Distylium plant named ‘RLH-DM1ER’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Distylium plant named RLH-DM1ER, characterized by its low and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; developing leaves that are dark green in color and becoming dark greyed green with development; flat and closely-spaced leaves; tolerance to water-saturated soil conditions; and good container and garden performance.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Distylium plant named RLH-DM1ER as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Distylium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Distylium plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of RLH-DM1ER.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of RLH-DM1ER.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in three-gallon containers in outdoor nurseries in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Distylium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5 C. to 40 C. and night temperatures ranged from 20 C. to 35 C. Plants were 3.5 years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Distylium myricoides RLH-DM1ER. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Distylium myricoides Lucky Charm, not patented. Male or pollen parent.Unnamed selection of Distylium myricoides, not patented. Propagation: Type.By semi-hardwood and hardwood stem cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer.About 35 to 50 days at temperatures ranging from 27 C. to 30 C. Time to initiate roots, winter.About 45 to 70 days at temperatures ranging from 16 C. to 17 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.About 65 to 90 days at temperatures ranging from 27 C. to 30 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.About three to four months at temperatures ranging from 16 C. to 17 C. Root description.Thin to medium in thickness, fibrous; close to NN155C in color becoming more brown with development. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density to dense. Plant description: Plant and growth habit.Perennial evergreen shrub; low spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit. Branching habit.Freely branching habit with lateral branches potentially developing at every node; dense and bushy plant form. Plant height.About 32.5 cm. Plant diameter (area of spread).About 87.5 cm. Lateral branch description: Length.About 43 cm. Diameter, immature.About 1 mm. Diameter, mature.About 7 mm. Internode length.About 2.5 cm. Aspect.About 70 to 90 from vertical. Strength.Strong; flexible when immature. Texture and luster.Pubescent, fine; scabrous; matte. Color, immature.Close to 146B becoming closer to 146A with development. Color, mature.Close to 197A to 197B. Leaf description: Arrangement.Alternate, single. Length.About 6.75 cm. Width.About 1.9 cm. Shape.Oblong. Apex.Acuminate to cuspidate. Base.Narrowly obtuse to attenuate. Margin.Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface.Smooth, glabrous; leathery; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface.Pubescent, fine; leathery; matte. Venation pattern.Pinnate. Color.Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 189A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144A. Petiole.Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent, fine; scabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Flower description: Flower arrangement and flowering habit.Small single flowers arranged in terminal and axillary racemes; typically about five flowers per raceme; freely flowering habit; flowers face outwardly to upright. Natural flowering season.Early flowering habit, plants of the new Distylium flower during the late winter in Oklahoma and Texas; flowers last several weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Fragrance.None detected. Flower diameter.About 3 mm. Flower height, including reproductive organs.About 9 mm. Flower buds.Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 199A. Petals.Flowers of the new Distylium are apetalous. Sepals.Arrangement: Typically three to five sepals in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Bracts.Arrangement: Typically one subtending each flower. Length: About 7.5 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 145B to 145C. Color, lower surface: Close to between 199A and N199B; with cooler temperatures, tinged with close to 187A. Peduncles.Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent, fine; matte. Color: Close to 144A. Pedicels.Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Strength: Flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent, fine; matte. Color: Close to 144A. Reproductive organs.Androecium: Stamen number: About two to eight per flower. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 146D. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 146D. Amount of pollen: None observed to date. Gynoecium: Pistil number: Two per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 144A. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144C to 144D. Fruits and seeds.Fruit and seed development have not been observed on plants of the new Distylium to date. Garden performance: Plants of the new Distylium have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, water-saturated soil conditions and temperatures ranging from about 25 C. to about 43 C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6B to 9. Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Distylium have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Distylium plants to date.