<i>Lagerstroemia </i>plant named ‘SMNLCIBF’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plant named SMNLCIBF is disclosed, characterized by vibrant red flowers, and greyed-purple foliage. Plants are compact and freely branching with good resistance to powdery mildew. The new variety is a Lagerstroemia, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plant named SMNLCIBF as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a typical flowering plant of SMNLCIBF grown outdoors.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescence. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting.

(3) 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

(4) In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe SMNLCIBF plants grown in a poly house during August 2017, in Grand Haven, Mich. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18 C. to 27 C. during the day and from approximately 5 C. to 10 C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica SMNLCIBF.

PROPAGATION

(5) Type of propagation typically used: Softwood cuttings. Time to initiate roots: 21 days at 18-27 C. Time to produce a rooted cutting: 1-2 months at 18-27 C. Root description: Thin fibrous, dense, moderate branching. White in color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. Chart.

PLANT

(6) Age of plant described: 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting. Container size: 3 gallon container. Overall plant shape: Compact, rounded. Growth habit: Upright and outward. Plant spread: 60 cm. Plant height: 111 cm. Plant vigor: Good. Length of primary lateral branches: 34 cm. Diameter of lateral branches: 4 mm. Quantity of lateral branches: 18. Stem: Color.New growth: RHS Greyed-Purple 187B. Old growth: RHS Brown N200A. Shape.Square. Strength.Strong. Aspect angle.15-45. Pubescence.None. Old growth woody. Internode length: Average 12 cm.

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Arrangement.Sub-opposite, single. Average length.5.5 cm. Average width.2.25 cm. Shape of blade.Elliptic, folds in half. Apex.Acute. Base.Cuneate. Margin.Entire, and wavy. Texture of top surface.Smooth. Texture of bottom surface.Ribbed. Color.Young foliage upper side: RHS Greyed-Purple N186A. Young foliage under side: RHS Brown 201A. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Greyed-Purple N186A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Brown 201A. Venation.Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Greyed-Red N187A. Venation color under side: RHS Greyed-Purple 183C. Petiole.Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Texture, upper side: Smooth. Texture, under side: Smooth. Color, upper side: RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Color, under side: RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.

FLOWER

(8) Natural flowering season: Summer through Fall. Arrangement: Panicles at terminal ends of branches. Inflorescence form: Panicle. Flowers per inflorescence: 2 to 50. Flowers per lateral stem: 2 to 50. Inflorescence size: Width.17 cm. Height.20 cm. Individual flowers: Shape.Whorled, rotate of 6 freely attached petals. Habit.Whorled upward and outward. Diameter.2 cm. Length.4 cm. Persistence.Self-cleaning. Fragrance.Very light earthy. Petals: Arrangement.Whorled. Appearance.Delicate, undulate, dimensional. Number.6. Shape.Loosely edged and undulate orbit shape. Margin.Loose, undulate. Tip shape.Rounded. Base shape.Rounded. Length.1.5 cm. Width.1.5 cm. Texture.Upper: Soft, smooth, delicate. Lower: Soft, smooth, delicate. Color.When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red 53C. Under surface: RHS Red 53C. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Red 53C. Under surface: RHS Red 53C. Bud: Shape.Spherical. Length.6 mm. Diameter.8 mm. Color.RHS Greyed-Purple 187B. Prominence.Medium. Sepals: Appearance.Smooth, glossy, fused. Arrangement.Unguiculate. Shape.Narrowly triangular. Tip shape.Acute. Base shape.Obtuse. Margin.Entire. Quantity per flower.6. Length.5 mm. Width.4 mm. Texture.Upper: Smooth, coriaceous, rugose. Lower: Smooth. Color.Upper: RHS Greyed-Purple 185A. Lower: RHS Greyed-Purple 185C. Calyx: Shape.Unguiculate. Length.6 cm. Diameter.1 cm. Pedicel: Length.5 mm. Diameter.1 cm. Angle.45. Texture.Smooth. Color.RHS Greyed-Purple 187B. Strength.Good. Peduncle: Length.7 mm. Diameter.2 mm. Texture.Smooth. Color.RHS Greyed-Purple 187B. Strength.Good. Angle.About 45.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Stamens: Number.About 29. Filament length.1 cm. Filament color.RHS Red-Purple 70D, with White 155B at base. Anthers: Shape.Linear. Length.1 mm. Color.RHS Yellow 9A. Pollen.Amount: Some. Color: RHS Yellow 9A. Pistil: Number.1. Length.2 cm. Style.Length: 1.8 cm. Color: RHS Greyed-Purple 184D. Stigma: Shape.Globe. Color.RHS Black 202A. Ovary color.RHS Yellow 11B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date. Disease/pest resistance: Good powdery mildew resistance (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Neither resistance nor susceptibility to other normal diseases and pests of Lagerstroemia observed. Temperature range: Observed to tolerate a temperature range from 28 C. to 35 C. Root hardy to 28 C, top of the plant does die back to the ground.