A distinct cultivar of Calathea plant named `Cora`, characterized by its upright and compact growth habit; moderate to rapid growth rate; dark green margin and stripes with light silvery green interveinal areas with reddish overtones on young leaves; and dark purplish red leaf petioles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calathea 
plant, botanically known as Calathea roseo-picta, and hereinafter referred 
to by the cultivar name `Cora`. 
The new Calathea was discovered by the inventor in a controlled environment 
in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, in March, 1989, as a naturally-occurring 
mutation of the nonpatented Calathea roseo-picta cultivar `Illustris`. The 
new Calathea was observed as a single plant with different leaf coloration 
in a group of plants of the parent cultivar. Leaves of plants of the 
parent cultivar `Illustris` have dark green margins and stripes parallel 
to the primary veins with light green interveinal areas whereas leaves of 
plants of the new Calathea have dark green margins and stripes parallel to 
the primary veins with light silvery green interveinal areas with reddish 
overtones. 
Asexual reproduction of the new Calathea by tissue culture or by division 
at Schipluiden, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of 
this new Calathea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive 
generations. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
the unique characteristics of `Cora`. These characteristics in combination 
distinguish `Cora` as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Upright and compact growth habit. 
2. Moderate to rapid growth rate. 
3. Dark green margin and stripes with light silvery green interveinal areas 
with reddish overtones on young leaves. 
4. Dark purplish red leaf petioles. 
The new Calathea has not been observed under all possible environmental 
conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment 
such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in 
genotype.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
In the following description, color references are made to The Royal 
Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary 
dictionary significance are used. The following observations and 
measurements describe one-year old plants grown in 20-cm containers in 
Schipluiden, The Netherlands, in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and 
night temperatures of about 22.degree. C. Light levels at plant level 
ranged from 2,000 to 3,000 lux. 
Botanical classification: Calathea roseo-picta cultivar `Cora`. 
Parentage: Naturally-occuring mutation of Calathea roseo-picta cultivar 
`Illustris` (not patented). 
Propagation: 
Type.--By tissue culture or by division. 
Time to rooting.--Summer: About 12 weeks with temperatures of about 
22.degree. C. Winter: About 16 weeks with temperatures of about 22.degree. 
C. 
Rooting habit.--Fibrous, thin, strong. 
Plant description: 
Appearance.--Upright and compact; tender evergreen herbaceous plant. 
Appropriate for 9 to 40-cm containers. 
Plant height from soil level to top of plant plane.--About 75 cm. 
Plant width.--About 62.5 cm. 
Branching habit.--Freely branching. 
Growth rate.--Moderate to rapid. 
Vigor.--Moderate. 
Crop time.--From a tissue-cultured plantlet, about 8 to 10 months are 
required to produce a finished plant in a 17-cm container about 65 cm 
high. 
Foliage description.--Single, symmetrical. Length: About 35 cm. Width: 
About 23 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Rounded, obtuse. Margin: 
Entire. Texture: Leathery, glabrous. Surface: Midrib sunken on upper, 
protruding on lower surface. Leaf blade slightly concave between veins. 
Petiole: Length: About 40 cm. Wings: Length: About 9 cm. Width: About 8 
mm. Geniculum: Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Color: Dark green 
margins and stripes parallel to the primary veins with light silvery green 
interveinal areas with reddish overtones. Young leaves, upper surface: 
Thin outer margin, about 1 mm in width, 60A. Inside margin, about 3.5 cm 
in width, 144A. Dark green stripes, about 1.5 to 2 cm in width, 137A. 
Interveinal areas, about 2 to 3 cm in width, 139D. Reddish overtones, 
close to 63C. Young leaves, under surface: 187A, dull. Mature leaves, 
upper surface: Thin outer margin, about 1 mm in width, 60A. Inside margin, 
about 3.5 cm in width, 139A. Dark green stripes, about 1.5 to 2 cm in 
width, 139A. Interveinal areas, about 2 to 3 cm in width, 139D. Mature 
leaves, under surface: 187A, dull. Venation, upper surface: Midrib at base 
greenish with reddish flush, becoming brighter in color towards the apex; 
primary veins, dark green, 139A. Venation, under surface: Midrib 183A, 
dull. Petiole: 187A. Petiole wings: 187C. Geniculum: 178A. 
Flower description: Flowers have not been observed on any plants of the new 
Calathea. 
Disease resistance: Resistance to known Calathea diseases has not been 
observed to date on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.