Patent Application
20150230378
Medinilla hybrid
‘ROYAL INTENZ’
The present invention relates to a new and distinct hybrid cultivar of Medinilla plant, botanically known as Medinilla sp., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘ROYAL INTENZ’. The genus of Medinilla belongs to the Melastomataceae family.
The new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Elly Black and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Medinilla variety with good growing habits and an attractive inflorescence.
The new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventors in 2008 in Assendelft, the Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘83198287’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘83197015’ (unpatented). ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in 2010, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross controlled environment in Assendelft, the Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ performed by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2010 Assenfeldt, the Netherlands. The first ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ plants propagated through the use of cuttings flowered in 2011, in Assenfeldt, The Netherlands, and have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ which in combination distinguish this Medinilla hybrid as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Solid growth habit
2. Erect shrub plant, measuring about 30-35 cm in height (above the pot when first flowering);
3. Green colored leaves, measuring about 25-30 cm in length and about 15 cm in width;
4. Pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 66A) colored flowers;
Of the commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ is the Medinilla ‘BELO’(unpatented). Plants of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ differ from the plants of Medinilla ‘BELO’ primarily in inflorescence length. Plants of ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ have longer inflorescences than plants of ‘BELO’. Additionally, plants of ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ have more bracts.
The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘ROYAL INTENZ’.
‘ROYAL INTENZ’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, fertilizers and humidity without any change in the genotype of the plant.
The aforementioned photograph, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, the Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in a commercial practice.
Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the plants of ‘ROYAL INTENZ’ described is about 50 weeks from potting.
