Patent Publication Number: US-PP27073-P3

Title: Dracaena plant named ‘EVE’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant:  Dracaena fragans.    
     Variety denomination: ‘EVE’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Dracaena  plant, botanically known as  Dracaena fragans  var.  massangeana , of the family Asparagaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘EVE’. 
       Dracaena  is a monocotyledonous tropical foliage plant which can be produced as a single or multi-stemmed plant for interior use or outdoors in shade in zones 9 or 10 only. 
     The new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ originated as a naturally-occurring whole plant variation of an unpatented  Dracaena fragans  cultivar ‘Massangeana’. The new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ was discovered and selected by the inventor William Vásquez Ulate in January 2006, as a single variation within a controlled environment, in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Dracaena  cultivar by vegetative cuttings was first performed in September 2006 in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela, Costa Rica, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘EVE’, which in combination distinguish this  Dracaena  as a new and distinct cultivar:
         1. Strong yellowish and brilliant yellowish green colored foliage with brilliant yellowish green colored margins and;   2. Long lanceolate leaves;   3. Annual growth rate of about 75 cm; and   4. Erect plant habit.       

     Plants of the new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ differ from plants of the parental cultivar,  Dracaena fragans  ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Comparison with Parent Variety 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Parent 
               
               
                   
                 New Cultivar 
                 
                   Dracaena fragans 
                 
               
               
                 Characteristic 
                 ‘EVE’ 
                 ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Plant Vigor 
                 Less vigorous 
                 More vigorous 
               
               
                 Color 
                 Strong yellowish and 
                 Deep yellowish and brilliant 
               
               
                   
                 brilliant yellowish green 
                 yellowish green foliage 
               
               
                   
                 foliage 
                   
               
               
                 Shape 
                 Lanceolate with curved 
                 Lanceolate and wider leaves 
               
               
                   
                 downwards tips 
                   
               
               
                 Texture of 
                 Smooth and waxy 
                 Smooth and waxy 
               
               
                 leaves 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ is the parent variety,  Dracaena fragans  ‘Massangeana’, in the characteristics described in Table 1. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Dracaena  cultivar ‘EVE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘EVE’. 
         FIG. 1 —Side view of a six month old plant of  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ in a 21 cm diameter pot. 
         FIG. 2 —Top view of a six month old plant of  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ in a 21 cm diameter pot. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B —close-up view of the typical upper surface (A) and lower surface (B) of leaves of ‘EVE’ at 6 months of age. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B —View of the typical young roots (A) and mature roots (B) of ‘EVE’ at 6 months of age. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant. 
     The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new  Dracaena  cultivar ‘EVE’ as grown in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Rica under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The average temperature is 28° C. during the day and 15° C. at night with natural light conditions. Plants of the new  Dracaena  cultivar ‘EVE’ are grown under light conditions of about 80% shade from natural sunlight and about 80% relative humidity. No supplementary artificial light is necessary. Plants of the new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’ are given 1) a liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer weekly, and 2) a granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 100 days. No growth retardants are used when growing plants of the new  Dracaena  ‘EVE’. 
     Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) The photographs and descriptions were taken during the dry season in Candelaria, Palmares, Alajuela province, Costa Rica in when outdoor day temperatures ranged from 25-28° C. The age of the plants described is 6 months.
     Classification:
             Botanical.—Dracaena fragans.        Commercial .—‘EVE’.       
       Parentage:  Dracaena fragans  ‘Massangeana’ (unpatented).   Optimal growth conditions:
             Light intensity .—80% shade. Adapts to conditions of light and shade, both interior and exterior.     Temperature .—Day: 25° C. to 28° C. Night: 18° C. to 20° C.     Temperature tolerance .—Tolerant to a low temperature of about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 35° C.     Fertilization .—A liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer weekly, and a granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 100 days.     Growth regulators .—None.       
       Propagation:
             Type .—Vegetative, by air layer or rooted cuttings.     Rooting habit and description .—Easy to root. Roots are mostly fibrous and finely branched. In the var. ‘EVE’, mature plant can present Brilliant Yellow (RHS 7A) roots over 2 m in length and 4-8 mm thick, being thicker at its origin. Young roots are Pale Yellow (RHS 8D) and white towards the tips. The tip is completely white. Young roots tend to produce more secondary roots than mature roots. The secondary roots are 1 mm thick and extend 10 to 12 cm. They can be whitish when they are young and Brilliant Yellow (RHS 7A) when ripe. In the new roots, secondary ones do not achieve more than 6 cm, as the tertiary.     Time to initiate roots .—About 10 to 15 days at 25° C.     Time to produce a rooted cutting .—About 30 to 45 days at 25° C.       
       Plant:
             General appearance and form .—     Height .—About 4 m when grown in ground; about 1.5 m when grown in a 21 cm size container.     Spread .—About 1 m when grown in ground; About 50 cm when grown in 21 cm size container.     Form .—Monocot; leaves whorled, leaf bases wrap around the stem.     Shape .—Column.     Growth rate and habit .—About 75 cm per year; upright.     Fragrance .—None.     Stem .—Length: About 4 m when grown in ground; About 1.5 m when grown in 21 cm size container. Diameter: About 40 cm to 50 cm. Shape: round. Texture: rough. Color: RHS 195C Greyed-Green. Strength: very strong. Internode length: About 20 mm to 40 mm.       
       Foliage:
             Quantity .—About 25 leaves per stem at 75 cm.     Arrangement and attachment .—Single, alternate; leaves whorled; leaf bases wrap around the stem.     Leaf length .—About 47 cm.     Leaf width .—About 5.5 cm.     Overall shape of leaf .—Lanceolate.     Apex shape .—Acute, triangular and curved downwards.     Base shape .—Plane.     Margin .—Sharp, smooth.     Texture  ( upper and under surface ).—Smooth and waxy.     Pubescence  ( upper and under surface ).—None.     Color and dimensions of coloration .—Upper Surface: Midrib: RHS 143A, Green; about 2 mm wide. Central Band: RHS 144C, Yellow-Green; about 3 cm wide. Longitudinal Stripes: RHS 141C, Green; about 1 to 2 mm wide. Margins: RHS 150C, Yellow-Green; about 1.5 to 2 cm wide. Lower Surface: Midrib: RHS 150D, Yellow-Green; about 4 mm wide. Central Band: RHS 144D, Yellow-Green; about 3.5 cm wide. Margins: RHS 141C, Green; about 1.5 cm wide.     Venation .—Pattern: Parallel to the midrib. Color: Upper surface: Green RHS 143A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green RHS150D.     Leaf fragrance .—None.       
       Inflorescence description: No flowering observed.   Reproductive organs: No reproductive organs observed.   Drought tolerance: Moderate.   Disease/pest resistance: None observed.   Disease/pest susceptibility: None observed.