Abstract:
A chrysanthemum plant named Xanthus characterized by its medium sized blooms with yellow ray and disc florets and mounding prolific branching; early natural season flower date of August 1-4; blooming for a period of 5 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 August, 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 invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and yellow color. 
    
    
     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 a plant of the cultivar in various stages of bloom. 
     FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar. 
     FIG. 3 shows foliage 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 outdoors in Rijsenhout, Holland under natural day length and temperature and planted week 22 in 1997 and 1998. The natural blooming date for this crop was August 1-4 (week 31). The average height of the plants was 20 cms. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with yellow ray and disc florets blooming for a period of 5 weeks. 
     The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish Xanthus 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 Xanthus______________________________________BudSize             MEDIUM            CROSS SECTION ± 1.3 CM            HEIGHT ± 1.5 CMOutside Color    YELLOW 3 CBloomSize             MEDIUMFully Expanded   5-6 CMBorne (number of blooms            UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONper branch)            PLURAL BLOOMS PER            BRANCH            (APPROX. 6 BLOOMS)Length of lateral branch            FROM TOP TILL BOTTOM            APPROX. 11 CMLateral branch, Attachment            MEDIUMBranching        Mounding and prolific with 8-10            breaks after pinchingForm             SINGLE(DAISY)Performance (on the plant)            5 WEEKSColorDisc florets     At an early stage of inflorescence            Yellow 3 AColor of the upper surface of the            YELLOW 3 Amajority of the ray-floretsColor of the lower surface of the            YELLOW 3 Amajority of the ray-floretsTonality from Distance            A COMPACT GARDENMUM            WITH YELLOW SINGLE FLO-            WERSDiscoloration of the ray florets            NONEDiscoloration of the disc florets            To Yellow 13 APollen           YELLOW-ORANGE 14 ARay floretsTexture          UPPERSIDE SMOOTH            UNDERSIDE SMOOTHNumber           ±23-26Cross-section    FLATLongitudinal axis of the majority            STRAIGHTShape of tip     DENTATEFragrance        TYPICAL CHRYSANTHEMUMDisc Diameter    SMALL, 1 1/2 CMReproductive OrgansStamen (present in disc florets)            YELLOW, THIN, ±4 MM IN            LENGTHPollen           Present, abundantStyles (present in both ray and disc            YELLOW, TRINflorets)Style Length     ±4 MMStigmas          YELLOWStigma Width     ±1 MMOvaries          ENCLOSED IN CALYXPlantForm             A GARDENMUM (POT MUM)            MEANT FOR OUTDOOR USEGrowth           SHORTHeight (from soil level)            ±20 CMStem Color       NEAR GREEN 144 AStem Strength    STRONGStem Brittleness PRESENTStem Anthocyanin Coloration            NONENatural blooming date            BEGINNING OF AUGUST (WEEK            31)FoliageColor            UPPERSIDE GREEN 137 A            UNDERSIDE GREEN 147 BSize             SMALL: LENGTH ± 7 CM            WIDTH ± 5 CMQuantity (number per lateral            14-16branch)Shape            INCURVEDTexture          FLESHYRibs and Veins   RIBS AND VEINS NOT SO WELL            DEVELOPEDEdge             LOBEDShape of Base of Sinus Between            ROUNDLateral LobesMargin of Sinus Between            DIVERGINGLateral LobesShape of Base    ASYMMETRICApex             MUCRONATE______________________________________