Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDETAM’

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDETAM’, particularly characterized by white flowers with purple flecks and white lip with yellow and purple shade, 1 to 2 peduncles, a long and sturdy inflorescence, a narrow obovate leaf shape, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species:Phalaenopsishybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsisplant, botanically known asPhalaenopsisof the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDETAM’.

Phalaenopsiscomprises 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.Phalaenopsisis 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.

Phalaenopsisorchids, 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.

Phalaenopsisproduces 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, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsisorchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation ofPhalaenopsisis 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 newPhalaenopsis‘PHALDETAM’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique white flowers with purple spots, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDETAM’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The newPhalaenopsis‘PHALDETAM’ originated from a cross made in August 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a white with purple flecksPhalaenopsispot plant name ‘01-1758’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a whitePhalaenopsispot plant named ‘06285-01’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in October 2008 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 ‘PHALDETAM’ by meristem tissue culture was first performed in October 2011 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 Jan. 15, 2013. ‘PHALDETAM’ 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) White flower with purple flecks and white lip with yellow and purple shade;2) 1 to 2 peduncles;3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;4) The shape of the leaf is narrow obovate; and5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALDETAM’. 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 tissue culture 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 March 2013. Color readings were taken under 4000 till 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

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-1758’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has white whiskers of the lip and a white and yellow apical lobe of the lip, whereas ‘01-1758’ has light purple whiskers of the lip and a yellow and red apical lobe of the lip. Additionally, ‘PHALDETAM’ has open/free petals, whereas ‘01-1758’ has petals that are almost touching to touching.

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from male parent plant ‘06285-01’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has a dark purple callus, shorter lip whiskers and a flecked flower, whereas ‘06285-01’ has a yellow-orange dotted callus, longer lip whiskers and an even flower. Additionally, ‘PHALDETAM’ has a smaller flower than ‘06285-01’.

‘PHALDETAM’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALDAMWIL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,444) in that ‘PHALDETAM’ has evenly colored whiskers and apical lobe of the lip, and an even petal margin, whereas ‘PHALDAMWIL’ has dotted whiskers and apical lobe of the lip, and an undulated petal margin.