Begonia plant named ‘KRBELSS01’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named KRBELSS01 characterized by its upright to broadly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; showy leaves with black and greyed purple-colored centers surrounded by green to greyed green-colored splotches and spots with greyed purple-colored margins; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named KRBELSS01 as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia 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 Begonia plant.

(2) The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of KRBELSS01 grown in a container.

(3) The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of the upper (top of the sheet) and lower (bottom of the sheet) surfaces of typical fully expanded leaves of KRBELSS01.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early autumn in 13-cm containers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Rex Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20 C. and night temperatures averaged 18 C. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical classification: Begonia hybrida KRBELSS01. Parentage: Female, or seed, parent.Proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number KV07B0399-003, not patented. Male, or pollen, parent.Proprietary selection of Begonia hybrida identified as code number KV06B0370-002, not patented. Propagation: Type.By leaf cuttings. Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.About 20 days at temperatures about 20 C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and winter.About nine weeks at temperatures about 20 C. Root description.Fine, fibrous; typically white to orange brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots. Rooting habit.Freely branching; medium density; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. Plant description: Plant habit and form.Upright to broadly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; overall plant shape, flattened globular. Growth habit.Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; suitable for 11-cm and larger containers; under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about ten weeks are required to produce proportional plants in 13-cm containers from rooted leaf cuttings. Branching habit.Freely basal branching habit with about 24 primary branches developing per plant. Plant height.About 21 cm. Plant width.About 34.2 cm. Lateral branches.Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Internode length: About 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10 to 80 from vertical; average, about 45 from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to between N186C and 187A. Color, developed: Close to N186C; with subsequent development, color becoming closer to between N186C and 200A. Leaves.Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 17.3 cm. Width: About 10.8 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Oblique, lobes not imbricate. Margin: Irregularly crenate to serrate; strongly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along veins; moderately velvety; slightly rugose; matte. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Central area, close to N77B, N77C and 200A; surrounded with close to 193A to 193B; with splotches and spots, close to 146A, towards the margins; and margins, close to N186C. Developing leaves, lower surface: Central area, close to N186C; surrounded with close to 146D; and margins, close to N186C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Central area, close to 203B; surrounded with close to 187B and 187C; towards the margins, splotches and spots, close to between 141A and 143A, 190A and 190B; margins, close to 187C; and venation, at the center, close to N186C, elsewhere, similar to lamina colors. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Central area, close to 183A; surrounded with close to 147C to 147D; margins, close to 183A; and venation, close to between 183A and 187B. Petioles: Length: About 5.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 183A and 187A. Stipules: Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Caudate. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 53B; towards the margins, close to 185A to 185B. Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia. Postproduction longevity: Plants of the new Begonia are long-lasting and will maintain good quality year-round under interiorscape conditions. Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Rex Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 35 C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.