Abstract:
A chrysanthemum plant named Oberon characterized by its small sized blooms with greyed-red ray florets and prolific branching early natural season flower date of August 4-7; blooming for a period of 6 weeks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a cross of unknown Dendranthema grandiflora parents. The new and distinct cultivar was a seedling resulting from the open pollination among groups of chrysanthemum cultivars maintained under the control of the inventor for breeding purposes. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant by Rob Noodelijk on a cultivated field in Rijsenhout, Holland in Aug., 1996. The plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses at Rijsenhout, Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present plant is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum of a small sized bloom and greyed-red ray florets. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type. 
     FIG. 1 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Dendranthema grandiflora. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown out doors in Rijsenhout, Holland under natural day length and temperature and planted week 22 in 1997 and 1998. The natural blooming date of this crop was August 4-7 (week 32). The average height of the plants was 20 cms. This new variety produces small sized blooms with greyed-red ray florets and yellow-green disc florets (only visible at an early stage of inflorescence). 
     The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish Oberon as a new and distinct variety. 
     The color designations (color designations are from the R.H.S. Colour Chart) are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. 
     
         ______________________________________Botanical ClassificationCULTIVAR  Oberon______________________________________BudSize             SMALL            CROSS SECTION ±            1.0 CM            HEIGHT ±1.0 CMOutside Color    RED 51 DBloomSize             SMALLFully Expanded   4-41/2 CMBorne (number of UPPER AND LOWERblooms per branch)            PORTION PLURAL            BLOOMS PER            BRANCH            (APPROX. 6 BLOOMS)Length of lateral            FROM TOP TILLbranch           BOTTOM            APPROX. 10.0 CMlateral branch,  WEAKattachmentBranching        Prolific with 6-8            breaks after pinchingForm             DECORATIVEPerformance (on the            6 WEEKSplant)ColorDisc florets     At an early stage            of inflorescence, yellow-greenColor of the upper            Greyed-red 179 Csurface of the   near the center,majority of the ray-            the outer rayflorets          florets greyed-red            182 DColor of the lower            ORANGE 27 B TOsurface of the   GREYED PURPLE 185majority of the ray-            D AT THE TIPSfloretsTonality from    A COMPACT GARDENDistance         MUM WITH GREYED-            RED BLOOMS AT A            MATURE STAGE OF            INFLORESCENCE AND            A YELLOW-GREEN            CENTER IN AN EARLY            STAGE OF            INFLORESCENCEDiscoloration of ray            TO GREYED-PURPLEflorets          186 DDiscoloration of To yellow-greendisc florets     152 CRay floretsTexture          UPPERSIDE SMOOTH            UNDERSIDE SMOOTHNumber           ±190-220Cross-section    FLATLongitudinal axis of            REFLEXINGthe majorityShape of tip     ROUNDFragrance        TYPICAL            CHRYSANTHEMUMDisc diamter     0.7 cm(natural seasoncrop)Reproductive OrgansStamen           None presentPollen           NONEStyles (present in            GREEN, THINboth ray and discflorets)Style Length     ±3 MMStigmas          YELLOW-GREENStigma Width     ±1 MMOvaries          ENCLOSED IN CALYXPlantForm             A GARDENMUM (POT            MUM) MEANT FOR            OUTDOOR USEGrowth           SHORTHeight (from soil            ±20 CMlevel)Stem Color       NEAR GREEN 137 DStem Strength    MEDIUMStem Brittleness PRESENTStem Anthocyanin NONEColorationNatural blooming August 4-7 (weekdate             32)FoliageColor            UPPERSIDE GREEN            139 A            UNDERSIDE GREEN            137 BSize             SMALL:            LENGTH ±6 CM            WIDTH ±4 CMQuantity (number per            10-12lateral branch)Shape            INCURVEDTexture          FLESHYRibs and Veins   RIBS AND VEINS            WELL DEVELOPEDEdge             CRENATEDShape of Base of ROUNDSinus BetweenLateral LobesMargin of Sinus  CONVERGINGBetween LateralLobesShape of Base    ROUNDApex             MUCRONATE______________________________________