Patent Publication Number: US-8635-P

Title: Rhaphiolepis indica &#34;Hines darkleaf&#34;

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct plant cultivar of the variety Rhaphiolepis indica (L.) Lindl shrub commonly known as &#34;Indiana Hawthorn&#34; 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 DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 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 DESCRIPTION 
     The 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 CULTIVARS 
     The 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&#39;,                                           
                            height 3&#39;, spread                             
              spread 6&#39; or more                                           
                            4&#39; 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