U.S. patent number PP33,056 [Application Number 16/873,317] was granted by the patent office on 2021-05-11 for aloe plant named `alligator`.
This patent grant is currently assigned to altman Specialty Plants, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Altman Specialty Plants, Inc. Invention is credited to Renee O'Connell.
United States Patent |
PP33,056 |
O'Connell |
May 11, 2021 |
Aloe plant named `ALLIGATOR`
Abstract
A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named `ALLIGATOR` is
disclosed, characterized by upright rosette of rigid green leaves,
liberally dappled with light yellow-green or greyed-green spots and
margined by reddish teeth, colored near Greyed-Red 180A. Plants
tolerate full sun as well as observed low temperature tolerance to
-2.degree. C. Offsets form freely on plants with maturity, creating
ornate clusters. The new variety is an Aloe, typically produced as
a garden or container plant.
Inventors: |
O'Connell; Renee (Escondido,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Altman Specialty Plants, Inc |
Vista |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
altman Specialty Plants, Inc.
(Vista, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
75845824 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/873,317 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
PLT/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01H
6/00 (20180501) |
Current International
Class: |
A01H
5/12 (20180101); A01H 6/00 (20180101) |
Field of
Search: |
;PLT/373 |
Primary Examiner: Bell; Kent L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bright; Cassandra
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named `ALLIGATOR` as
herein illustrated and described.
Description
Latin name of the genus and species: Aloe hybrid.
Variety denomination: `ALLIGATOR`.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The
seed parent is the unpatented proprietary Aloe hybrid `FRK 02`. The
pollen parent is the unpatented proprietary Aloe hybrid `FRK 17`.
The crossing was made in March 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in
Vista, Calif. `ALLIGATOR` was selected by the inventor in September
2015.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar `ALLIGATOR` was first
performed by tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Vista,
Calif. in October 2015. `ALLIGATOR` has since produced several
generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar
are stable and reproduced true to type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cultivar `ALLIGATOR` 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 `ALLIGATOR`. These
characteristics in combination distinguish `ALLIGATOR` as a new and
distinct Aloe cultivar: 1. Aloe `Alligator` forms an attractive,
upright rosette of rigid green leaves, liberally dappled with light
yellow-green or greyed-green spots and margined by reddish teeth,
colored near Greyed-Red 180A. 2. Aloe `Alligator` has demonstrated
its value as a landscape plant that can be produced in full sun. 3.
Aloe `Alligator` has exhibited cold tolerance to -2.degree. C. with
no disfiguring. 4. Aloe `Alligator` produces offsets at larger pot
size such as an 8'' or 10'', creating an ornate cluster.
PARENTAL COMPARISON
Plants of the new cultivar `ALLIGATOR` are similar to the seed
parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of
the new variety differ from the seed parent in the following: 1.
Aloe `Alligator` grows to a larger diameter than does Aloe `FRK
02`. 2. Aloe `Alligator` does not exhibit the more upturned
morphology of the leaves that Aloe `FRK 02` displays. 3. Aloe
`Alligator` exhibits stronger marginal teeth than does Aloe `FRK
02`. 4. Aloe `Alligator` produces more offsets than does Aloe `FRK
02`, and retains a more ornate morphology.
Plants of the new cultivar `ALLIGATOR` are similar to the pollen
parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of
the new variety differ in the following: 1. Aloe `Alligator`
produces offsets, whereas as Aloe `FRK 17` remains solitary. 2.
Aloe `Alligator` exhibits a larger diameter to the rosette than
does Aloe `FRK 17`. 3. Aloe `Alligator` has more dappled light
yellow-green or greyed-green spots than does Aloe `FRK 17`.
COMMERCIAL COMPARISON
`ALLIGATOR` can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety
Aloe `Blue Elf`. The two Aloe varieties are similar in most
horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety differs in
the following: 1. Aloe `Alligator` produces ornate rosettes of
rigid green leaves, liberally dappled with light yellow-green or
greyed-green spots, whereas Aloe `Blue Elf` exhibits taller
rosettes of longer matte blue leaves with no spots. 2. Aloe
`Alligator` fills an 8'' pot with a single cut, whereas Aloe `Blue
Elf` fills an 8'' pot only after a much longer interval with the
production of offsets. 3. Aloe `Alligator` displays wide, strong
leaves which are contained within the perimeter of the pot, whereas
Aloe `Blue Elf` produces softer, longer leaves which can break in
shipping. 4. Aloe `Alligator` forms thick, rigid leaves that do not
"blanch" or exhibit "tip death", whereas those of Aloe `Blue Elf`
are thinner and are known to suffer "blanch" or "tip death" under
certain circumstances in the commercial environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH
The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a top view of
a typical plant of `ALLIGATOR` grown in a greenhouse in Vista,
Calif. This plant is approximately 10 months old, shown in a 6-inch
container. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques
and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to
light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional
photographic techniques.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
In the following description, color references are made to The
Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 edition, except
where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.
The following observations and measurements describe `ALLIGATOR`
plants in a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures
ranged from 21.degree. C. to 25.degree. C. during the day, and
18.degree. C. to 21.degree. C. during the night. No artificial
light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given
to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to
3000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent
averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Aloe
hybrid `ALLIGATOR`. Age of the plant described: About 1 year.
PROPAGATION
Time to initiate roots: Approximately 25 days at 22.degree. C. Root
description: Fibrous. Brown, not accurately measured with The
R.H.S. Chart. Propagation method: Tissue culture.
PLANT
Growth habit: Single rosette, offsetting freely with maturity.
Container size: 10 inch. Height: Approximately 17 cm to top of
highest leaf. Approximately 75 cm to top of inflorescence. Plant
spread: Approximately 27 cm. Growth rate: Moderate. Branching
characteristics: No branches, rosette forming.
FOLIAGE
Leaf: Arrangement.--Rosette. Average length.--Average range 12-14
cm. Average width.--5 cm. Average thickness.--About 15 to 20 mm at
thickest. Shape of blade.--Deltoid. Apex.--Acute, with a sharp
dentation. Base.--Clasping. Margin.--Sharp dentations occurring at
regular intervals of 5 to 7 mm. Texture of top surface.--Smooth.
Texture of bottom surface.--Smooth. Quantity of leaves.--Average
range of about 24 to 29 on a 2-year old plant. Color.--Young
foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A with linear speckles near
Yellow-Green 147D. Speckles about 2 to 3 mm wide and 4 to 7 mm
long. Marginal dentations flushed Greyed-Red 180A. Young foliage
under side: Near RHS Green 137A with linear speckles near
Yellow-Green 147D. Speckles about 2 to 3 mm wide and 4 to 7 mm
long. Marginal dentations flushed Greyed-Red 180A. Mature foliage
upper side: Near RHS Green 137A with linear speckles near
Greyed-Green193B. Speckles about 2 to 3 mm wide and 4 to 7 mm long.
Marginal dentations flushed Greyed-Red 180A. Mature foliage under
side: Near RHS Green 137A with linear speckles near
Greyed-Green193B. Speckles about 2 to 3 mm wide and 4 to 7 mm long.
Marginal dentations flushed Greyed-Red 180A. Venation.--Linear.
Color: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.
FLOWER
Natural flowering season: Late Fall to early Winter in Southern
California. Inflorescence type and habit: Raceme. Flower longevity
on plant: About 1.5 months. Quantity of flowers: 30 to 40 on
average. Total inflorescence size: Height.--Approximately 30 cm.
Width.--Approximately 7.5 cm. Flower bud: Shape.--Cylindrical.
Length.--Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter.--Approximately 5 mm.
Color.--Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B, base near Orange-Red 31A.
Corolla: Arrangement.--Tubular, opening slightly at apex with age.
Length.--Approximately 3.0 to 3.5 cm. Width.--Approximately 1.4 cm
at widest point. Color.--Immature: Outer Surface: Near RHS
Orange-Red 32B, apex near Yellow-Green 144C. Inner Surface: RHS
Orange 29C, apex near Yellow-Green 144C. Mature: Outer Surface:
Near RHS Orange-Red 43B, flushed 28C, upper 1/3 streaked
Yellow-Green 144A. Inner Surface: RHS Orange 29D, apex near
Yellow-Green 144C. Calyx: Absent. Fragrance: None. Pedicel:
Length.--Approximately 1.1 cm. Width.--2 mm. Aspect.--Upright.
Color.--Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B when immature, near
Greyed-Orange 177B at maturity. Texture.--Glabrous. Peduncle:
Length.--Approximately 40 to 45 cm. Width.--6-8 mm.
Aspect.--Upright when immature, dropping slightly at maturity.
Color.--Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Texture.--Glabrous.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Stamens: Number.--6. Filament length.--2.5 cm. Filament color.--RHS
Green-Yellow 1B. Anther length.--About 3 mm. Anther color.--RHS
Orange-Red 32A. Anther shape.--Oval. Pollen color.--RHS Orange-Red
33A. Pollen quantity.--Moderate. Pistil: Number.--1.
Length.--Approximately 2.7 cm. Style color.--RHS Yellow 2B.
Stigma.--Shape: Linear. Color: RHS Yellow 2B. Ovary color: RHS
Yellow-Green 144A.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. Seed pods not observed to
form. Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from
approximately 28.degree. C. to -2.degree. C. Disease/pest
resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility observed.
* * * * *