Patent Application
20150282404
Medinilla hybrid
‘ROYAL ZENZ’
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 ZENZ’. The genus of Medinilla belongs to the Melastimataceae family.
The new Medinilla ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor. Ely Bak and Nico D. M. Steur, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Medinilla variety with good growing habit and attractive inflorescence.
The New Medinilla ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ originated from a cross made in the controlled breeding program by the inventors in 2008, in Assendelft. The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘834918227’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Medinilla selection designated ‘834927015’ (unpatented). ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ was discovered and selected by the inventors in 2010, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Assendelft. The Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new Medinilla hybrid ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ performed by vegetative means by cuttings was first performed in 2010, in Assendelft, The Netherlands. The first ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ plants propagated through the use of the cuttings flowered in 2011, in Assendelft, 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 unique characteristics of ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ which in combination distinguish this Medinilla hybrid as a new and distinct cultivar:
1. Solid growth habit.
2. Erect shrub plant, measuring about 20 cm in height (above the pot when first flowering);
3. Green colored leaves, measuring about 25 cm in length and about 11-13 cm in width;
4. Pendulous panicles with red-purple (RHS 68A) colored flowers;
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ is the Medinilla ‘MAGNIFICA’. Plants of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ differ from plants of Medinilla ‘MAGNIFICA’ primarily in leaf size and bract size. Additionally plants of ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ have a coloured inflorescence.
The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Medinilla ‘ROYAL ZENZ’ 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 ZENZ’.
‘ROYAL ZENZ’ 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 ZENZ’ as grown in a greenhouse in Assendelft, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in 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 ZENZ’ described is about 50 weeks from potting.
