Dwarf schefflera named Covette

#The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar of schefflera plant named Covette. Covette is a sport of an unnamed cultivar of Schefflera arboricola. The parent cultivar is unpatented but available commercially.

#The genus Schefflera includes over 150 widely-distributed species of shrubs and trees of the family Araliaceae. These species typically have compound leaves (racks), the leaflets of which are arranged finger-fashion, and are generally long-stalked. One species from Australia, S. actinophylla, is thought by some to comprise a separate genus (Brassaia). In any event, S. actinophylla is popular as a house plant, having glossy-green, lanceolate leaflets, usually 5 to 7 per cluster, that have some serration.

#Another Schefflera species of Taiwanese origin, S. arboricola (also known as "Hawaiian Elf"), is a freely branching plant of dwarf habit, resembling when young a miniature Brassaia (S. actinophylla). The obovate-shaped leaflets of S. arboricola are arranged in racks of up to 15 cm across, comprising 7 to 8 leaflets. While the combination in S. arboricola of hardy dwarf habit and tree-like appearance is desirable, a dull (non-glossy) leaf has contributed to making S. arboricola less popular as a decorative plant than S. actinophylla.

#The first sheet depicts a typical specimen of `Covette`; and,

#The second sheet depicts the large leaved parent; S. arboricola held by hand (with watch), and `Covette` (hand held).

#The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the new cultivar and show, as clearly as it is reasonably possible, the differences in plant form and foliage that distinguish the new cultivar from the parent and from other cultivars of this species with which I am familiar. The photograph comprising sheet 1 is a perspective view of a schefflera plant, approximately six months in age, of my new cultivar Covette.

#The photograph comprising sheet 2 is a close-up, comparative view of foliage racks of the parent cultivar, Covette, and a typical commercial cultivar of the species S. actinophylla, respectively. More specifically, an S. actinophylla rack appears in the foreground of the photograph; some three to four racks of S. arboricola, the parent, appear in the upper left; and a rack of my new cultivar is seen just right of center. (Above the aforesaid Covette rack, in the upper right corner of the photograph, is another immature rack of the new cultivar, comprising leaflets approximately six weeks in age.) Because the photograph was taken in direct sunlight, the leaf colors do not correspond precisely to those reported in the following table. However, the leaflet glossiness of my new cultivar, comparing favorable with the relative dullness of the parent, is readily apparent.

#The following table provides a detailed description of my new Schefflera cultivar based on plants produced under commercial practices in the test fields of Florida Cuttings, Inc. (Stuart, Fla.). Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance have been used. The table compares the noted characteristics of Covette with the same characteristics of its parent cultivar, with a further comparison being made to a typical commercial cultivar of the species S. actinophylla.