A dahlia plant variety producing deep mahogany red flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahlia 
hybrida, known by the varietal denomination `Karma Naomi`. The female 
parent of `Karma Naomi` is an undistributed, unpatented variety known as 
`Stratos` and the male parent is an unnamed, undistributed seedling. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The new variety is a dahlia plant useful for growing outdoors and under 
glass which produces attractive deep mahogany red flowers on long stems. 
Among the traits possessed by the new variety which in combination 
distinguish it from other varieties known to the inventor are its 
attractive flowers borne on long stems. 
Asexual reproduction by cuttings of the new variety in The Netherlands has 
demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as described herein 
for `Karma Naomi` are firmly fixed and are retained through successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
COMISON WITH ENTS 
The new variety differs from its parents in flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY 
In the following description, color references are to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart, where color values refer to color 
plate numbers in this chart. 
The following observations are of plants described and grown in The 
Netherlands under outdoor conditions which approximate those generally 
used in commercial practice. `Karma Naomi` has not been observed under all 
possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations 
in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length and 
cultural conditions. 
Parentage: 
Female parent.--`Stratos`. 
Male parent.--unnamed seedling. 
Plant: 
Form.--Upright, spreading. 
Height.--About 120 cm. 
Branching characteristics.--Moderately branching. 
Flower stem.--Length: About 80 to 90 cm. Color: Near 183D. 
Hardiness.--Plants are winter hardy to 0.degree. C. 
Flowering season.--July to November in The Netherlands under glass. 
Disease resistance.--Similar to the species. 
Foliage.--Single and compound. Quantity: Many. Arrangement and size: 
Opposite, simple or compound, compound leaves have either three or five 
leaflets; single leaf about 8.7 cm long, width about 4.9 cm; compound 
about 21 cm long, about 11 cm wide. Shape of leaf: Ovate, apex and base 
are acute. Leaf edge: Immature leaves are entire, margin becomes dentate 
as leaves mature. Texture: Leaf upperside: Smooth. Leaf under side: 
Smooth. Color: Leaf upperside: Near 146B. Leaf under side: Near 147C. 
Venation: Pinnate. Stipules: None. Petiole color: Near 183D. 
Sepals.--Number: 35. Length: 1.6 cm. Width: 1.2 cm. Color: Near 147A. Base: 
Rounded. Apex: Broadly acute. 
Petiole.--Longest terminal petioles are about 12 cm; shortest lateral 
petioles are about 5 cm. 
Bud: 
Form.--Globular. 
Size.--About 1 cm. 
Opening rate.--About 15 to 20 days. 
Color of ray florets.--When sepals first divide near 59A; when ray florets 
begin to unfurl near 59A. 
Flower: 
Inflorescence form.--Blooms borne singly. 
Bloom form.--Decorative. 
Bloom size.--About 13 cm. 
Typical number of blooms harvested per plant per season.--About 30-40. 
Flowering.--About 2 to 3 branches are produced, with flowering occurring 35 
to 40 days later. 
Color tonality from a distance.--Deep mahogany red, velvety. 
Lasting quality.--About 20 to 25 days on plant; about 10 days after 
cutting. 
Ray florets.--Length: About 5.2 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Oblong. 
Apex: Obtuse. Base: Rounded. 
Color. Ray florets are deep mahogany red with velvety mahogany tonality. 
Inner ray florets (upper surface and undersurface): Near 66A. Outer ray 
florets (upper surface and undersurface): Near 64A. Point of ray floret 
attachment: Near 59A. As bloom ages: Keeps color. Fragrance: None. 
Disc florets.--Number: About 35. Length: About 1.2 cm. Color: Near 13A. 
Shape: Cylindric. 
Reproductive organs: 
Stamens.--Many, tubular, near 17A. 
Anthers.--Small, near 17A. 
Pollen.--Near 17A. 
Pistils.--Styles length about 2 mm, color near 1C; stigmas divided, near 
15A. 
Character of ovaries.--1 per pistil.