Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFLEDJO’

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFLEDJO’, particularly characterized by having light purple, spotted and edged flowers with the spots becoming larger toward the center depending on the temperature, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and sturdy, 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 ‘PHALFLEDJO’.

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 and unique light purple, spotted and edged flowers, suitable for potted plant production.

The newPhalaenopsisplant ‘PHALFLEDJO’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in June 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent,Phalaenopsishybrid ‘unknown’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent,Phalaenopsishybrid ‘unknown’ (unpatented). At the time of the crossing the parent plants were known. However, due to a migration of information systems, the original crossing data cannot be determined with certainty. Therefore, the parents are considered to be unknown and no comparison with the female or male parents can be made.

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 June 2009. Asexual reproduction of the newPhalaenopsisplant by meristem tissue culture since 2012 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 Sep. 13, 2016. ‘PHALFLEDJO’ 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 and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFLEDJO’ as a new and distinct variety ofPhalaenopsisplant.1) Light purple, spotted and edged flowers with the spots becoming larger toward the center, depending on the temperature;2) 1 to 3 peduncles;3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFLEDJO’. 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 May 2017 on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter (diameter) 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.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female and male parent plants of ‘PHALFLEDJO’ are unknown, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFLEDJO’ is most similar to the commercialPhalaenopsisplants named ‘PHALFOYX’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,103) and ‘PHALCUJOX’ (unpatented). ‘PHALFLEDJO’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFOYX’ in that ‘PHALFLEDJO’ has light purple flowers and apical lobes with a small yellow (RHS 8A) region at the base and red-purple wings, whereas ‘PHALFOYX’ has white flowers and white apical lobes with yellow (RHS 5C/D) at the base and diluting spots. Additionally, ‘PHALFLEDJO’ has wider apical lobes than ‘PHALFOYX’.

‘PHALFLEDJO’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALCUJOX’ in that ‘PHALFLEDJO’ has oblong leaves, light purple flowers, and apical lobes with a small yellow region at the base, red-purple wings and purple toward the whiskers, whereas ‘PHALCUJOX’ has narrow obovate leaves, white flowers, and white and yellow, striped apical lobes. Additionally, ‘PHALFLEDJO’ has larger flowers than ‘PHALCUJOX’.