The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Debra Gaye`, which is characterized by its blooms which range in color from Delft Rose to Vermillion with bases of Mimosa Yellow, usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy quantities of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy, 
dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarily 
characterized as a orange blend. 
The variety is further characterized by: 
Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stem 
but on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held very 
erect and well above the foliage. 
It has a slight fragrance. 
The plant ranges in height from 15 to 24 inches (40 to 60 cm). The canes 
are sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliage 
covering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer that does well either 
in the green house or outdoors. 
The plant has a good growth habit, well-shaped and attractive, bearing 
numerous leaflets of average size. 
The seed parent was Futura (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,569), and the pollen 
parent was Fairest of Fair (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,260). It differs from 
its seed parent in the following ways. It is a miniature of the orange 
blend classification, whereas Futura is an orange-red hybrid tea. It 
differs from its pollen parent in the following ways. It is an orange 
blend with an average petalage of 25 to 40, whereas Fairest of Fair is a 
medium yellow with an average petalage of 20 to 25. 
The descriptive matter which follows, pertains to roses grown and color 
values observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of March 
through August 1985. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista, 
Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar in 
similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniature 
rose plant named `Debra Gaye`, the following is a detailed description 
thereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being by 
reference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except 
where common terms of color definition are employed. 
Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, green house or outdoor, decorative and 
exhibition potted plant. 
Class: Miniature. 
Variety name: Debra Gaye. 
Asexual reproduction: I have found this variety to be easily asexually 
reproduced from cuttings. 
Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to 5 
or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms. 
Quantity of bloom: Moderate both outdoors or green house grown. 
Bud: 
Peduncle.--Variable in length (30 to 40 mm); average diameter and sturdy; 
ranging in color from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/2 page 176) to near 
Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 175) with some tinting of bronze. 
Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located over the 
entire surface of the peduncle and sepals, but not present on the calyx 
tube. 
Calyx.--Color ranging from near Lettuce Green (861 to 861/3 page 176) to 
near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/3 page 175). 
Opening.--Opens well in all weather. 
Bloom: 
Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 50 mm). 
Petalage.--Full -- averaging 25 to 40 petals, arranged regularly, plus 
petaloids (6 to 10 or more). 
Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom progresses. The petals remain at 
first somewhat tightly cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexed 
outward, becoming at maturity more loosely cupped; and the petals reflexed 
more tightly (quilling), until each row of petals forms a five pointed 
star. 
Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and under surfaces 
of all petals have a matte finish. 
Shape.--Outer petals are of a very broad obovate form. The intermediate 
petals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The inner petals 
are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are also lanceolate form 
with some occasional irregularities. 
Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March through 
August 1985), Chula Vista, Calif. 
Outside petals.--Upper surface -- Ranging from near Delft Rose (620/1 to 
620/3 page 108) with a base of near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 602/1 page 143). 
Under surface -- Ranging from near Vermillion (18/2 to 18/3 page 18) with 
a base of near Mimosa Yellow (602/1 to 602/3 page 143). 
Intermediate petals.--Upper surface -- Near vermillion (18 to 18/2, page 
18) with a base near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 602/2, page 143). Under surface 
-- Near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 602/2 page 143) with a margin of near 
Vermillion (18 to 18/2 page 18). 
Inner petals.--Upper surface -- Near Vermillion (18 to 18/1 page 18) with a 
base of near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 602/2 page 143). Under surface -- Near 
Vermillion (18 to 18/1 page 18) with a base of near Mimosa Yellow (602 to 
602/2 page 143). 
General color effect.--Newly opened flowers are bright shade of near Delft 
Rose to near Vermillion with bases of bright Mimosa Yellow. Three to five 
days open -- Petals fade slightly with slight quilling of the outer 
petals. After seven days -- All color in the petals soften to pastel 
shades of near Vermillion and Delft Rose with bases in the palest shades 
of near Mimosa Yellow to near cream-white. 
Flower longevity.--(March through August 1985) Plant in pot 4 to 7 days 
from bud with sepals reflexed to fully opened bloom. Holding at fully 
opened with gradual fading of color tones for 5 to 7 days or longer. Cut 
blooms at living room temperature 3 to 5 days or longer. 
Reproductive organs: 
Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil. 
Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal to the 
pistil; bright yellow in color with golden anthers. 
Pollen.--Abundant. 
Pistil.--Short, abundant and spreading; pale yellow styles and caps. 
Ovaries.--All encased in calyx. 
Hips.--Some. 
Seeds.--One to five or more per hip. 
Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, eventually 
recurves against the peduncle. 
Foliage: 
Leaves.--Five to seven leaflets on the average; medium size for a miniature 
rose plant. 
Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped. 
Margin.--Very serrated with occasional tinting of bronze, especially 
noticeable on the newer foliage. 
Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/2 page 187) to near 
Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 175) on the newer foliage with 
occasional bronzing of the margins, especially on the newer foliage. The 
upper surfaces have a semi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a 
matte finish of a slightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces. 
Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairs 
over the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but does contain 
2 to 5 small thorns. 
Stipules.--Varying in length from small to average width; tapering auricles 
angled outward at about 45 degrees. 
Growth: 
Habit.--Dwarf, bushy; average height for a miniature rose plant. 
Growth.--Moderate and well-branched. 
Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect. 
Main stems.--Color -- Ranging from near Scheeles Green (860 to 860/2 page 
175) to near Spinach Green (0960 to 0960/3 page 187). 
Thorns.--Averaging 5 to 10 per 10 cm. on the main stems and fewer on the 
branches. Reddish in color with occasional tinting of bronze. Small to 
average in size; slender and straight. 
Branches.--Color -- Same as the main stems. 
The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary in 
slight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under which the 
variety may be grown; the present description being of the variety as 
grown in Chula Vista, Calif.