Abstract:
A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Cream Reagan`, bearing small to medium sized pale yellow blooms with a yellow-green center and performance of 24-28 days.

Description:
The cultivar `Cream Reagan` as described and illustrated herein is related to the following cultivars: 
     `Dark Red Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,929); 
     `Sunny Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,928); 
     `Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642); 
     `Salmon Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,869); 
     `Sulfur Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,786); 
     `Dark Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,966); 
     `Orange Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769); 
     `Bronze Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,865); 
     `White Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,784); 
     `Coral Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,974); 
     `Yellow Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,884); 
     `Dark Splendid Reagan` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/646,224); and 
     `Splendid Reagan` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/738,605). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a natural occurring sport of a parent Chrysanthemum named `Reagan`. Parent Chrysanthemum `Reagan` is described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 1990 in a greenhouse in Holland. 
     The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a small to medium sized bloom and pale yellow color. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type. 
     FIG. 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar. 
     FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar. 
     FIG. 3 shows foliage and petiole of the new cultivar. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces small to medium sized pale yellow blooms with a yellow-green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks 50 and 35. 
     The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from R.H.S. Color Chart) that distinguish it from related known varieties and its antecedents. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. 
     
         ______________________________________Detailed Botanical Description and Comparative Data______________________________________CULTIVAR    Cream Reagan  Sunny Reagan______________________________________BudSize        Medium        Medium       cross section cross section       ±1.0 cm    ±1.0 cm       height ±0.7 cm                     height ±0.7 cmForm        Round and flat                     Round and flatOutside Color       Near Yellow 8A                     Between Yellow                     7A/Yellow 9ABloomSize        Small to Medium                     MediumFully Expanded       6-61/2 cm     61/2-7 cmBorne       Upper portion Upper portion,       single flower per                     single flower per       peduncle lower                     peduncle, lower       portion plural flo-                     portion plural       wers per peduncle                     flowers per pe-                     dunclePeduncle Lengths       Near the top ±14                     Near the top ±14       cm, near the  cm, near the       middle ±24 cm                     middle ±24 cm,       near the bottom                     near the bottom       ±28 cm     ±28 cmPeduncle Lateral       Medium        mediumShoot, AttachmentPeduncle Lateral       Medium        mediumShoot, AngleForm        Single (Daisy)                     Single (Daisy)Performance Very good 24-28                     Very good 24-28       days (18-20° C.)                     days (18-20° C.)ColorCenter of Flower:Immature    Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       143B          151CMature      Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       154A          154ABase of Petals       Nearest Yellow 4C                     Yellow 5A dee-                     pening slightly                     to Yellow 6A in                     the basal halfOuter Petals       Nearest Yellow 4C                     Yellow 5A dee-                     pening slightly                     to Yellow 6A in                     the basal halfInside of Petals       Nearest Yellow 4C                     Yellow 5A dee-                     pening slightly                     to Yellow 6A in                     the basal halfReverse of Petals       Nearest Yellow 4C                     Yellow 6ATonality from       A pale yellow A yellow daisyDistance    daisy with a fresh                     with a fresh       looking center ha-                     looking center       ving a little or no                     having a little or       pollen        no pollenDiscoloration       None          Some to Yellow                     5BPollen      Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange       14A           14APetalsTexture     Upperside smooth,                     Upperside       underside smooth                     smooth, undersi-                     de smoothNumber      24-30 (two rows)                     24-30 (two rows)Cross-section       Convex (no keels)                     convex, two                     keelsArrangement Imbricated    ImbricatedPersistence Good. Petals keep                     Good. Petals       straight or reflex                     keep straight or       somewhat at the                     reflex somewhat       edge at the end of                     at the edge at the       blooming.     end of blooming.Fragrance   Typical Chrysan-                     Typical Chrysan-       themum        themumDisc Diameter       Medium to large                     Medium to large       (1.5-2.0 cm)  (1.5-2.0 cm)ReproductiveOrgansStamen      Yellow, thick, 3                     Yellow, thick,       mm in length  3 mm in lengthPollen      Appears at late                     Appears at late       stage of blooming                     stage of bloomingStyles      Green, thick  Green, thickStyle Length       ±5 mm      ±5 mmStigmas     Yellow        YellowStigma Width       ±1 mm      ±1 mmOvaries     Enclosed in calyx                     Enclosed in calyxPlantForm        Spray mum meant                     Spray mum meant       for erect culture.                     for erect culture.       Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.Growth      Medium to tall                     StrongHeight      100-125 cm    100-125 cmStem Color  Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       143C          144AStem Strength       Medium        StrongStem Brittleness       Absent        AbsentStem Anthocyanin       Absent        Present, mainlyColoration                at the baseInternodes  3-31/2 cm     3 cmFlowering Response       71/2 weeks    71/2 weeksFoliageColor       Upperside green                     Upperside Green       137A. Underside                     137A. Underside       Green 137C.   Green 137C.Size        Length ±12 cm.                     Length ±12 cm.       Width ±10 cm.                     Width ±9 cm.Quantity    22-28         22-28Shape       Lobed, see    Lobed       photographTexture     Upperside rough,                     Upperside rough,       underside smooth,                     underside       slightly hirsute                     smooth, slightly                     hirsuteRibs and Veins       Ribs well develo-                     Ribs well deve-       ped. Veins not so                     loped. Veins not       developed.    so developed.Edge        Crenated      CrenatedShape of Base of       Round         RoundSinus BetweenLateral LobesMargin of Sinus       Converging    ConvergingBetween LateralLobesShape of Base       Cordate       TruncateApex        Mucronate     MucronateGrowthDifference in ave-        +5 cm        +10 cmrage lengthResponse timeDifference in days        +1/2          +11/2of average responseResponse to ALAR(g/100 l     300           450H.sub.2 O)Year of Discovery       1990          1991______________________________________CULTIVAR    Yellow Reagan Coral Reagan______________________________________BudSize        Medium        Medium       cross section cross section       ±1.0 cm    ±1.0 cm       height ±0.7 cm                     height ±0.7 cmForm        Round and flat                     Round and flatOutside Color       Yellow 9C     Greyed Purple                     186ABloomSize        Medium        MediumFully Expanded       61/2-7 cm     61/2-7 cmBorne       Upper portion Upper portion,       single flower per                     single flower per       peduncle, lower                     peduncle, lower       portion plural                     portion plural       flowers per pe-                     flowers per pe-       duncle        dunclePeduncle Lengths       Near the top ±14                     Near the top ±14       cm, near the  cm, near the       middle ±24 cm                     middle ±24 cm,       near the bottom                     near the bottom       ±28 cm     ±28 cmPeduncle Lateral       weak to medium                     weak to mediumShoot, AttachmentPeduncle Lateral       small         smallShoot, AngleForm        Single (Daisy)                     Single (Daisy)Performance Very good 24-28                     Very good 24-28       days (18-20° C.)                     days (18-20° C.)ColorCenter of Flower:Immature    Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       151C          151CMature      Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       154A          154ABase of Petals       Yellow 5C     Greyed-Red                     179C but redderOuter Petals       Yellow 5C     Greyed Red                     179C but redderInside of Petals       Yellow 5C     Greyed Red                     179C but redderReverse of Petals       Yellow 4C     Greyed Yellow                     162D tinged with                     Red Purple 71B                     between ribs and                     marginTonality from       A yellow daisy                     A pale bronzeDistance    with a fresh  daisy with a       looking center                     fresh looking       having a little or                     center having a       no pollen     little or no pollenDiscoloration       Some to yellow                     Some to yellow-       5B            orange 23CPollen      Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange       14A           14APetalsTexture     Upperside     Upperside       smooth, undersi-                     smooth, undersi-       de smooth     de smoothNumber      24-30 (two rows)                     24-30 (two rows)Cross-section       flat, two keels                     flat, two keelsArrangement Imbricated    ImbricatedPersistence Good. Petals keep                     Good. Petals       straight or reflex                     keep straight or       somewhat at the                     reflex somewhat       edge at the end of                     at the edge at the       blooming.     end of blooming.Fragrance   Typical Chrysan-                     Typical Chrysan-       themum        themumDisc Diameter       Medium        Medium       (1.5 cm)      (1.5 cm)ReproductiveOrgansStamen      Yellow, thick, 3                     Yellow, thick,       mm in length  3 mm in lengthPollen      Appears at late                     Appears at late       stage of blooming                     stage of bloomingStyles      Green, thick  Green, thickStyle Length       ±5 mm      ±5 mmStigmas     Yellow        YellowStigma Width       ±1 mm      ±1 mmOvaries     Enclosed in calyx                     Enclosed in calyxPlantForm        Spray mum meant                     Spray mum meant       for erect culture.                     for erect culture.       Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.Growth      Strong        StrongHeight      100-125 cm    100-125 cmStem Color  Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       146B          144AStem Strength       Medium        MediumStem Brittleness       Absent        AbsentStem Anthocyanin       Absent        PresentColorationInternodes  3 cm          3 cmFlowering Response       71/2 weeks    71/2 weeksFoliageColor       Upperside green                     Upperside Green       137A. Underside                     137A. Underside       Green 137C.   Green 137C.Size        Length ±12 cm.                     Length ±12 cm.       Width ±9 cm.                     Width ±9 cm.Quantity    22-28         22-28Shape       Lobed         LobedTexture     Upperside rough,                     Upperside rough,       underside smooth,                     underside       slightly hirsute                     smooth, slightly                     hirsuteRibs and Veins       Ribs well deve-                     Ribs well deve-       loped. Veins not                     loped. Veins not       so developed. so developed.Edge        Crenated      CrenatedShape of Base of       Round         RoundSinus BetweenLateral LobesMargin of Sinus       Parallel      ConvergingBetween LateralLobesShape of Base       Asymmetric    AsymmetricApex        Mucronate     CuspidateGrowthDifference in ave-         0            -5 cmrage lengthResponse timeDifference in days        +1            +1of average responseResponse to ALAR(g/100 l     280           250H.sub.2 O)Year of Discovery       1990          1998______________________________________CULTIVAR    Bronze Reagan Salmon Reagan______________________________________BudSize        Medium        Medium       cross section cross section       ±1.0 cm    ±1.0 cm       height ±0.7 cm                     height ±0.7 cmForm        Round and flat                     Round and flatOutside Color       Greyed Red    Nearest to Yellow       179C          23DBloomSize        Medium        MediumFully Expanded       61/2-7 cm     61/2-7 cmBorne       Upper portion,                     Upper portion,       single flower per                     single flower per       peduncle, lower                     peduncle, lower       portion plural                     portion plural       flowers per pe-                     flowers per pe-       duncle        dunclePeduncle Lengths       Near the top ±14                     Near the top ±14       cm, near the  cm, near the       middle ±24 cm                     middle ±24 cm,       near the bottom                     near the bottom       ±28 cm     ±28 cmPeduncle Lateral       weak          mediumShoot, AttachmentPeduncle Lateral       small         mediumShoot, AngleForm        Single (Daisy)                     Single (Daisy)Performance Very good 24-28                     Very good 24-28       days (18-20° C.)                     days (18-20° C.)ColorCenter of Flower:Immature    Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       151C          151CMature      Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       154A          154ABase of Petals       Yellow 8A with                     Nearest to orange       an overlay of 29C       Greyed Red       179BOuter Petals       Yellow 8A with                     Nearest to orange       an overlay of 29C       Greyed Red       179BInside of Petals       Yellow 8A     Nearest to orange       an overlay of 29C       Greyed Red 179BReverse of Petals       Yellow 8C tin-                     Nearest to orange       ged along the 22D       center with       Greyed Red       179B in a tesse-       lated patternTonality from       A pale bronze A yellow-orangeDistance    daisy with a  to orange daisy       fresh looking with a fresh look-       center having a                     ing center having       little or no pollen                     a little or no                     pollenDiscoloration       None          NonePollen      Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange       14A           14APetalsTexture     Upperside     Upperside       smooth, undersi-                     smooth, undersi-       de smooth     de smoothNumber      24-30 (two rows)                     24-30 (two rows)Cross-section       flat, two keels                     flat, two keelsArrangement Imbricated    ImbricatedPersistence Good. Petals keep                     Good. Petals       straight or reflex                     keep straight or       somewhat at the                     reflex somewhat       edge at the end of                     at the edge at the       blooming.     end of blooming.Fragrance   Typical Chrysan-                     Typical Chrysan-       themum        themumDisc Diameter       Medium        Medium       (1.5 cm)      (1.5 cm)ReproductiveOrgansStamen      Yellow, thick, 3                     Yellow, thick,       mm in length  3 mm in lengthPollen      Appears at late                     Appears at late       stage of blooming                     stage of bloomingStyles      Green, thick  Green, thickStyle Length       ±5 mm      ±5 mmStigmas     Yellow        YellowStigma Width       ±1 mm      ±1 mmOvaries     Enclosed in calyx                     Enclosed in calyxPlantForm        Spray mum meant                     Spray mum meant       for erect culture.                     for erect culture.       Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.Growth      Strong        StrongHeight      100-125 cm    100-125 cmStem Color  Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       144A          144AStem Strength       Medium        MediumStem Brittleness       Absent        PresentStem Anthocyanin       Present       PresentColorationInternodes  3 cm          3 cmFlowering Response       71/2 weeks    71/2 weeksFoliageColor       Upperside green                     Upperside Green       137A. Underside                     137A. Underside       Green 137C.   Green 137C.Size        Length ±12 cm.                     Length ±12 cm.       Width ±9 cm.                     Width ±9 cm.Quantity    22-28         22-28Shape       Lobed         LobedTexture     Upperside rough,                     Upperside rough,       underside smooth,                     underside       slightly hirsute                     smooth, slightly                     hirsuteRibs and Veins       Ribs well deve-                     Ribs well deve-       loped. Veins not                     loped. Veins not       so developed. so developed.Edge        Crenated      CrenatedShape of Base of       Round         RoundSinus BetweenLateral LobesMargin of Sinus       Converging    ParallelBetween LateralLobesShape of Base       Asymmetric    AsymmetricApex        Cuspidate     CuspidateGrowthDifference in ave-         0            +10 cmrage lengthResponse timeDifference in days        -1/2           0of average responseResponse to ALAR(g/100 l     250           450H.sub.2 O)Year of Discovery       1998          1997______________________________________CULTIVAR    Sulfur Reagan Parent Cultivar Reagan______________________________________BudSize        Medium        Medium       cross section cross section       ±1.0 cm    ±1.0 cm       height ±0.7 cm                     height ±0.7 cmForm        Round and flat                     Round and flatOutside Color       Yellow 10C    Greyed Purple                     186D but palerBloomSize        Medium        MediumFully Expanded       7-71/2 cm     61/2-7 cmBorne       Upper portion Upper portion,       single flower per                     single flower per       peduncle, lower                     peduncle, lower       portion plural                     portion plural       flowers per pe-                     flowers per pe-       duncle        dunclePeduncle Lengths       Near the top ±14                     Near the top ±14       cm, near the  cm, near the       middle ±24 cm                     middle ±24 cm,       near the bottom                     near the bottom       ±28 cm     ±28 cmPeduncle Lateral       weak to medium                     MediumShoot, AttachmentPeduncle Lateral       small         MediumShoot, AngleForm        Single (Daisy)                     Single (Daisy)Performance Very good 24-28                     Very good 24-28       days (18-20° C.)                     days (18-20° C.)ColorCenter of Flower:Immature    Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       151C          151CMature      Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green       154A          154ABase of Petals       Yellow 6D     Purple 75BOuter Petals       Yellow 6D     Purple 75BInside of Petals       Yellow 6D     Purple 75BReverse of Petals       Yellow 6D     Red-Purple 69D                     but palerTonality from       A yellow daisy                     A pale pink daisyDistance    with a fresh look-                     with a fresh look-       ing center having a                     ing center having       little or no pollen                     a little or no pollenDiscoloration       None          Some to Red-                     Purple 69DPollen      Yellow-Orange Yellow-Orange       14A           14APetalsTexture     Upperside smooth,                     Upperside smooth,       underside smooth                     underside smmothNumber      24-30 (two rows)                     24-30 (two rows)Cross-section       flat, two keels                     flat, two keelsArrangement Imbricated    ImbricatedPersistence Good. Petals keep                     Good. Petals       straight or reflex                     keep straight or       somewhat at the                     reflex somewhat       edge at the end of                     at the edge at the       blooming.     end of blooming.Fragrance   Typical Chrysan-                     Typical Chrysan-       themum        themumDisc Diameter       Medium        Medium       (1.5 cm)      (1.5 cm)ReproductiveOrgansStamen      Yellow, thick, 3                     Yellow, thick,       mm in length  3 mm in lengthPollen      Appears at late                     Appears at late       stage of blooming                     stage of bloomingStyles      Green, thick  Green, thickStyle Length       ±5 mm      ±5 mmStigmas     Yellow        YellowStigma Width       ±1 mm      ±1 mmOvaries     Enclosed in calyx                     Enclosed in calyxPlantForm        Spray mum meant                     Spray mum meant       for erect culture.                     for erect culture.       Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.Growth      Strong        StrongHeight      100-125 cm    100-125 cmStem Color  nearest Green Yellow-Green       143C          144AStem Strength       Medium to strong                     MediumStem Brittleness       Absent        PresentStem Anthocyanin       Absent        AbsentColorationInternodes  3 cm          3 cmFlowering Response       71/2 weeks    71/2 weeksFoliageColor       Upperside Green                     Upperside Green       137A. Underside                     137A. Underside       Green 137C.   Green 137C.Size        Length ±12 cm.                     Length ±12 cm.       Width ±9 cm.                     Width ±9 cm.Quantity    22-28         22-28Shape       Lobed         LobedTexture     Upperside rough,                     Upperside rough,       underside smooth,                     underside       slightly hirsute                     smooth, slightly                     hirsuteRibs and Veins       Ribs well deve-                     Ribs well deve-       loped. Veins not                     loped. Veins not       so developed. so developed.Edge        Crenated      CrenatedShape of Base of       Round         RoundSinus BetweenLateral LobesMargin of Sinus       Parallel      ConvergingBetween LateralLobesShape of Base       Asymmetric    RoundedApex        Mucronate     CuspidateGrowthDifference in ave-        +10 cm         0rage lengthResponse timeDifference in days        -1             0of average responseResponse to ALAR(g/100 l     450           300H.sub.2 O)Year of Discovery       1990          1996______________________________________