<i>Phalaenopsis </i>plant named ‘MI02648’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02648’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; strong and flexible flowering stems; compact and semi-erect leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; bright yellow-colored flowers with reddish orange-colored stripes that resist fading; and good postproduction longevity.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02648’ as illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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

(2) The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI02648’ grown in a container.

(3) The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘MI02648’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 29° C. and light levels ranged from 150 Watt/m.sup.2 to 375 Watt/m.sup.2. Plants were 69 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: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI02648’. Parentage: Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00322, not patented. Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH02885, not patented. Propagation: Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation. Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at temperatures about 26° C. Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at temperatures about 26° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to 160 days at temperatures about 26° C. Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to 180 days at temperatures about 26° C. Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate temperature and age of roots. Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse. Plant description: Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate. Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About 15 cm. Plant height, substrate level to top of inflorescences.—About 55 cm. Plant diameter or spread.—About 42 cm. Leaf description: Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about eight leaves per plant. Length.—About 17 cm. Width.—About 8.5 cm. Aspect.—Semi-erect. Shape.—Elliptic to slightly oblanceolate. Apex.—Unequal obtuse. Base.—Sheathing. Margin.—Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Venation pattern.—Camptodromous. Color.—When opening and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. When opening and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C. Inflorescence description: Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 12 to 13 flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a labellum and three sepals. Fragrance.—None detected. Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 17 weeks after an inductive cooling period; flowers open about five weeks after flower buds develop. Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers maintain good substance for about eleven weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent. Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence apex).—About 25 cm. Inflorescence width.—About 15 cm by 42 cm. Flower buds.—Height: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 154C to 154D. Flower diameter.—About 8.5 cm. Flower depth.—About 2.8 cm. Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a labellum. Lateral petals.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.1 cm. Shape: Flabellate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 3C; radiating stripes, close to 34A; color does not change with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4B; color does not change with subsequent development. Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a central lobe. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape, lateral lobes: Oblanceolate. Shape, central lobe: Trullate. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe: Mucronate with two short, narrow and recurved cirrose tips. Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral petals; about 5 mm in length, about 4 mm in width and about 3 mm in height. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Lateral lobes: Close to 14A and 155D; center, close to 81B. Central lobe: Center, close to 34B; towards the base, close to 14A; towards the apex, close to 81B. Callosities: Close to 14A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Lateral and central lobes: Close to 14B and 155D; towards the apex, close to 81B. Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal: About 4.3 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.3 cm. Length, dorsal sepal: About 4 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 2.4 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape, dorsal sepal: Elliptic. Apex, lateral sepals: Bluntly acute. Apex, dorsal sepal: Obtuse. Base, lateral and dorsal sepals: Acute to obtuse. Margin, lateral and dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, lateral and dorsal sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color, lateral and dorsal sepals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 4B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 1A. Peduncles.—Length: About 59 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm. Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 144A. Pedicels.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 80° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 145A and 2D. Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 1 cm. Column width: About 6 mm. Column color: Close to NN155D. Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 24A. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma width: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Ovary length: About 1.25 cm. Ovary diameter: About 2 mm. Ovary color: Close to 2D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Phalaenopsis. Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phalaenopsis plants. Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 10.