A new and distinct variety of Vriesea plant resulting as a spontaneous somoclonal variation among propagules of `Christiane` from tissue culture. This new plant, named `Cathy`, is characterized by having good vigor and an inflorescence of a dark reddish purple, deepening to near black as the blooming plant ages, rather than the usual brilliant red of the parent Vriesea `Christinae`. With the exception of the coloration of the inflorescence, the newly discovered sport `Cathy`, is phenotypically similar to the parent variety `Christiane`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Our present invention is that of a new distinct cultivar of plant in the 
genus Vriesea within the family Bromeliaceae, which is the result of a 
sponaneous sport appearing among plantlets of Vriesea Christiane created 
by tissue culture techniques. 
Plants of the genus Vriesea have long been desirable, decorative plants due 
to their long-lasting, ornamental inflorescence and symmetrical foliage. 
Predominating among commercially grown varieties of Vriesea have been 
numerous hybrids with bright red inflorescences. Among these is Vriesea 
Christiane, which has been in commercial production in Belgium for many 
years. It has been the continuing goal of plant breeders to produce 
compact Vriesea plants having large, brilliantly colored inflorescences 
combined with ease of growing. Although arguably surpassed in one 
characteristic or another by other Vriesea hybrid varieties, Vriesea 
Christiane has withstood the test of time. Due to the complex hybrid 
parentage of current commercial Vriesea varieties, including Vriesea 
Christiane, the plants can be reproduced only through vegetative 
reproduction, and are commonly reproduced using tissue culture techniques. 
In the course of raising many thousands of plants of Vriesea Christiane to 
full blooming maturity, joint inventors Arie Stofbergen and Leendert 
Stofbergen at Bergschenhoek, Nederland, identified and isolated a single 
plant which differed dramatically from all others. The single plant had an 
inflorescence in which the floral bracts were not the usual brilliant red 
of Vriesea Christiane, but were dark reddish purple, deepening to near 
black as the blooming plant aged. 
Joint inventors Luc Pieters and Caroline DeMeyer acquired the single mutant 
plant and successfully reproduced it vegetatively by offsets at Laarne, 
Belgium. The asexually reproduced progeny of the mutation have retained 
the characters of the mutation, and the new variety has now proved to be 
suitable for asexual reproduction by means of tissue culture propagation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Our new variety can be readily distinguished from Vriesea Christiane by the 
purple color of its floral bracts, and can be immediately distinguished 
from all commercially grown Vriesea hybrids by its combination of solid 
purple floral bracts and multi-branched inflorescence. 
Other than color of the floral bracts, our invention is substantially the 
same as Vriesea Christiane, but the brilliant red of the inflorescence of 
Vriesea Christiane is replaced by a dark purple inflorescence having 
reddish undertones. 
Our invention differs from all known varieties of Vriesea having purple 
inflorescence color by having a branched inflorescence. In Belgium the 
only regularly grown Vriesea variety with purple coloration in the 
inflorescence is Vriesea "Purple Cockatoo," which produces a single, 
relatively short bloom spike approximately 20-30 cm. tall, with a tendency 
to bend slightly, rather than remaining stiffly erect. Additionally, 
Vriesea "Purple Cockatoo" has deep purple coloration at the tips of the 
floral bracts, with the coloration becoming weaker toward the base of the 
bracts, creating the impression of a delicae feather-shaped inflorescence 
edged in dark purple with a lighter center. Individual plants of Vriesea 
"Purple Cockatoo" may produce inflorescences with such a pale central area 
that the inflorescence appears to be greenish with purple edges. In 
comparison, our new variety is multi-branched, easily producing five to 
six feather-shaped paddles when given good cultural conditions, with the 
individual branches radiating from a stiffly erect central spike 35-40 cm. 
tall, creating the impression of a dark purple torch. The purple 
coloration is uniform, becoming darker with age, and never showing pale 
green coloration at the base of individual floral bracts. 
Other single-spiked Vriesea varieties with purple inflorescences have been 
cultivated in the United States and elsewhere under the names Vriesea 
"Lav," V. "Purple Haze," V. "Purple Marie," V. "Mint Julep," V. "Purple 
Cascade" and V. "Purple Pendent." These varieties are readily 
distinguished from our new variety by their single-inflorescence, compared 
to the compound, multiple-branched inflorescence of our new variety. 
Additionally, the variety v. "Mint Julep" has mottled leaves, perhaps 
indicative of having V. hieroglycphica among its parentage, rather than 
having the glossy, solid green leaves of our new variety. The 
inflorescences of V. "Purple Cascade" and V. "Purple Pendent" are not 
erect, but bend downward. 
Only one previous Vriesea variety is known to have had a multiple-branched, 
purple-colored inflorescence. V. "Ranifera" is reported to have been a 
cultivar of the well known Vriesea "Poelmanii" isolated over a decade ago. 
However, it is no longer available, at least in the commercial market. 
Reportedly, V. "Ranifera" suffered from erratic growth and proved 
unsuitable for commercial production. In comparison, our new variety is a 
dependable, strong grower forming a symmetrical rosette of well-shaped 
leaves. Because V. "Ranifera" is no longer available, it is not possible 
to make further direct comparison between its inflorescence and that of 
our new variety. Presumably, V. "Ranifera" would be distinguishable from 
our new variety to the same extent as V. "Poelmanii" is distinguishable 
from V. "Christiane." Under like cultural conditions grown in Belgium, V. 
"Poelmanii" is readily distinguishable from V. "Christiane" by having 
fewer branches in the inflorescence (3-5 compared to 5-6 for V. 
"Christinae"); individual floral bracts somewhat bulbous in shape rather 
than flat paddle-like in shape; inflorescence branches of V. Poelmanii are 
generally longer and larger, but commence closer to the foliage rather 
than having the floral spike rising above the foliage before floral 
branching commences; and the inflorescence branches of V. "Poelmanii" tend 
to be arranged closely to one another rather than being fully separated, 
creating the impression of a single, heavy mass of color rather than an 
open, airy burst of color.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The following is a detailed description of our new variety, based on 
observations of specimens grown in Laarne, Belgium. Physical 
characteristics may vary in accordance with cultural conditions, such as 
light intensity, fertilization programs, temperature, day length, humidity 
and other cultural factors. 
I. Parentage: 
The new variety is a spontaneous mutation found as a sport among plantlets 
of Vriesea "Christiane." 
II. Propagation: 
Holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeeding generations of 
asexually reproduced plants. 
III Form: 
The plant forms a symmetrical rosette of green leaves approximately 45 cm. 
in diameter, or somewhat larger depending upon cultural conditions, with 
an erect multi-branched inflorescence purple in color. 
IV. Growth: 
A comparatively fast growing plant within the genus Vriesea. Under growing 
conditions prevailing in Belgium, which are cooler and with lower light 
intensity compared to conditions prevailing in Central and South Florida 
and Southern Calif., the current centers for commercial growing of 
bromeliads in the United States of America, the plant can be raised from 
tissue-cultured micro-cutting to a plant in full bloom in 42 months. A 
tissue-cultured micro-cutting will grow to transplantable plantlet size in 
nine months, without supplementary fertilization. An additional 17 months 
is required to reach standard commercially saleable size. After an 
additional 13 months of growth, the plant can be artifically induced to 
bloom by application of acetylene. Full flowering begins within three 
months thereafter. The vigorous growth rate of our new variety is similar 
to that of Vriesea "Christiane." 
Resistance to disease organisms appears to be similar to that of other 
Vriesea hybrids and mutations. The new variety has not been found to be 
particularly susceptible to any disease organisms, nor particularly 
resistant. 
V. Blooming habit: 
The inflorescence rises from the center of the rosette-shaped foliage to 
form a torch-shaped inflorescence approximately 40 cm. tall. The 
inflorescence is approximately 14-16 cm across (width). Branching 
commences approximately 10 cm. above the foliage. The lower inflorescence 
branches are approximately 6-8 cm. long and 5-6 cm. wide. Ascending the 
flower stalk, the branches become progressively longer, reaching 
approximately 8-10 cm. in length, while retaining the same width. The 
stalk terminates in a floral bract approximately 14 cm. long. 
A. Scape bracts.--Purple, approximately matching The Royal Horticultural 
Society Colour Card 187A. Each individual bract is approximately 3.75 cm. 
in length. The bracts are tightly configured, overlapping at their bases 
and separating at the tips from which individual flowers emerge. The stalk 
from which the floral bracts project is pale green, The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Card 137A and 137B. 
B. Flowers.--The flowers emerge from the floral bracts located on the 
spikes branching from the floral stalk. Flower petals are primarily 
yellow, The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Card 9A, with tips bright 
green, Royal Horticultural Society Colour Card 143A. 
VI. Foliage: 
A. Size.--The lowermost leaves are approximately 27 cm. long and 6 cm. wide 
at the base of the leaf, with the leaf narrowing toward the outer tip to 
approximately 2.5 cm. in width. The upper leaves, upon reaching full 
length, are approximately 33 cm. long, and 4 cm. wide at the base, 
narrowing toward the outer tip to approximately 2 cm. in width. 
B. Shaep.--Lanceolate with rounded tip, not sharp, entire, smooth. 
C. Texture.--Shiny, smooth. 
D. Color.--The upper leaf surface is bright green, The Royal Horticultural 
Society Colour Chart 139A, and the underside of the leaves is a somewhat 
lighter green, The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Card 137A and 137B.