plant named ‘Hansoti48’

Latin name of the genus and species:

Variety denomination: ‘HANSOTI48’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofplant, botanically known as, of the family Asparagaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘HANSOTI48 ’.

is a monocotyledonous plant with fleshy, succulent leaves which are available in a huge range of species, varieties and cultivars as an outdoor ornamental plant (under tropical conditions) or as indoor plants. Both, the parental ‘Hahnii Jade Marginata’ and the new cultivar ‘Hansoti48’ belong to the group ofcalled the “HahniiGroup” of short or dwarf cultivars all ultimately derived from the original‘Hahnii’ patented in 1941 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 470), in contrast to the medium sized “CompactGroup” with‘Futura Superba’ (unpatented) as the typical example, and the “TallGroup” ofcultivars with tall leaves up to 4 feet (1.25 meters) or taller and‘Laurentii’ (unpatented) as the typical example.

The new‘HANSOTI48’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Ashish Hansoti, as a single aberrant side shoot within a planting of‘Hahnii Marginata’, unpatented, a ‘Hahnii’ type ofgrown at a nursery in Village Vangani, District Thane, Maharashtra State in Western India. ‘HANSOTI48’ originated as a naturally-occurring mutation of thevariety ‘Hahnii Jade Marginata’ in May or June of 2019.

Both the parental ‘Hahnii Jade Marginata’ and the new cultivar ‘Hansoti48’ belong to the group ofcalled the “HahniiGroup” of short or dwarf cultivars all ultimately derived from the original‘Hahnii’ patented in 1941 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 470), in contrast to the medium sized “CompactGroup” with‘Futura Superba’, unpatented as the typical example, and the “TallGroup” ofcultivars with tall leaves up to 4 feet (1.25 meters) or taller and‘Laurentii’, unpatented as the typical example.

Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by vegetative cuttings was first performed in early 2020 at a commercial nursery in Village Vangani, District Thane, Maharashtra State in Western India. This first and subsequent propagation have shown that the distinctive combination of characteristics of the new cultivar are reproduced true to type as long as the propagation was done through side shoots (basal suckers) originating from the base of the originally discovered plant. Thus, it can be said that the new cultivar reproduces true to type through side shoots (basal suckers).

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘HANSOTI48’, which in combination distinguish thisas a new and distinct cultivar:

Leaf length is distinctly longer and narrower than in the parent cultivar, with mature leaves in typical 3-month-old plants being 14 to 16 cm long. Leaf width is quite variable and the strongest, healthiest plants have the widest leaves—this is true across allcultivars known to the inventor. This variation means leaf width can be anything from 4 cm to 6 cm wide depending on season, growing conditions and plant vigour and plant age. Typically, the leaves are of medium width and lanceolate with a firm, waxy texture. The blades are relatively thinner and softer than in the parent.

The new variety presents 9-12 leaves with an average of 11 full size, mature leaves per plant when it reaches its saleable size (about 3 months from rooted cutting) but over time it can grow and accumulate many more leaves and increase in overall height.

The new variety is moderately drought tolerant and adapts well to conditions of bright light or heavy shade (exterior and interior). The plant is liable to get scorched in full hot sun.

The leaves show various shades of green colouration, with dark green leaves, largely covered with silvery green but with the typicalcross hatching subdued and less well marked.

Each leaf has a dark green background close to RHS Green 139A. Superimposed on this are large silvery green areas close to Greyed-Green 191A. There is no variegation apart from these variations in green.

The backside of the leaves has a more uniform silver green coloration (RHS Greyed-Green 191B) with minimal dark green background showing in the proximal central area of each leaf. A uniform, thin dark green border of 1-2 mm width outlines each leaf on the backside.

Attached color pictures are a better guide to the complex leaf arrangement and the overall coloration and pattern rather than written descriptions.

Plants of the new‘HANSOTI48’ are similar to plants of the parental cultivar, however, ‘HANSOTI48’ differs in the characteristics described in Table 1.

In essence, ‘Hansoti48’ is very different from the parental cultivar in being entirely green/silvery green with no cream or yellow variegation. However, this overall silvery green color with minimal cross striations is unusual amongst Hahnii Typeand the pattern is attractive.

‘Hansoti48’ is also somewhat different in size and shape—the leaves are narrower and longer; subsequently, the rosette is taller. Individual leaves are distinctly thinner and softer than the thicker, fleshier and harder leaves of the parent, ‘Hahnii Jade Marginata’.

Plants of the new‘HANSOTI48’ are similar to the commercial variety‘Frozen’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,345. Plants of the new‘HANSOTI48’ differ from plants of the commercial cultivar in the characteristics described in Table 2.

The new‘HANSOTI48’ 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, fertilizer levels and composition 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 newcultivar ‘HANSOTI48’ plants grown in an open poly house (high tunnel) at Village Asle, District Satara, Maharashtra State in Western India. Average temperature in Asle is 25° C., with summer highs of 39° C. and winter lows of 6° C. Plants grow under natural light conditions and between 30% to 75% shade levels depending on the season (higher shade in hot summer conditions).

This crop gets nearly constant fertilization to increase production. Controlled release fertiliser of 13:11:11 Type 360-days release at 1 kilo/cubic meter of media, liquid feed at approximately 100 ppm N, 20 ppm P and 100 ppm K, along with complete micronutrients. Production is closely related with proper and complete plant nutrition and an open soilless growing media based on coconut coir. The plants are grown in plastic pots on metal benching in spacing trays.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), (April 2007) except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. It should be noted that colors inare somewhat variable depending on light levels, nutrition balance, age of plant and other factors. The variety ‘HANSOTI48’ has, apart from the unusual overall silvery-green look, two major distinctive features compared to its parent plant—there is no light golden yellow border band running along the edge of the and the typical transverse banding ofis much less prominent.

The photographs and descriptions were taken during the monsoon season in Asle, District Satara, Maharashtra State, India when outdoor day and night temperatures were 25° C. to 30° C. The age of the plants described is 3-4 months from rooted liners.