PHALAENOPSIS PLANT NAMED 'MI02815'

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02815’, characterized by its upright plant habit; relatively compact, semi-erect to arching leaves; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit with typically about two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; light purple-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Description

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI02815’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI02815’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new fast-growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and flowers with unique and attractive patterns and coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in January 2017 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00575, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH02792, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in September 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium since October 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MI02815’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MI02815’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

• • 1. Upright plant habit.
  • 2. Relatively compact, semi-erect to arching leaves.
  • 3. Strong flowering stems.
  • 4. Freely flowering habit with typically about two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.
  • 5. Light purple-colored flowers.
  • 6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have shorter leaves than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more freely flowering than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more freely flowering than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis last about five weeks longer than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI01930’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 35,097. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘MI01930’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Leaves of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are broader than leaves of plants of ‘MI01930’.
  • 2. Lateral petals of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are longer than lateral petals of plants of ‘MI01930’.
  • 3. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are light purple in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘MI01930’ are soft pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

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.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI02815’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘MI02815’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

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/m² to 375 Watt/m². Plants were 70 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 59 weeks old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI02815’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00575, not patented.
    • Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH02792, 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 moderate growth rate.
    • Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About 18 cm.
    • Plant height, substrate level to top of inflorescences.—About 48 cm.
    • Plant diameter or spread.—About 33 cm.
• Leaf description:
  • • Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about six leaves per plant; leaves are relatively compact.
    • Length.—About 20 cm.
    • Width.—About 9.5 cm.
    • Aspect.—Semi-erect to arching.
    • Shape.—Elliptic.
    • 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 144A; venation, close to 144A.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about nine 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.—Slightly fragrant; pleasant, floral.
    • Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 16 weeks after an inductive cooling period; flowers open about four weeks after flower buds develop.
    • Flower longevity.—Long flowering period and excellent postproduction longevity, individual flowers maintain good substance for about 19 weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent.
    • Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence apex).—About 26 cm.
    • Inflorescence width.—Axially, about 23 cm and radially, about 28 cm.
    • Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Proximally, close to 165A; distally, close to 152B.
    • Flower diameter.—About 9.2 cm.
    • Flower depth.—About 5.5 cm.
    • Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a labellum.
    • Lateral petals.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 4.6 cm. Shape: Obovate to flabellate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D variably overlain with close to 78D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D variably overlain with close to 77D; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a central lobe. Central lobe length: About 2.4 cm. Central lobe width: About 2.1 cm. Shape, lateral lobes: Obovate; apices, obtuse; and margins, entire. Shape, central lobe: Deltoid; apices, acute with long and narrow recurved cirrhose tips; margins, 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 4 mm in length, about 4 mm in width and about 6 mm in height. Color, central lobe: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 6A; towards the base, close to 60A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D towards the base, close to 60A. Color, lateral lobes: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 6B; towards the base, close to 60A with stripes, close to 60C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 6B; towards the base, close to 60A. Color, callosities: Close to 12B with fine dots, close to 60C.
    • Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal: About 4.5 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.5 cm. Length, dorsal sepal: About 4.5 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 2.6 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate, slightly asymmetric. Shape, dorsal sepal: Elliptical. 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, upper surface: Close to 155D variably overlain with close to 78D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 78D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D variably overlain with close to 77D; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 78B; venation, similar to lamina color; color does not change with subsequent development.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 53 cm. Diameter, proximally: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 138A; sparse and random dots, close to 200C.
    • Pedicels.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Aspect: About 85° from peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 145C variably overlain with close to 49D; distally, close to 155D.
    • Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 1.1 cm. Column width: About 7 mm. Column color: Close to 155D with a spot, close to 76C. Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 3 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 24A. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 5 mm. Stigma width: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary length: About 1.6 cm. Ovary diameter: About 3 mm. Ovary color: Close to 75D. 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 to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and higher.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02815’ as herein illustrated and described.