A new and distinct Echinopsis cultivar named ‘Mystic Maze’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique cristata plant form. magenta and orange flowers in a triple whorl produced over a 6 to 7-month period. Plants are fast growing and robust, resulting in both improved propagation rates and improved finished plant production times. Echinopsis is an ornamental cactus, useful as an indoor ornamental plant and outdoors in warm climates.

Latin name of the genus and species:Echinopsis hybrida cristata.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar,Echinopsis‘Mystic Maze’, was found by the inventor, Renee O'Connell, as the result of a naturally occurring whole plant mutation. The parent variety is the patented proprietary variety referred to asEchinopsis‘Flambeau’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,946. Selection of the new variety was made April of 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Mystic Maze’ was first performed in Vista, Calif., during the Summer of 2013 at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetative cuttings. ‘Mystic Maze’ has since produced multiple generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Mystic Maze’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mystic Maze’ as a new and distinctEchinopsiscultivar:1. Uniquecristataform. The new variety is a cristate mutation ofEchinopsis‘Flambeau’, a patented plant, registered as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,946. Cristation is not common amongEchinopsis(Chamaelobivia) hybrids; in fact, the only other known cristate is the type speciesEchinopsis chamaecereus(Chamaecereus silvestrii) cristatus.2.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ forms whorls of cristate growth, rarely or never producing a non cristate shoot.3.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ is robust growing, producing a large crest in less than a year from a 9 cm pot, enhancing the production time in a commercial environment.4. AsEchinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ is fast growing, and whorls are produced quickly, it is possible to propagate many cuttings from a larger plant, thereby enhancing propagation time in a commercial nursery environment.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mystic Maze’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Mystic Maze’ differ in the following;1.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ varies fromEchinopsis‘Flambeau’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,946 in that the growth is produced in cristate or fasciate whorls, rather than stem offsets (peanuts) from a central plant stem.2.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ has not been observed to flower, whereasEchinopsis‘Flambeau’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,946 is very floriferous.3.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ does not have an upright morphology as doesEchinopsis‘Flambeau’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,946, due to the morphology of the cristation, the growth is more spherical and lateral.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mystic Maze’ are comparable to the unpatented, commercial varietyEchinopsis chamaecereuscristatus. The twoEchinopsisvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘Mystic Maze’ differs in the following:1Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ grows larger and can fill a gallon pot in less than a year, whereasEchinopsis chamaecereuscristatus is a smaller growing plant.2.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ rarely forms non-cristate stems, whereasEchinopsis chamaecereuscristatus forms non-cristate stems more frequently.3.Echinopsis chamaecereuscristatus produces flowers on the “normal” shoots, a characteristic not observed ofEchinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ as it rarely produces “normal” (flowering) shoots.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mystic Maze’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial varietyEchinopsis multiplexcristatus. The twoEchinopsisvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘Mystic Maze’ differs in the following:1.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ grows much faster thanEchinopsis oxygonacristatus, enhancing production times in a commercial nursery environment.2.Echinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ produces cristate growth with many more whorls thanEchinopsis oxygonacristatus, which tends to produce thicker, but less numerous whorls of growth.3. In a commercial nursery environment, the propagation of new crests ofEchinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’, due to the more robust growth and significantly more numerous production of cristate whorls, is more enhanced than that ofEchinopsis oxygonacristatus.4.Echinopsis oxygonacristatus does occasionally produce lilac tinted white flowers on the cristate growth, whereasEchinopsis cristata‘Mystic Maze’ has not been observed to flower on the cristate growth.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describeEchinopsis hybrida cristata‘Mystic Maze’ plants in a commercial shade house in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 34° F. to 90° F. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500-4000-foot candles of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.Botanical classification:Echinopsis hybrida cristata‘Mystic Maze’.

PROPAGATION

PLANT

General plant description: Round, mounded cactus composed of tightly compact and swirled crests.Growth habit: Mounded.Plant spread: Approximately 18.0 to 21.0 cm, in a 1-gallon pot.Plant height: Approximately 10 to 12 cm.Growth rate: Rapid.Stem description: No stem.Crests: Crests tightly compressed together and swirled.Quantity of crest swirls: About 50 on a 1-gallon pot, of approximately 14 months old from a rooted cutting.Size: Crests about 13 to 15 mm in width. Depth varies, typically 5 mm to 30 mm.Color: Near Green 138A. Sometimes lightly flushed Greyed-Red 178A.Ridges: 2 to 3 mm wide. Length 5 to 30 mm, same as depth of crest. Height about 2 mm.Areole:Spacing.—Approximately 2 to 4 mm apart on top of crest. Less dense on sides of crest, near 9 to 12 mm.Size.—1 to 2 mm.Color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158D, composed of dense trichomes less than 1 mm long.Spine/thorn description:Arrangement.—Spines radially arranged. No central spine.Quantity.—Typically 7 to 9.Length.—2.0 to 2.5 mm.Color.—Near White 155A.Age of plant described: Approximately 14 months from a rooted cutting.

FLOWER

Not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Temperature tolerance: USDA zones 10 and above.Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to typical pathogens or pests ofEchinopsishas been observed.Drought tolerance: Extreme tolerance for drought.