A new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant named ‘Alegnuflor711’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; strong stems; early and freely flowering habit; and intense red-colored flowers.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevillaplant, botanically known asMandevilla hybridaand hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Alegnuflor711’.

The newMandevillaplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new shrub-typeMandevillaplants with strong stems and numerous attractive flowers.

The newMandevillaplant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2003, of a proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number X02.5, not patented, as the female, or seed parent withMandevilla hybrida‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newMandevilla plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia in January, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the newMandevillaplant by cuttings in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, since January, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newMandevillaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the newMandevillahave not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in cultural practices and environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Alegnuflor711’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Alegnuflor711’ as a new and distinctMandevillaplant:1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.2. Strong stems.3. Early and freely flowering habit.4. Intense red-colored flowers.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillaare more compact than and not as vining as plants of the female parent selection.2. Plants of the newMandevillaflower earlier than plants of the female parent selection.3. Plants of the newMandevillahave smaller flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Sunmandecrim’. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer from plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillaare more compact than and not as vining as plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’.2. Plants of the newMandevillaand ‘Sunmandecrim’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ have crimson red-colored flowers.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants ofMandevilla hybrida‘Alegnuflor702’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/931,177;Mandevilla hybrida‘Alegnuflor704’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/931,163Mandevilla hybrida‘Alegnuflor709’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/931,164; andMandevilla hybrida‘Alegnuflor714’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/931,176. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer primarily from plants of ‘Alegnuflor702’, ‘Alegnuflor704’, ‘Alegnuflor709’, ‘Alegnuflor714’ in flower bud and flower color.

Plants of the newMandevillacan be compared to plants ofMandevilla hybrida‘Sunparavel’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,407. Plants of the newMandevilladiffer primarily from plants of ‘Sunparavel’ in the following characteristics:1. Plants of the newMandevillaare more compact than plants of ‘Sunparavel’.2. Plants of the newMandevillahave smaller leaves and flowers than plants of ‘Sunparavel’.3. Plants of the newMandevillaand ‘Sunparavel’ differ in flower color as plants of ‘Sunparavel’ have dark red purple-colored flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12.5-cm containers during the spring and summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia and under commercial production cultural practices. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 21° C. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Botanical classification:Mandevilla hybrida‘Alegnuflor711’.Parentage:Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybridaidentified as code number X02.5, not patented.Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539.Propagation:Type.—By cuttings.Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month.Root description.—Fleshy, thick; white in color.Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.Plant description:Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant habit, slightly vining; moderately vigorous growth habit.Plant height.—About 32 cm.Plant diameter.—About 30 cm.Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderate branching habit with about four primary lateral branches per plant; primary laterals with secondary laterals; pinching enhances lateral branch development. Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.Foliage description:Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.Length.—About 6.8 cm.Width.—About 4.7 cm.Shape.—Broadly elliptical.Apex.—Acuminate.Base.—Obtuse.Margin.—Entire.Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery.Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146A.Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.Flower description:Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in loose terminal and axillary clusters; flowers face upright or outwardly; freely flowering habit, about five flowers and flower buds per cluster.Natural flowering season.—Plants initiate flower buds about six weeks after planting; plants flower continuously year-round in the greenhouse and outdoors from spring to early winter in New South Wales, Australia.Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days; flowers not persistent.Fragrance.—Faint, pleasant.Flowers.—Appearance: Funnelform with five-parted fused corolla; flowers roughly star-shaped. Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (length): About 8 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About 5.5 cm. Tube diameter, at the base: About 4 mm.Flower buds.—Height: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 60C.Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, imbricate and fused into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length: About 3.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.5 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly elliptical. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 34A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 58B. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53B. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 57A. Throat: Close to 52A. Tube: Close to 145A.Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Five per flower fused in a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner surface: Close to 145C. Color, outer surface: Close to 145B.Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 70° from the stem axis. Color: Close to 144A.Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 50° from the peduncle axis. Color: Close to 144A.Reproductive organs:—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically five. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 158C. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 8 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 158A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.7 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded; five-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style length: About 2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 146C.Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the newMandevillahave not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common toMandevilla.Temperature tolerance: Plants of the newMandevillahave been observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 38° C.