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.
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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;