concave. (b) Orientation -- Generally project distally of phylloclade in an alternate arrangement. (c) Margins -- Entire. (d) Texture -- Succulent to leathery with smooth waxy epidermis having wax in small embedded scales of density comparable to wings, and becoming corky in basal stem areas with specimen aging. (e) Size (at maturity) -- 1. Thickness: Usually 0.75-1.50 mm. in center area. 2. Areole to apex dimension (adaxial marginal side): Usually 4-13 mm. in the upper quadrants of the phylloclades. (Avg.=7.0 mm.) (Dev.=1.91 mm.) (f) Number -- Usually 6-8 per phylloclade. (g) Color -- Usually dominated by an olive green hue. Commonly moderate olive green (7.5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 4/6). (5) Areoles: (a) Terminal areole -- Large, elongated, oval shaped with several acicular bristles, and several buds that may mature into either new phylloclades or flowers. The opposite ends of the areole are located adjacent to subsidiary areoles which are in turn located at the axial of the teeth at the distal end of the phylloclade. (b) Axillary areoles -- Acicular bristles without glochidia but having copious, short, brownish, multicellular, wooly hairs. In areoles located below the teeth at the distal end of the phylloclade, there is usually only one areole which is frequently latent.

VI. Buds: Unarmored, ovoid and chlorophyllous.

VII. Flowers:

A. General.--Sessile, zygomorphic, usually solitary, terminal, perfect and epigynous with double hypanthium and whorled tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals) having a spiral emergence as a perianth provided with a sepaloid series of free tepals, a tube laminating series of tepals, and a tube forming series of united tepals.

B. Sepaloid series.--(1) General: Free tepals inserted on top of ovary. (2) Shape: Deltoid in outer members of whorl and grading inwardly in the whorl to provide progressively greater length dimensions and broader apices. All members have a pointed tip and entire margins with sparse irregular teeth appearing mainly in the apex areas of the inner members of the whorl. (3) Texture: Succulent and glabrous outer whorl members and grading inwardly in whorl to silken blades with fleshy basal areas. (4) Number: Usually 4-8. (5) Size (at full bloom): (a) Length (base-tip dimension) -- Usually less than 20 mm. (Avg.=8.4 mm.) (Dev.=4.86 mm) (b) Width (maximum) -- Usually less than 12 mm. (Avg.=7.5 mm.) (Dev.=2.19 mm.) (6) Color (at full bloom): Varies from the outer members to the inner members with the smallest outer whorl tepals usually having a marginal blade area that in color is dominated by a pink hue and a center field area that in color is dominated by a yellow green hue. The inner whorl tepal members have a continuous marginal and center blade area that in color is usually dominated by pink and/or red hues that project proximally into a basal area that is dominated by a yellow green hue. Commonly deep pink (2.5 R 6/10) (5 R 6/10) and/or strong red (5 R 5/12) in marginal and center field areas of the inner whorl members and strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) in the basal area. Commonly deep pink (2.5 R 6/10) and/or strong pink (2.5 R 7/8) in marginal areas and merging proximally into a center field and basal area that is commonly strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) and/or moderate yellow green (2.5 GY 6/6) in the outer whorl members. (7) Orientation: Erect to recurve at full bloom.

C. Tube laminating series.-- (1) General: Tepals inserted on ovary and basally united below the throat as outer lamination on the perianth tube and with progressively greater amount of basal fusion inwardly in the whorl. (2) Shape: Zygomorphic and grading inwardly in the whorl with progressively greater length dimensions and broader apices so that the blade area changes inwardly in the whorl from ovate with an acute tip to spatulate with a broader acute tip. Entire margins with sparse, irregular teeth mainly in apex areas. (3) Texture: Succulent and glabrous outer whorl members and grading inwardly to silken blades with slightly fleshy basal areas. (4) Number: Usually 6-11 tepals. (5) Size: (at full bloom): (a) Length (base-tip dimension) -- Usually ranging from about 13 mm. to about 62 mm. (Avg.=38.7 mm.) (Dev.=13.82 mm.) (b) Width (maximum) -- Usually ranging from about 10 mm. to about 19 mm. (Avg.=16.0 mm.) (Dev.=2.63 mm.) (6) Color (at full bloom): (a) General -- Tepals with basal areas that are dominated by a yellow green hue immediately above the insertion in the outer members and becoming white inwardly, marginal and center blade areas that in color are dominated by a pink, red, and/or reddish orange hues which merge with the distally extending basal area colors. (b) Basal area -- Inner members usually white at insertion and commonly purplish white (5 R 9/1) and/or white (2.5 R 9.5/1) along tube attached area. Outer members commonly strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) and/or brilliant yellow green (2.5 GY 8/8). (c) Blade area -- Commonly deep pink (2.5 R 6/10), moderate red (2.5 R 5/10) (5 R 5/10), strong red (5 R 5/12), vivid red (5 R 4/14), moderate reddish orange (7.5 R 6/10) and/or strong reddish orange (7.5 R 5/12). (7) Orientation: Perpendicular to recurve at full bloom.

D. Tube forming series.--(1) General: Tepals basally united to form hollow perianth tube that is inserted on ovary and equipped at its throat with an irregular carina (keel). (2) Shape: (a) Perianth tube -- Elongated and elipsoidal in cross section with the major ellipsoidal axis usually generally normal to the plane of the supporting phylloclade. (b) Blades -- Nearly zygomorphic and thinly spatulate with acute tips and entire margins having sparse irregular teeth in apex area. (c) Carina (keel) -- Irregular and transcending. (3) Texture: (a) Perianth Tube -- Thick, succulent and slightly ribbed. (b) Blades -- Translucent and silken. (c) Carina (keel) -- Fleshy. (4) Number: Usually 8-9. (5) Size (at full bloom): (a) Perianth tube -- 1. Length (base-keel): Usually 31-37 mm. along tube axis. (Avg.=34.0 mm.) (Dev.=1.76 mm.) 2. Major Axis: Usually 9-11 mm. at throat interior. (Avg.=10.0 mm.) (Dev.=0.71 mm.) 3. Minor Axis: Usually 6-9 mm. at throat interior. (Avg.=7.8 mm.) (Dev.=1.23 mm.) (b) Blades -- 1. Length (base-keel): Usually 25-37 mm. (Avg.=32.8 mm.) (Dev.=2.32 mm.) 2. Width (maximum): Usually 12-17 mm. (Avg.=15.1 mm.) (Dev.=1.29 mm.) (6) Color (at full bloom): (a) Perianth Tube -- A basic field that is generally translucent and white with longitudinally extending, randomly arranged striations or streaks that in color are commonly pale pink (5 R 9/2). The basic field is translucent and white (2.5 R 9.5/0), and/or purplish white (5 R 9/1). (b) Blades -- A continuous marginal and center blade area distally of the keel that in color is dominated by a red hue and which merges with a basal area distally of the keel that is usually translucent and white. Commonly strong red (5 R 5/12) and/or vivid red (5 R 4/14) in the continuous marginal and center blade areas of the blade. Commonly purplish white (5 R 9/1) and/or white (2.5 R 9.5/0) in the basal area distally of the keel. (c) Carina (keel) -- Color usually dominated by a reddish purple and/or purplish red hue. Commonly strong reddish purple (2.5 RP 5/10) (2.5 RP 4/10) and/or moderate purplish red (5 RP 5/10). (7) Orientation: Acute to recurve.

E. Androecium (stamens).--(1) General: Numerous exerted and diadelphous stamens with one group having filaments basally fused to the perianth tube and the other group having filaments basally united to form a nectary housing, thin annulus around the style and which is provided with thin, deflexed, irregular, toothed margin or ruffle at the throat of the annulus. (2) Stamen number: (a) Tube attached group -- Usually 84-94. (b) Basally united group -- Usually 17-23. (3) Filaments: (a) General -- Translucent with anther connective. (b) Shape -- Long, slender, terete. (c) Texture -- Glabrous and capillaceous. (d) Color -- Usually white and commonly purplish white (2.5 RP 9/1) (5 RP 9/1). (e) Size (at full bloom -- 1. Length: a. Tube attached group -- Usually 40-60 mm. (Avg.=52.8 mm.) (Dev.=5.83 mm.) b. Basally united group -- Usually 40-52 mm. (Avg.=46.0 mm.) (Dev.=3.50 mm.) 2. Diameter: Usually about 0.25-0.50 mm. intermediate opposite ends. (4) Anthers: (a) General -- Adnate with four longitudinally dehiscent pollen sacs and connective inserted at end. (b) Shape -- Elongated. (c) Texture -- Waxy. (d) Color (before dehiscence) -- Dominated by an orange yellow hue. Commonly pale orange yellow (10 YR 8/4) (10 YR 9/4) (10 YR 8/6), light orange yellow (10 YR 8/6) and/or moderate orange yellow (10 YR 8/6). (e) Sterility -- Sterile.

F. Gynoecium (pistil).--(1) General: Exerted and compound, parietal placentation and united style surrounded by annular diffuse yellowish nectary at its insertion. (2) Style: (a) General -- Hollow, stout and inserted at ovary. (b) Shape -- Elongated and terete. (c) Texture -- Fleshy and smooth. (d) Color -- Usually dominated by a purplish pink hue at the proximal end of the style and by a purplish pink and/or purplish red hue at the distal end. Commonly moderate purplish pink (5 RP 7/8) and/or deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10) at proximal end and deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10) and/or moderate purplish red (5 RP 5/10) at distal end. (e) Size (at full bloom ) -- 1. Length: Usually 56-63 mm. (Avg.=59.8 mm.) (Dev.=2.26 mm.) 2. Diameter: Usually about 1.0 mm. intermediate opposite ends. (3) Stigma: (a) General -- Exerted and erect with usually 6-8 inner marginally adhering lobes. (b) Shape -- Elongated and tapering toward lobe tips and having relatively blunt apices. (c) Texture -- Fleshy and smooth with inner sides of lobes having short glutinous capillaceous hairs. (d) Color -- Usually dominated by a purplish pink hue. Commonly deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10) (2.5 RP 6/10). (e) Size -- 1. Length: Usually 6-7 mm. along inner margins. (4) Ovary: (a) General -- Inferior with thin epidermis and usually 5-7 carpels with numerous ovules. (b) Shape -- Terete to ovoid and generally broadening from insertion to floral end. (c) Texture -- Succulent with glabrous thin outer epidermis. (d) Color -- A basic field with color usually dominated by a yellow green hue. Commonly strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) (2.5 GY 6/8) and/or moderate yellow green (2.5 GY 6/6). (e) Size -- 1. Length: Usually 9-11 mm. from insertion to cavity base. (Avg.=10.1 mm) (Dev.=0.57 mm.) 2. Major axis: Usually 8-10 mm. at distal end of concavity. (Avg.=8.6 mm.) (Dev.=0.84 mm.) 3. Minor axis: Usually 7-8 mm. at distal end of concavity. (Avg.=7.4 mm.) (Dev.=0.52 mm.)

VIII. Growth habit: Erect.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF A PLANT SPECIMEN

Age of plant: Twelve (12) months from initial propagation of single phylloclade.

Branches from propagated phylloclade: Six (6).

Total number of new phylloclades grown: Thirty-nine (39).

General:

______________________________________                                    
Branch   Number of    Maximum   Number of                                 
Number   Phylloclades Length    Tips                                      
______________________________________                                    
1        2            45 mm.    1                                         
2        8            53 mm.    3                                         
3        6            49 mm.    1                                         
4        16           54 mm.    6                                         
5        5            49 mm.    2                                         
6        2            38 mm.    1                                         
______________________________________

Midribs:

______________________________________                                    
Branch      Average     Average                                           
Number      Midrib Length                                                 
                        Midrid Thickness                                  
______________________________________                                    
1           44.5 mm.    2.0 mm.                                           
2           44.5 mm.    3.7 mm.                                           
3           43.5 mm.    4.7 mm.                                           
4           44.8 mm.    4.6 mm.                                           
5           44.4 mm.    3.5 mm.                                           
6           38.5 mm.    2.0 mm.                                           
______________________________________

Wings:

______________________________________                                    
Branch     Average Wing Average Wing                                      
Number     Center Thickness                                               
                        Width (Maximum)                                   
______________________________________                                    
1          1.5 mm.      18.5 mm.                                          
2          1.4 mm.      19.4 mm.                                          
3          1.5 mm.      19.0 mm.                                          
4          1.8 mm.      19.7 mm.                                          
5          1.1 mm.      20.6 mm.                                          
6          1.0 mm.      15.0 mm.                                          
______________________________________

Teeth:

______________________________________                                    
Branch Teeth (Avg.)                                                       
                   Average Tooth                                          
                                Average Areole                            
Number Per Phylloclade                                                    
                   Center Thickness                                       
                                To Apex Length                            
______________________________________                                    
1      6.5         1.0 mm.      7.2 mm.                                   
2      6.5         1.2 mm.      6.6 mm.                                   
3      6.7         1.2 mm.      7.2 mm.                                   
4      6.4         1.3 mm.      6.7 mm.                                   
5      6.6         1.1 mm.      7.8 mm.                                   
6      5.5         1.1 mm.      6.2 mm.                                   
______________________________________

Phylloclade color: moderate yellow green (7.5 GY 6/6) (7.5 GY 5/6) and moderate olive green (7.5 GY 4/6) (7.5 GY 4/4).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF A FLOWER

The following is a general description of a flower of the new plant variety and which bloomed in December on a twelve (12) month old plant specimen grown under shaded greenhouse nursery conditions in Winter Garden, Fla.

Number of buds and blooms on plant specimen: Eighteen (18).

Bloom life: Eight (8) days.

Sepaloid series of tepals:

Number.--7.

Tepal size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 18 mm. Minimum base-tip dimension: 5 mm. Maximum width dimension: 11 mm.

Color (at full bloom).--Deep pink (2.5 R 6/10) (5 R 6/10) in marginal and center field areas of the inner whorl members and strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) in the basal area. Deep pink (2.5 R 6/10) and strong pink (2.5 R 7/8) in marginal areas and merging proximally into a center field and basal area that is strong yellow (2.5 GY 7/8) in the outer whorl members.

Tube laminating series of tepals:

Number.--10.

Size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 59 mm. Minimum base-tip dimension: 22 mm. Maximum blade width: 17 mm. Minimum blade width: 12 mm.

Color (at full bloom).--Inner members white (2.5 R 9.5/0) at insertion with outer members being strong yellow green (2.5 GY 5/10) and brilliant yellow green (2.5 GY 6/10) at insertion. Inner and outer members deep pink (2.5 R 6/10), moderate red (2.5 R 5/10), strong red (5 R 5/12), vivid red (5 R 4/14), and moderate reddish orange (7.5 R 6/10) in the marginal and center field areas.

Tube forming series of tepals:

Number.--8.

Size (at full bloom).--Perianth tube: Length (base to keel) -- 36 mm. along the tube axis Major axis -- 10 mm. at throat interior. Minor axis -- 8 mm. at throat interior. Blades: Maximum length (keel-tip) -- 35 mm. Minimum length (keel-tip) -- 30 mm. Maximum blade width -- 17 mm. Minimum blade width -- 15 mm.

Color.--Perianth tube: A basic field that is generally translucent and white (2.5 R 9.5/0) with random striations of pale pink (5 R 9/2). Blades: White (2.5 R 9.5/0) in basal areas distally of the keel and strong red (5 R 5/12) and vivid red (5 R 4/14) in the continous marginal and center field area of the blades.

Androecium:

Stamen number.--Tube attached group: 91. Basally united group: 20.

Filaments.--Color: Purplish white (2.5 RP 9/1).

Size (at full bloom).--Length -- Tube attached group: 54 mm. (avg). Basally united group: 47 mm. (avg). Diameter: About 0.50 mm. intermediate the opposite ends.

Anthers.--Color (before dehiscing): Pale orange yellow (10 YR 8/4) (10 YR 9/4).

Gynoecium (pistil):

Style.--Color: Moderate purplish pink (5 RP 7/8) and deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10) in basal area and deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10) and moderate purplish red (5 RP 5/10) in distal area. Size (at full bloom): Length -- 61 mm. Diameter -- 1.0 mm. Stigma -- Color: Deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10). Size: 6.0 mm. (avg) lobe length. Ovary -- Color: Strong yellow green (2.5 GY 7/8) (2.5 GY 6/8) and moderate yellow green (2.5 GY 6/6). Size (at full bloom): Length (insertion to concavity base) -- 11 mm. Major axis -- 9 mm. at distal end of concavity. Minor axis -- 8 mm. at distal end of concavity.

Claims

We claim:

1. A new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family as shown and described and which is mainly distinguished from its antecedents and known related varieties by growth characteristics that are similar to those of the `Kris Kringle` variety but as modified by the combination of the following characteristics:

1. A more erect posture at maturity than the `Kris Kringle` variety;

2. Phylloclades which, in comparison to the `Kris Kringle` variety have (a) midribs with generally greater thickness dimensions, (b) wings with generally greater thickness dimensions and width dimensions, and (c) teeth with generally greater length dimensions; and,