Cactaceae plant `Heather`

#The invention relates to a new and distinct plant variety of the Cactaceae family which has been named Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri `Heather` by the inventor.

#Certain plant varieties of the Cactaceae family are well known in the foliage plant market and among these are those which are commonly referred to as the Spring or Easter cactus varieties because they tend to bloom in the Spring of the year.

#The Spring cactus varieties on the market have blooms which vary in color from one variety to the next and are generally dominated by a red or closely related hue. One such cultivar in the marketplace at the time of application is `Scarlet O'Hara` having a red flower.

#The accompanying drawings serve by color photographic means to illustrate the new plant variety and wherein one sheet shows a 10 month old specimen which was grown from the propagation of a single phylloclade in a conventional 31/2" plastic pot (trade designation) found in the marketplace. A second sheet shows an enlargement of a fully open bloom taken from the specimen shown in the first sheet in comparison with a second bloom also taken from the specimen shown in the first sheet and sectioned generally longitudinally through the perianth tube and ovary to expose the style and stamen arrangement.

#The following is a detailed description of the new plant variety with colors and hues, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the text as, for example, through the absence of color notations, being named in accord with the ISCC-NBS Method of Designating colors (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Circular 553), the named colors being interpreted from color specimens of the Munsell Book of Color. The description is further based on observations of well fertlized plants of about 10 months of age from initial propagation which were grown under 50%-75% shaded greenhouse nursery conditions in the Winter Garden, Fla. area and wherein temperatures range from 60.degree.-85.degree. F. during the winter months, from 75.degree.-95.degree. F. during the summer months, and are ambient during the intervening periods.

#I. Name: Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri `Heather`.

#II. Parentage: The new variety is the result of a cross pollination between Rhipsalidopsis rosea `China Pink` (maternal) and Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri `Scarlet O'Hara` (paternal). The resulting seeds were germinated under greenhouse conditions in Winter Garden, Fla. with one seedling being isolated as the new variety.