Cactaceae plant `Heather`

Abstract

A new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family is of the type known commercially as a "Spring Cactus" or "Easter Cactus" and has a growth habit which is similar to that of the `Scarlet O'Hara` variety but which, nevertheless, differs, among other things, by having phylloclades with shorter midribs, and sterile flowers with fewer tube laminating tepals, tube forming tepals that are shorter and wider, tepals dominated by hues of purplish pink and purplish red, and an ovary with shorter length dimensions.

We claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family as shown and described and which is mainly distinguished from its antecedents and known related varieties by growth characteristics that are similar to those of the `Scarlet O'Hara` variety but as modified by the combination of the following characteristics: 1. An erect growth habit,   2. Phyllocalades which, in comparison to the `Scarlet O'Hara` variety, have midribs with generally shorter length dimensions,   3. Flowers which, in comparison to the `Scarlet O'Hara` variety, are sterile and have (a) generally fewer tube laminating tepals with generally shorter length dimensions, (b) a tube forming series of tepals with generally shorter length dimensions, (c) tepals that are generally dominated by purplish pink and purplish red hues whereas the variety `Scarlet O'Hara` is generally dominated by red hues, (d) an ovary with generally shorter length dimensions.