Rhaphiolepis indica "Hines darkleaf"
The new plant is a hybrid Rhaphiolepis indica plant characterized by its unique deep purple foliage in winter that is a darker purple than any other Rhaphiolepis indica cultivar. It is also unique for its compact, low growth habit.
The present invention relates to a new and distinct plant cultivar of the variety Rhaphiolepis indica (L.) Lindl shrub commonly known as "Indiana Hawthorn" in the Rosaceae family. I call this new cultivar by the cultivar name `Hines Darkleaf`.
This new Rhaphiolepis indica selection was discovered in a block of Rhaphiolepis indica seedlings during the spring of 1986 as a new found seedling of unknown parentage growing in a cultivated area at a containerized commercial nursery in Houston, Tex. This plant was recognized as distinct from other Rhaphiolepis indica cultivars, and was selected and isolated for further evaluation. The new Rhaphiolepis indica selection has been reproduced by asexual propagation under my direction at Fort Bend County, Tex., through numerous generations by vegetative cuttings. Successive generations produced in this manner have demonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of this new variety are fixed and hold true under asexual propagation from generation to generation.
This new selection has many desirable and distinctive characteristics which render it unique from other Raphiolepis indica cultivars. This new cultivar has the following combination of characteristics which distinguish it from other varieties: Unique deep purplish/black foliage in winter is a darker and deeper purple than that of any other Raphiolepis indica cultivar. It is also unique for its compact, low, prostrate growth habit.
My new variety is illustrated in the accompanying photographic drawings which depict the colors of the new variety as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 shows a plant of the `Hines Darkleaf` cultivar (left photograph in the figure) and a plant of Rhaphiolepis indica `Ballerina` (right photograph in the figure) taken in the spring to show a comparison of these two plants. These two plants were grown under culturally identical conditions (pruning, transplanting, and fertilization). The plants are both two to five years old from cutting to the size shown in the photograph;
FIG. 2 is a close-up of the flowers of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety;
FIG. 3 is a photograph of the cultivar `Hines Darkleaf` planted in the landscape for approximately one year from a number five container;
FIG. 4 is a photograph of a `Hines Darkleaf` plant displaying its winter foliage;
FIG. 5 is a close-up of the winter foliage of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety; and
FIG. 6 is a close-up of the spring flush of growth of the `Hines Darkleaf` variety.
DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTIONThe following is a detailed description of the new Rhaphiolepis indica variety. This description is based on observations of no fewer than 20 specimens for each specified characteristic. Color determinations and comparisons are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The following descriptions are based upon mature development in Fort Bend County, Tex.
Origin: Hybrid seedling.
Parentage: Unknown.
Classification: Hybrid.
Form: Low, compact, prostrate.
Height: About 61 to 76 cm, spread about 183 cm or more.
Foliage:
Apex.--Cuspidate.
Arrangement.--Alternate.
Base.--Narrow cuneate.
Margins.--Recurved entire.
Shape.--Elliptic to obovate.
Surface.--Glabrous, coriaceous.
Juvenile foliage.--Pubescent.
Type.--Simple.
Size.--Average Length -- about 7.5 to 8.8 cm (leaf apex to leaf base); Average Width -- about 2.5 to 3.7 cm.
Color:
A. Winter color.--1. Upper leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 187A with black undertones. 2. Lower leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHSA 138A. 3. Upper leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: Tip portion near to RHS 59A, near to 143A at the base of the leaf. 4. Stems are near to 59A. 5. Lower leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS Green 143C.
B. Summer color.--1. Upper leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 147A. 2. Lower leaf surface of mature leaves: near to RHS 146B with veins near to RHS 137D. 3. Upper leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS 178C, changing to near 164A. 4. Lower leaf surface of young (immature) leaves: near to RHS Colour 171A, changing to near to 172B.
Inflorescence: Flowers are in linear panicles average 10.3 cm.
Bloom period: February to late April, peak time March to mid-April; sporadic bloom in September to November.
Petal color: Near to RHS 54C and 155C.
Flower diameter: About 2.1 cm.
Petal shape: Ovate (curled).
Petal number: Five.
Peduncle: About 0.20 cm.
Fruit: Drupelike pome, color near to RHS 202A.
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER POTENTIALLY SIMILAR RHAPHIOLEPIS CULTIVARSThe following descriptions and comparisons are based on an average of not less than twenty specimens for each specified characteristic. The comparisons were formulated from side-by-side evaluation of container grown specimens of each of the specimens listed below. This cultivar was chosen on the basis that it is believed to be the most similar cultivar to `Hines Darkleaf`. Comparison plants are, as nearly as possible, all the same age and have been grown in the same environment with the same cultural techniques.
Rhaphiolepis indica `Ballerina` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,972)Flower color: Deep rosy pink, Red-Purple near to 55B.
Plant habit: Compact, mounding upright.
Plant height: 90-120 cm.
Leaf length: About 6.5 cm.
Leaf width: About 2.7 cm.
Leaf margins: Undulated.
Following is a further comparison of these cultivars:
______________________________________
`HINES
DARKLEAF` `BALLERINA`
______________________________________
Plant Structure:
Growth habit low, compact, compact,
prostrate mounding,
upright
Overall size height 2 to 2.5',
height 3', spread
spread 6' or more
4' or more*
Angle of the 0% angle to soil
85% angle to the
main branches line for 15 cm
soil line
then the branch
bends on a 30%
angle to soil
line
Diameter of 1 cm 1 cm
branches
Average number
30 28
of leaves per
main branch
Range of 1 to 2 cm .5 to 1.5 cm
internode length
of main branch
Average sub- 8 4.5
branches per
main branch
Average .7 to 1.2 cm .5 to 1 cm
internode length
on sub-branch
Average number
10 7
of leaves per
sub-branch
Foliage:
Shape of leaves
elliptic to obovate to
obovate oblanceolate
Margins recurved entire
undulate
Apex cuspidate acute
Base narrow cuneate
attenuate
Average size of
length 8.0 cm,
length 6.5 cm,
leaf width 3.38 cm width 2.7 cm
Type of leaves
simple simple
Surface texture
glabrous, coriaceous
coriaceous
Winter Foliage Color:
Upper surface of
RHS 187A, greyed
RHS 137A
mature leaf purple with black
undertones
Lower surface of
RHS 138A RHS 142B
mature leaf
Upper surface of
RHS 59A RHS 178B
juvenile leaf
apex
Upper surface of
RHS 143A RHS 178B
juvenile leaf
base
Lower surface of
RHS 143C RHS 176C
juvenile leaf
Summer Foliage Color:
Upper surface of
RHS 147A 1060/1 pg. 200,
mature leaf ivy green*
Lower surface of
RHS 146B 960/3 pg. 187,
mature leaf spinach green
Upper surface of
RHS 178C changing
**
juvenile leaf to 164A
Average petiole
1.4 cm .7 cm
length
Flower:
Blooming habit
February to late
February to May;
April, peak time
peak time April to
March to mid- May; sporadic
April; sporadic
blooms in August
blooms in to October*
September to February to late
November in April, peak time
Houston, Texas
March to mid-
April; sporadic
blooms in
September to
November in
Houston, Texas
Shape of linear panicle
broad pyramidal
inflorescence panicle
Average length
10.3 cm, slightly
9.8 cm, slightly
and description
hairy hairy
of panicle
Color of apex RHS 143C,
RHS 184A
peduncle base 59A
Range of pedicel
13.6 16.25
per peduncle
Range of flowers
1 to 2 1
per pedicel
Shape of flower
rotate; 2.1 cm in
rotate; 2.4 cm in
and average size
diameter diameter
Number of petals
5 5
Petal shape ovate (curled)
obovate
Overall color of
single bicolor
single solid pink,
flower pink petals with
pink petals with
a circle of white
yellow stamens
surrounding the
yellow stamens;
as the flower
matures the outer
edge of the
petals begins to
turn white
Petal color RHS 54C, 155C RHS 55B
Average number
19.4 19
of stamens per
flower
Average stamen
.6 cm .7 cm
length
Stamen color new anther
RHS 10B RHS 10B
new filament
RHS 155C RHS 155C
old anther
RHS 162A RHS 162A
old filament
RHS 59D RHS 59D
Style/flower 2 2
Color of style
RHS 160B RHS 160B
Sepals 5 united 5 united
______________________________________
All information taken on Rhaphiolepis `Hines Darkleaf` and `Ballerina` wa
collected from comparable plant material of similar size and age at Hines
Nursery in Houston, Texas unless otherwise stated.
*Information taken from Plant Patent 2,972
**Information not published in Plant Patent 2,972
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Rhaphiolepis indica plant substantially as herein shown and described, and which is particularly characterized by its dark purple winter foliage and compact, low, prostrate growth habit.
| PP2972 | June 1970 | Bordier |
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 10, 1992
Date of Patent: Mar 8, 1994
Assignee: Hines Nurseries, Inc. (Houston, TX)
Inventor: William C. Barr (Rosenberg, TX)
Primary Examiner: James R. Feyrer
Assistant Examiner: Erich E. Veitenheimer
Law Firm: Christie, Parker & Hale
Application Number: 7/928,267
International Classification: A01H 500;
