Patent Publication Number: US-PP22537-P3

Title: Guzmania plant named ‘Schieli’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Guzmania  hybrid. 
     Variety denomination: ‘SCHIELI’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The new cultivar is a product of a chance discovery. The new variety originated as a chance, whole plant mutation from the, unpatented, variety  Guzmania  hybrid ‘Marjan.’ The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Hubertus van Schie, a citizen of the Netherlands, in Delgauw, the Netherlands during 2004, in among a commercial planting of the parent variety. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Schieli’ was first performed in the Netherlands by tissue culture in 2004. ‘Schieli’ has since produced several generations by tissue culture and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SCHIELI.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCHIELI’ as a new and distinct  Guzmania  hybrid cultivar:
         1. Yellow bracts with red tips   2. Compact plant form.   3. Many leaves.       

     PARENT COMPARISON 
     Plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, an  Guzmania  hybrid ‘Marjan’, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are more compact. Additionally, ‘Marjan’ typically has entirely yellow bracts, whereas the new variety has significant amounts of red in the bracts. 
     COMMERCIAL COMPARISON 
     Plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are similar to plants of the unpatented commercial variety,  Guzmania  hybrid ‘Sunnytime’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘SCHIELI’ are more compact than ‘Sunnytime’ and ‘SCHIELI’ produces bracts with more red than ‘Sunnytime.’ 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
       The accompanying photograph in  FIG. 1  illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SCHIELI’ grown in a greenhouse. The pot size is a commercial 15 cm container. The plant shown is approximately 18 months old. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SCHIELI’ plants grown in a commercial controlled greenhouse in Delfgauw, the Netherlands. Temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 28° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.
     Botanical classification:  Guzmania  hybrid ‘SCHIELI’   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.   Container size of plant described: Approximately 12 cm.   

     PROPAGATION 
     
         
         Type of propagation typically used: Tissue culture 
         Time to initiate roots: About 70 days at approximately 20-28° C. 
         Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 125 days at approximately 20-28° C. 
         Root description: Moderately dense, moderately branched, fine, fibrous, not fleshy, colored near RHS Grey 201C 
       
    
     PLANT 
     
         
         Growth habit: Upright, monopodial 
         Height: Average: 42.7 cm 
         Plant spread: Average: 65.5 cm 
         Normal pot size: 12 cm 
         Growth rate: Moderate 
         Branching characteristics: Monopodial, leaves form a basal rosette, inflorescence grows from the center of the rosette 
         Number of leaves per scape: Average: 26 
         Stem length: No stems present, scape grows directly from rosette 
       
    
     FOLIAGE 
     
         
         Leaf:
             Arrangement.— Rosulate; leaves (average: 26) placed in a basal rosette.     Average length.— Approximately 34.8 cm.     Average width.— Approximately 4.2 cm.     Shape of blade.— Ligulate.     Aspect.— Arching downward.     Apex.— Apiculate.     Base.— Sheathing. Sheath length: Average 6.8 cm. Sheath width: Average 7.9 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152B.     Margin.— Entire.     Texture of top surface.— Smooth, very glossy.     Texture of bottom surface.— Smooth, very glossy.     Color.— Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.     Venation.— Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: Near RHS Green N137A.       
     
         Petiole: No petioles present, leaves sheathing 
       
    
     INFLORESCENCE 
     
         
         General description:
             Inflorescence height, excluding scape.— Approximately 12.0 cm.     Inflorescence width.— Approximately 23.7 cm.     Flowers.— To date, flower development has been observed on plants of the new  Guzmania.          
     
         Scape:
             Length.— Approximately 26.0 cm.     Width.— Approximately 1.2 cm.     Aspect.— Approximately 90° angle to rosette (near vertical).     Strength.— Very strong.     Color.— Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.     Texture.— Smooth.       
     
         Bracts:
             Scape/lowermost bracts.— Shape: Ligulate. Length: Approximately 18.4 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately 2.8 cm. Texture: Smooth.     Quantity.— Average 8.     Tip.— Apiculate.     Base.— Sheathing. Sheath length: Approximately 7.2 cm. Sheath width: Approximately 3.6 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D.     Margin.— Entire. Color Upperside: Upper half of the leaf blade near RHS Green N137A, lower half of the leaf blade near RHS Orange-Red 31A. Color Underside: Upper half of the leaf blade near RHS Yellow-Green 147B, lower half of the leaf blade near RHS Orange-Red 33A.       
     
         Terminal bracts:
             Shape.— Short ligulate to triangular.     Length.— Approximately 9.5 cm, excluding sheath.     Width.— Approximately 3.6 cm.     Quantity.— Average 19.     Texture.— Smooth.     Tip.— Acute.     Base.— Sheathing. Sheath length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Sheath width: Approximately 3.9 cm. Sheath color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 153D.     Margin.— Entire.     Coloration terminal bracts.— Upperside: Near RHS Yellow-Orange 23A, tip near RHS Orange-Red N34A. Underside: Near RHS Orange 25A, tinged with RHS Orange-Red 34B, tip near Red 45B.       
     
         Reproductive organs: As no true flowers have been observed to date, the reproductive organs have not been observed for description. 
       
    
     OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
     
         
         Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. 
         Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate temperatures to 40° C. without any negative effects. Temperature tolerance above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold temperatures has not been observed. 
         Fruit/seed production: Not observed.