Cactaceae plant

Abstract

A new sterile plant variety has many of the characteristics of the `Lavender Doll` variety and in comparison to this variety has about the same growth rate, tendency to branch when pruned, and specimen size at maturity. It has a greater natural tendency to branch without pruning, a much greater tendency to form more compact specimens with a more upright and erect posture at maturity and the phylloclades are usually shorter in length and narrower in width. The new variety has a greater resistance to nutrient deficiencies and known problem diseases of the related varieties and it is more resistant to bud abscission and provided with a greater tendency to form multiple buds on the branch tips. It has a habit of producing more blooms with about the same bloom life as that of the `Lavender Doll` variety but at a noticeably earlier date in the blooming season. The blooms of the new variety closely resembles the bloom of the `Lavender Doll` variety in color but at full bloom appears more robust and may be distinguished therefrom by a shorter perianth tube, a sepaloid series of tepals that have a smaller number of tepals which have shorter length dimensions and narrower blade widths, a tube laminating series of tepals with shorter length dimensions and a tube forming series of tepals that have longer length dimensions and slightly greater blade widths.

I claim: 
     
       1. The new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family as described and illustrated and which is principally distinguished by a growth habit combining the following characteristics (1) about the same growth rate, tendency to branch when pruned, and specimen size at comparable stages of maturity as is evident in the `Lavender Doll` variety,   (2) a greater natural tendency to branch without pruning and a much greater tendency to form more compact specimens with a more upright and erect posture at maturity than the `Lavender Doll` variety, the phylloclades being usually shorter in length and narrower in width than those of the `Lavender Doll` variety,   (3) a greater resistance to bud abscission and slightly greater tendency to form multiple buds on the branch tips than the `Lavender Doll` variety,   (4) a habit of producing more blooms with about the same bloom life and at a noticeably earlier date in the blooming season on specimens of comparable maturity and size when compared with the `Lavender Doll` variety,   (5) a slightly greater resistance to nutrient deficiencies and to known problem diseases of the related varieties as compared to the `Lavender Doll` variety,   (6) a bloom which in color closely resembles the bloom of the `Lavender Doll` variety but which, at full bloom, appears more robust and may be distinguished therefrom by (a) a sepaloid series of tepals that have a smaller number of tepals, and tepals with shorter length dimensions and narrower blade widths,   (b) a tube laminating series of tepals that have tepals with shorter length dimensions,   (c) a tube forming series of tepals that have tepals with longer length dimensions and slightly greater blade widths, and   (d) a perianth tube which is conspicuously shorter in length,     (7) sterile specimens.