PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID PLANT NAMED 'SWEET DAY'

Abstract

A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Sweet Day’ particularly characterized by flowers which are light purple with some white; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Sweet Day’, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0020] The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Sweet Day’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with 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 color of ‘Sweet Day’.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sweet Day’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Sweet Day’.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Sweet Day’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0024] The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Sweet Day’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

[0025] The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Sweet Day’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Sweet Day’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Sweet Day’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Sweet Day’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Sweet Day’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

[0026] Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Sweet Day’ plants described is 12 months after potting. [0027] Classification: [0028] Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. [0029] Parentage: [0030] Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sogo Davis’, unpatented. [0031] Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘amabilis’, unpatented. [0032] Propagation: [0033] Type.—Tissue culture. [0034] Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-7 mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate roots. [0035] Plant: [0036] Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest flower): about 60 cm Spread: about 50 cm. [0037] Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a relatively normal raceme. [0038] Vigor.—Moderate. [0039] Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks 2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. [0040] Foliage: [0041] Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before flowering. [0042] Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two sides. [0043] Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and asymmetric. [0044] Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery. [0045] Pubescence.—None. [0046] Mature leaf length.—about 15 cm. [0047] Mature leaf width.—About 7 cm. [0048] Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm. [0049] Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under side: green (RHS 137A). [0050] Leaf base.—Acute. [0051] Margin.—Entire. [0052] Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side: green (RHS 139A) under side: green (RHS 139A). [0053] Inflorescence description: [0054] Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. [0055] Raceme: [0056] Quantity per plant.—About 2. [0057] Number of flowers per raceme.—About 15. [0058] Length.—About 28 cm. [0059] Diameter.—About 4 mm. [0060] Peduncle: [0061] Length.—About 25 cm. [0062] Diameter.—About 4 mm. [0063] Strength.—Strong. [0064] Aspect.—Upright. [0065] Texture.—Glabrous and smooth. [0066] Color.—Green (RHS 137A). [0067] Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 20 mm Diameter (at midpoint): about 18 mm Shape: oval with a bump Color: red/purple (RHS 71A) with yellow/green (RHS 146C and RHS 146D) Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing). [0068] Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent. [0069] Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed. [0070] Fragrance.—No fragrance. [0071] Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height: about 70 mm Diameter: about 80-90 mm Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. [0072] Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped with a small cut at the top Apex: round Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about 50 mm Width: about 40 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side: purple (RHS 75A and RHS 75C) with white (RHS NN155D). Under side: purple (RHS 75B and RHS 75C) with white (RHS NN155D) Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly undulate Apex of the midlobe and lateral lobes: oval Length midlobe: about 20 mm Width midlobe (not flattened): about 20 mm Length lateral lobe: about 18 mm Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about 18 mm Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum about 18 mm Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Midlobe, upper side: the base is red/purple (RHS 59A and 71A) which runs into white (RHS NN155D) with a purple haze (RHS 75B). In the corners some yellow (RHS 12A). Under side: main color is white (RHS NN155C). Edges are red/purple (RHS 71A) with a haze of yellow/green (RHS 145C) Lateral lobes, upper side: white (RHS NN155D) with a the base red/purple stripess (RHS 59A). The lower edges are yellow (RHS 12A) with red/purple (RHS 59A) and a red/purple haze (RHS70B) Under side: white (RHS NN155D) and the lower edges yellow (RHS 12A) with red/purple (RHS 59A) and a red/purple haze (RHS 70B). Cirrhi: about 20 mm color: white (RHS NN155D) with a purple haze (RHS 75B). Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 5 mm Width (not flattened): about 5 mm Color: yellow (RHS 12A) with red/purple stripes/spots (RHS 59A) in the middle some white (RHS 155B). [0073] Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length: about 40 mm Width: about 30 mm Apex: oval Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: purple (RHS 75A) with some purple (RHS 75C) with darker purple/violet veins (RHS N80B). The base, top and edges white (RHS NN155D). Lateral: purple (RHS 75Cadn RHS 75A) with at the base white (RHS NN155D) with red/purple stripes/spots (RHS 70A and RHS 70B). Under side, dorsal: purple (RHS 75A and RHS 75B) with a white haze (RHS NN155D). Lateral: purple (RHS 75A and RHS 75B) with a white haze (RHS NN155D). [0074] Pedicel.—Length: about 4 cm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture: glabrous and smooth Color: yellow/green (RHS 146B) with purple (RHS 70A) and a haze of white (RHS NN155D). [0075] Reproductive organs: [0076] 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 a 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. The plant has not produced seed. [0077] Column.—Length: about 7 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color: the base is white (RHS NN155D) then purple (RHS 75A and RHS 75B). [0078] Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 2 mm Color: yellow/orange (RHS 23A). [0079] Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color: white (RHS NN155D). [0080] Disease/pest resistance/ susceptibility: No specific resistance or susceptibility observed. [0081] Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C. and to a high temperature about 30° C.