plant named ‘KLENH08454’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Nemesia named ‘KLENH08454’ particularly characterized by red-purple flowers with purple eyes and orange nectar guides, good branching, and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Nemesia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLENH08454’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia, botanically known as Nemesia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘KLENH08454’. ‘KLENH08454’ originated from a controlled cross made in June 2005 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Nemesia plant ‘NH050105’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Nemesia plant ‘NH050108’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was first propagated in September 2006 by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and in-vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany for about a two and one-half year period (about six generations). ‘KLENH08454’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercial practices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

• • 1. Red-purple flowers with purple eyes and orange nectar guides;
  • 2. Good branching; and
  • 3. A vigorous growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Nemesia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows a close-up of flowers and buds. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a plant about 18-weeks old and grown from rooted cuttings in 10.5 cm pots in a greenhouse (glasshouse) in Stuttgart, Germany in spring 2008 under conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLENH08454’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 18-week old plants in 10.5 cm pots that were pinched once after 10 weeks and grown in a greenhouse in spring 2008. The color readings were determined under natural light. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

• Classification:
  • • Family.—Scrophulariaceae.
    • Genus and species.—Nemesia hybrida.
    • Common name.—Nemesia.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—The proprietary female Nemesia plant ‘NH050105’ (unpatented).
    • Male parent.—The proprietary male Nemesia plant ‘NH050108’ (unpatented).
• Plant:
  • • Habit or form.—Upright.
    • Vigor.—Vigorous.
    • Height (measured from the top of the soil, including any flowers).—About 30.0 cm.
    • Spread/width (horizontal plant diameter, including any flowers).—About 27.0 cm.
    • Life cycle.—Annual.
    • Time to produce a rooted cutting.—3 to 4 weeks.
    • Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 6 weeks.
    • Flowering season.—Spring.
    • Root description.—Filiform, pale-colored roots with root hairs.
    • Rooting habit.—High root density and freely branching.
    • Temperature tolerances.—5° C. to 35° C.
    • Environmental conditions for plant growth and performance.—Tolerates wind and rain and has good outdoor performance.
• Branches:
  • • Type.—More basal.
    • Quantity per plant.—About 6.
    • Length.—About 30.0 cm.
    • Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.
    • Internode length.—About 3.0 cm.
    • Strength of branches.—Fleshy, robust, strong.
    • Shape of branches in cross-section.—Square.
    • Color.—RHS 143C.
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.
    • Branch pubescence.—Absent.
• Leaves:
  • • Arrangement.—Opposite and sessile.
    • Shape.—Lanceolate.
    • Apex.—Cuspidate.
    • Base.—Obtuse.
    • Margin.—Serrate.
    • Length.—4.0 cm to 7.0 cm.
    • Width.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.
    • Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137D.
    • Variegation.—Absent.
    • Surface texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate.
    • Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137D.
    • Petioles.—Absent.
• Flower bud:
  • • Quantity per inflorescence.—2 to 5.
    • Shape.—Obovate.
    • Surface texture.—Smooth.
    • Diameter.—0.3 cm.
    • Length.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.
    • Color (at tight bud).—RHS 149D.
• Inflorescence:
  • • Inflorescence type.—Raceme.
    • Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—About 7 days.
    • Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—4 to 9.
    • Inflorescence length.—About 7.0 cm.
    • Inflorescence diameter.—About 2.5 cm not including the flowers and about 5.0 cm including the flowers.
    • Flower diameter.—About 2.0 cm.
    • Flower depth (including nectar spur).—About 1.0 cm.
    • Nectar spur length.—About 0.3 cm.
    • Fragrance.—Strong.
    • Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.
• Petals:
  • • Arrangement and shape.—Zygomorphic; flowers are arranged on terminal racemes; four petals are fused at the base and the fifth lower petal is modified into a large lip with convex oval protuberance with serves as a pollinator nectar guide and landing platform.
    • Quantity per flower.—5.
    • Length (both the upper and lower lips).—About 2.5 cm.
    • Width.—Upper lip: About 1.7 cm. Lower lip: About 1.7 cm.
    • Apex.—Lobate/obtuse.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Color.—Upper lip: Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 64B and fading to 83A with RHS 83A eyes. Lower lip: Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 64B and fading to 83A with RHS 23A nectar guides.
    • Texture (both surfaces of upper and lower lips).—Smooth, no pubescence.
    • Nectar spur color.—RHS 156D.
    • Nectar guide color.—RHS 23A.
    • Spur length.—About 0.3 cm.
    • Spur diameter at the base.—0.3 cm.
    • Spur diameter at the tip.—0.2 cm.
    • Spur texture.—Smooth.
• Calyx:
  • • Shape and arrangement.—Star-shaped with 5 sepals fused at the base.
    • Sepals.—Quantity: 5. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Color (both surfaces): RHS 143B. Length: 0.7 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm. Surface texture (both surfaces): Pubescent.
• Pedicel:
  • • Length.—About 1.2 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 0.1 cm.
    • Color.—RHS 143C.
    • Surface texture.—Pubescent.
• Peduncle:
  • • Length.—2.0 cm to 5.0 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.
    • Color.—RHS 143C.
    • Surface texture.—Smooth.
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Stamens.—Number per flower: 4. Length: 0.4 cm. Filament color: RHS 156D. Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament diameter: About 0.1 cm. Anther color: RHS 5A. Anther length: About 0.1 cm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 5A.
    • Pistil.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 0.3 cm. Stigma color: RHS 158A. Stigma length: 0.05 cm. Style length: 0.05 cm. Style color: RHS 157D.
    • Ovary.—Shape: Ovate. Color: RHS 143C.
• Fruit and seed set: None observed.
• Disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLENH08454’ differs from the proprietary female Nemesia plant ‘NH050105’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLENH08454’ has red-purple flowers with purple eyes, while ‘NH050105’ has dark violet flowers. Additionally, ‘KLENH08454’ has better branching than ‘NH050105’.

‘KLENH08454’ differs from the proprietary male Nemesia plant ‘NH050108’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLENH08454’ has red-purple flowers with purple eyes, while ‘NH050108’ has flowers that are cream, yellow and purple colored. Additionally, ‘KLENH08454’ has a less vigorous growth habit than ‘NH050108’.

‘KLENH08454’ differs from the commercial comparison variety ‘KLENH06442’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLENH08454’ has red-purple flowers with purple eyes and orange nectar guides, while ‘KLENH06442’ has violet flowers with inconspicuous nectar guides.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘KLENH08454’ as shown and described herein.