Patent Publication Number: US-PP34458-P2

Title: Portulaca plant named ‘DPORMPZDAP’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Portulaca oleracea.    
     Variety denomination: ‘DPORMPZDAP’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The new  Portulaca  cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Pazit Sharoni, Amir Zuker and Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce useful new  Portulaca  varieties for ornamental horticultural production. The open-pollination resulting in this new variety was made during 2016. 
     The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as  Portulaca  ‘PT-16-1441’. The pollen parent is unidentified. The new variety was discovered in July of 2017 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2016 open pollination, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. After selection of the new variety, extensive confidential testing has been performed to determine and define the desirable characteristics of the new variety. 
     Asexual propagation of  Portulaca  was performed by vegetative basal cuttings; however, propagation can also be performed by sowing seeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cultivar ‘DPORMPZDAP’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, 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 ‘DPORMPZDAP’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DPORMPZDAP’ as a new and distinct  Portulaca  cultivar:
         1. Controlled semi-trailing habit   2. Large flowers.   3. Vivid dark pink flower color   4. Dark green foliage.   5. Freely branching habit       

     PARENT COMPARISON 
     Plants of ‘DPORMPZDAP’ are similar in some horticultural characteristics to the seed parent. The new variety, however, differs in the following:
         1. Flowers of the new variety are solid dark pink; flowers of the seed parent are dark pink and white.   2. Flower of the new variety are more open and nearly flat. Flowers of female parent is more conical to funnel-shaped.   3. Flowers of the new variety are larger than those of the seed parent.       

     Comparison with the pollen parent is unavailable, as this variety resulted from an open pollination. 
     COMMERCIAL COMPARISON 
     Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORMPZDAP’ can be compared to the commercial variety  Portulaca  Nano ‘Hot Pink’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;
         1. This comparator has more compact and dense habit than ‘DPORMPZDAP’.   2. The flowers of this comparator are bright pink with a yellow eye; flowers of ‘DPORMPZDAP’ are solid dark pink.   3. Foliage color of this comparator is brighter green than foliage of ‘DPORMPZDAP’.       

     Plants of the new cultivar ‘DPORMPZDAP’ can also be compared to the variety  Portulaca  Pazzaz ‘Bright Purple’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DPORMPZDAP’ differs in the following:
         1. Foliage color of this comparator is brighter green than foliage of ‘DPORMPZDAP’.   2. ‘DPORMPZDAP’ produces larger flowers than this comparator.   3. ‘DPORMPZDAP’ produces dark pink flowers; this comparator produces flowers with a stronger purple coloration.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photograph in  FIG. 1  illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DPORMPZDAP’ at about 8 weeks of age, grown in a 13 cm pot. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a closer view of a typical flower of the new variety. 
       The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DPORMPZDAP’ plants grown outdoors in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during Spring. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 24° C. to 38° C. during the days, 12° C. to 26° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.
     Botanical classification:  Portulaca oleracea  ‘DPORMPZDAP’.   

     PROPAGATION 
     
         
         Time to initiate rooting: Vegetative cuttings. 
         Root description: 10 to 12 days at approximately 24° C. 
         Root description: Fine, fibrous; close to Yellow-White 158B in color, freely branching. 
       
    
     PLANT 
     
         
         Growth hbit: Semi-trailing. 
         Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. 
         Height: About 19 cm. 
         Plant spread: About 26 cm radius. 
         Growth rate: Medium vigor. 
         Qantity of shoots: 6 to 9 main shoots, developing into lateral branches. 
         Branching characteristics: 
         Length of primary lateral branches: 25 cm. 
         Diameter of lateral branches: 0.5 cm. 
         Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 10 per 1 main stem. 
         Characteristics of primary lateral branches:
             Diameter.— About 0.35 to 0.4 cm.     Color.— Tip Near Yellow-Green RHS 144A; Base near RHS Red-Purple 59B(Anthocyanin coloration).     Texture.— Glabrous.     Strength.— Moderately strong.       
     
         Internode length: Approximately 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Closer to branch tips near 4.5 cm. 
         Age of plant described: Approximately 98 days from a rooted cutting. 
       
    
     FOLIAGE 
     
         
         Leaf:
             Arrangement.— Alternate, simple.     Quantity.— Approximately 15 per branch.     Average length.— 2.5 to 3.8 cm.     Average width.— 1.5 to 2.0 cm.     Shape of blade.— Obovate.     Apex.— Rounded, slightly mucronate.     Base.— Cuneate.     Margin.— Entire.     Texture of top surface.— Smooth.     Texture of bottom surface.— Smooth.     Pubescence.— None.     Aspect.— Straight, occurring at an angle of about 45-80°.     Color.— Young foliage upper side: Close RHS 137B. Young foliage under side: Close to RHS 138A. Mature foliage upper side: Close to RHS N137B, margins flushed near Purple N79B. Mature foliage under side: Close to RHS 137C, margins flushed near Purple N79C.     Venation.— Indistinguishable from leaf blade.     Petiole.— Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.       
     
       
    
     FLOWER 
     
         
         Natural flowering season: Spring to Fall in Israel. 
         Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 4 weeks to the first flowers. 
         Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single flower, abundant flowering. 
         Rate of flower opening: About 3 days from bud to fully opened flower. 
         Flower longevity on plant: About 1 to 2 days. 
         Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. 
         Bud:
             Shape.— Ovoid.     Length.— 1 to 1.2 cm.     Diameter.— 0.7 cm.     Color.— Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B; tip flushed near Red-Purple 61A.       
     
         Flower size:
             Diameter.— About 5 cm.     Depth.— About 2 cm.       
     
         Corolla/petals:
             Arrangement.— 5 petals merged/fused at the base, weakly overlapping.     Length.— 2.5 cm.     Width.— 2.1 to 2.4 cm.     Quantity.— 5 petals.     Texture.— Smooth, glabrous, upper and lower surfaces.     Apex.— Emarginate to retuse.     Shape.— Obovate with a cuneate base.     Margin.— Entire.     Aspect.— Mostly flat, upper margin slightly rolled down.     Color.— When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple N57A. Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple N74B. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple N57A. Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple N74A.       
     
         Calyx/sepals:
             Quantity per flower.— 2 Sepals per flower.     Shape.— Fused into a tubular calyx. Pointed apex.     Length.— 1cm.     Width.— 0.9 cm.     Apex.— Acute.     Base.— Fused.     Margin.— Entire.     Texture.— Glabrous.     Color.— Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144A, anthocyanin flushed Red-Purple 60C. Lower Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144B.       
     
         Peduncle: None. 
         Fragrance: None. 
       
    
     REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 
     
         
         Androecium: 
         Stamens:
             Number.— Many, about 60.     Filament length.— Approximately 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.       
     
         Anthers:
             Shape.— Oval.     Length.— About 0.7 mm.     Color.— Near RHS Yellow-Orange 14A.     Pollen.— Color: RHS Yellow-Orange 17A. Quantity: Abundant.       
     
         Gynoecium: 
         Pistil:
             Number.— 1.     Length.— 1.1 cm.     Style.— Length: 0.8 cm. Color: Base near RHS Yellow 13B, tip near Red 53B.     Stigma.— Shape: Six branched stigma. Color: Near RHS Yellow 9A. Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.       
     
       
    
     OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
     
         
         Seeds and fruits: Seeds are minute, colored near RHS Black 202A, with a circular shape. 
         Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility observed.  Portulaca  is not typically susceptible to many diseases and pests. The most common diseases being typical root rots from over watering, or black stem,  Dichotomophthora portulaca . The most common pest of  Portulaca  is Aphid. 
         Temperature tolerance: Will not tolerate temperatures below 7° C. High temperature tolerance near 40° C.