orchid plant named ‘PHALDENDO’

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDENDO’, particularly characterized by having lilac shaded and slightly striped flowers, 1 to 2 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are narrow and oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Description

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDENDO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDENDO’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, are three-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDENDO’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique lilac shaded and slightly striped flowers, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDENDO’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDENDO’ originated from a cross made in April 2003 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-1074’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘21067-0001’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in April 2003 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 5-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDENDO’ by tissue culture was first performed in September 2010 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2014. ‘PHALDENDO’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

• • 1) Lilac shaded and slightly striped flowers;
  • 2) 1 to 2 peduncles;
  • 3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;
  • 4) Shape of the leaf is narrow and oblong; and
  • 5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in June 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALDENDO’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDENDO’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDENDO’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALDENDO’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in June 2015. Color readings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

• Classification:
  • • Family.—Orchidaceae.
    • Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.
    • Common name.—Phalaenopsis.
    • Variety name.—‘PHALDENDO’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1074’ (unpatented).
    • Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘21067-0001’ (unpatented).
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—Meristem tissue culture.
• Plant:
  • • Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48 to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.
    • Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to panicle.
    • Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—72.0 cm to 82.0 cm.
    • Width (measured from leaf tips).—45.0 cm to 50.0 cm.
    • Vigor.—Strong.
• Roots:
  • • Root description.—Green-greyed-colored roots with branching lateral roots having green-greyed-colored root tips.
• Leaves:
  • • Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 8 leaves are produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 24.0 cm to 26.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Oblong (see enclosure 1a). Base shape: Very elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal position): Between 40 degrees and 70 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. Texture: Rough. Thickness: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A.
• Peduncle:
  • • Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.
    • Number of flowers per peduncle.—12 to 18.
    • Length.—61.0 cm to 71.0 cm.
    • Diameter.—6.0 mm to 7.0 mm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Aspect.—Upright.
    • Texture.—Slightly rough.
    • Color.—Mix of green (RHS 147B) and brown /greyed-purple (RHS 200A/187A), towards the inflorescence a mix of lighter green (RHS 146A) and lighter brown (RHS 200B).
    • Internode length.—80.0 mm to 90.0 mm.
    • Callosities.—None.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.
    • Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 300.0 mm to 350.0 mm. Diameter: 4.8 mm to 5.3 mm.
    • Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11 months after planting in a 12 cm pot.
    • Flower.—Height: 58.0 mm to 63.0 mm. Diameter: 7.8 mm to 8.3 mm. Depth of lip: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm.
    • Flower longevity.—On the plant: 5 to 12 weeks.
    • Fragrance.—Absent.
    • Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 2.1 cm to 2.3 cm. Width: 1.8 cm to 2.0 cm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Mix of greyed-purple (RHS 186C), greyed-red (RHS 182B) and green (RHS 145B and 145C).
    • Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex: Rounded and slightly asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Width: 44.0 mm to 46.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C).
    • Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Mucronate and sometimes emarginated. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Width: 44.0 mm to 46.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C).
    • Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse and slightly asymmetric. Length (from base to tip): 38.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C) and yellow-green towards center of the flower (RHS 145D). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) striped (RHS 78D). Over color: Light purple (RHS 84C) and yellow-green towards center of the flower (RHS 145D).
    • Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: Medium (10.0 mm to 12.0 mm). Color of whiskers: Mix of yellow-orange (RHS 14A) and orange (RHS 26B). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.
    • Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate. Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm. Color: Yellow-orange (RHS 17A), greyed-orange (RHS 172C) and a touch of red (RHS 36C).
    • Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Color: Yellow-orange edge (RHS 14A), light red in the middle (RHS 36A and 37D) and orange (RHS 26B).
    • Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Length: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color: Yellow-orange (RHS 17A) dotted greyed-orange (RHS 171C).
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single, short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia, which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present.
    • Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS 78B) and white top (RHS 155C).
    • Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color: Yellow-orange (RHS 22A).
    • Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the column. Length: 7.0 mm to 9 0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm.
    • Pedicel.—Length: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to 2.7 mm. Color: From the inflorescence dark green (RHS 146A) and faded towards the flower to lighter green (RHS 145A to 145C); close to the flower light purple (RHS 75D).
• Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or susceptibility observed.
• Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDENDO’ differs from male parent variety ‘21067-0001’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDENDO’ has a shaded and slightly striped flower with an orange lip, whereas ‘21067-0001’ has an even flower with a yellow lip. Additionally, ‘PHALDENDO’ has a longer plant than ‘21067-0001’.

‘PHALDENDO’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBISYK’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDENDO’ has a shaded and slightly striped flower and an even apical lobe of the lip, whereas ‘PHALBISYK’ has a shaded flower and a partially dotted apical lobe of the lip. Additionally, ‘PHALDENDO’ has striped lateral sepals, whereas ‘PHALBISYK’ has dotted lateral sepals.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDENDO’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.