Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALGALDAN’

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGALDAN’, particularly characterized by having small white flowers with a white lip, 1 to 3 peduncles that are medium long, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species:Phalaenopsishybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsisplant, botanically known asPhalaenopsishybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALGALDAN’.

The newPhalaenopsisplant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a newPhalaenopsisplant with numerous attractive small white flowers with a white lip, suitable for potted plant production.

The newPhalaenopsisplant ‘PHALGALDAN’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in September 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent,Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-8917’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent,Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-8918’ (unpatented).

The newPhalaenopsiswas selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in September 2011. Asexual reproduction of the newPhalaenopsisplant by meristem tissue culture since 2014 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 24, 2017. ‘PHALGALDAN’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing dale 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 and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALGALDAN’ as a new and distinct variety ofPhalaenopsisplant.1) Small white flowers with a white lip;2) 1 to 3 peduncles;3) Peduncle is medium long; and4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALGALDAN’. Plants of the newPhalaenopsishave not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in February 2018 on flowering plants which were planted in 6 centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were directly transplanted to 6 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 32 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 6 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50-weeks in a 6 centimeter pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female parent plant of ‘PHALGALDAN’, cultivar ‘01-8917’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

The male parent plant of ‘PHALGALDAN’, cultivar ‘01-8918’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALGALDAN’ is most similar to the commercialPhalaenopsisplants named ‘PHALDUXI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,680) and ‘PHALDUEL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,256). ‘PHALGALDAN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDUXI’ in that ‘PHALGALDAN’ has a white apical lobe, peduncles that are a mix of brown and green, and a rounded petal apex, whereas ‘PHALDUXI’ has a white apical lobe with yellow shade, green peduncles, and a mucronate petal apex. Additionally, ‘PHALGALDAN’ has shorter whiskers, longer leaves, and smaller flowers than ‘PHALDUXI’.

‘PHALGALDAN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDUEL’ in that ‘PHALGALDAN’ has a white apical lobe and peduncles that are a mix of brown and green, whereas ‘PHALDUEL’ has a white apical lobe with yellow-green toward the callus and peduncles that are green and slightly greyed purple. Additionally, ‘PHALGALDAN’ has shorter whiskers, longer leaves, and smaller flowers than ‘PHALDUEL’.