PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID PLANT NAMED 'DAY TRIPPER'

Abstract

A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Day Tripper’ particularly characterized by flowers which are purple/violet with white and a purple labellum; 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 ‘Day Tripper’, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0017] The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Day Tripper’ 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 ‘Day Tripper’.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Day Tripper’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Day Tripper’.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Day Tripper’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0021] The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Day Tripper’ 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.

[0022] The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Day Tripper’ 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 ‘Day Tripper’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Day Tripper’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Day Tripper’ 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 ‘Day Tripper’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

[0023] 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 ‘Day Tripper’ plants described is 12 months after potting. [0024] Classification: [0025] Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. [0026] Parentage: [0027] Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tinny Mist’, unpatented. [0028] Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Tinny Honey’, unpatented. [0029] Propagation: [0030] Type.—tissue culture. [0031] Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6 mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate roots. [0032] Plant: [0033] Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest flower): about 60 cm Spread: about 55 cm. [0034] Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a relatively normal raceme. [0035] Vigor.—Moderate. [0036] 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 1-2 racemes with flowers appear. [0037] Foliage: [0038] Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before flowering. [0039] Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two sides. [0040] Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and asymmetric. [0041] Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery. [0042] Pubescence.—None. [0043] Mature leaf length.—About 20 cm. [0044] Mature leaf width.—About 6 cm. [0045] Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm. [0046] Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under side: green (RHS 137C). [0047] Leaf base.—Acute. [0048] Margin.—Entire. [0049] Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side: green (RHS N137A) under side: yellow/green (RHS 146B). [0050] Inflorescence description: [0051] Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. [0052] Raceme: [0053] Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2. [0054] Number of flowers per raceme.—About 8-14. [0055] Length.—About 40 cm. [0056] Diameter.—About 5 mm. [0057] Peduncle: [0058] Length.—About 15 cm. [0059] Diameter.—About 4 mm. [0060] Strength.—Strong. [0061] Aspect.—Upright. [0062] Texture.—Glabrous and smooth. [0063] Color.—Green (RHS 137B). [0064] Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 25 mm Diameter (at midpoint): about 25 mm Shape: oval with a bump Color: Green/white (RHS 157C) with yellow/green (RHS 145B) and some red/purple (RHS 70A) Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing). [0065] 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.), 1-2 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. [0066] Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed. [0067] Fragrance.—No fragrance. [0068] 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 7 cm Diameter: about 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. [0069] Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped Apex: oval with a little notch Margin: entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about 55 mm Width: about 45 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side: Main color is purple/violet (combination of RHS N81A and RHS N81B) with at the base and on the edges white (RHS NN155D). Under side: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N81B) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). At the base and on the edges 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 23 mm Width midlobe (not flattened): about 20 mm Length lateral lobe: about 18 mm Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about 15 mm Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum: about 15 mm Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Mid lobe, upper side: Main color is purple (RHS N79A) with a purple/violet haze (RHS N80A). At the base and at the upper edges some yellow (RHS 12A). Under side: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N80A). In the center, from top till bottom, white (RHS NN155D). In the corners some purple (RHS N79B). Lateral lobes, upper side: Main color is purple/Violet (RHS N82A) with purple (RHS N79A) at the lower edge. At the base some white (RHS NN155D with yellow (RHS 10A) and purple stripes (RHS N79A). Under side: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N82A) with some purple (RHS 76C). The upper edge at the base is white (RHS NN155B). Under edge is purple (RHS N79B). Cirrhi: about 15 mm color: purple (RHS 79A) with at the tip white (RHS NN155D) Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm Width (not flattened): about 7 mm Color: main color is yellow (RHS 11A) with purple spots/stripes (RHS 79B). [0070] 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 45 mm Width: about 30 mm Apex: oval; lateral sepal a little pointy and dorsal has a little notch Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: purple/violet (RHS N81B) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A) and white (RHS NN155D).Lateral: Purple/ violet (RHS N81A with RHS N81B). At the base and the edges white (RHS NN155D) with yellow/green (RHS 145C). At the base some purple/violet spots (RHS N82A). Under side, dorsal: Main color is white (RHS NN155D) with a yellow/green haze (RHS 145D). At the upper edges some purple/violet (RHS N81D) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). Lateral: Main color is purple/violet (RHS N81D) with purple/violet veins (RHS N81A). At the base some yellow/green (RHS 145C) and some white (RHS NN155B). [0071] Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture: glabrous and smooth Color: starting at the flower yellow/green (RHS 145D) which runs into yellow/green (RHS 145A) with a red/purple haze (RHS 70A). [0072] Reproductive organs: [0073] 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. [0074] Column.—Length: about 10 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color: purple/violet (RHS N81A). [0075] Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 2 mm Color: orange (RHS 26A). [0076] Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm Diameter: about 5 mm Color: white (RHS NN155D). [0077] Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or susceptibility observed. [0078] Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C. and to a high temperature about 30° C.