A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named &#8216;Sweet Dario&#8217; characterized by dark and glossy leaves, high shoots, most shoots producing inflorescences, shell-shaped inflorescences with large spadix.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Spathiphyllum hybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Spathiphyllum plant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sweet Dario . The new cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Monster, The Netherlands. The female parent is 991274-26 (unpatented). The male parent is 93161- 95 (unpatented). Sweet Dario was discovered and selected by the inventor, Petrus C. M. Olsthoorn, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Monster, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by tissue culture in week 16 of 1997 in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction and reproduce true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Sweet Dario which in combination distinguish this Spathiphyllum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Dark and glossy leaves;

Sweet Dario has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant. The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commerical cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to Sweet Dario is the cultivar Cupido (unpatented). Compared to Cupido , the leaves of Sweet Dario are much darker and glossier. Sweet Dario produces much more shoots than Cupido . About 9 seeds of Cupido are needed to produce the same amount of shoots from a single plant of Sweet Dario . Nearly all shoots of Sweet Dario produce inflorescences whereas only the main shoots of Cupido produce inflorescences. The inflorescences of Sweet Dario are approximately 10 percent bigger than the inflorescences of Cupido . The inflorescence shape of Sweet Dario is shell-shaped whereas the inflorescence shape of Cupido is more oval. The spadix of Sweet Dario is approximately 10-15% larger than the spadix of Cupido . The inflorescence stem of Sweet Dario is also much darker than the inflorescence stem of Cupido . In order to force the shoots of a Spathiphyllum to flower gibberalic acid is added. Cupido needs more than twice the concentration of this hormone than Sweet Dario to get the same result. The main vein of the leaves of Sweet Dario is lighter than the color of the leaves whereas the main vein of the leaves of Cupido is the same color as the leaves. Finally, Cupido is more sensitive to light than Sweet Dario causing the leaves of Cupido to lighten in color faster than those of Sweet Dario .

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar at 30 weeks as grown in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Grown in standard glasshouses in well-drained cocos with pH values in cocos/peat soil (50/50) is 6.0-6.2 and 5.8-6.0 in potting soil. Base fertilizing (PG-mix) is 0.75 kgs in cocos/peat soil as well as in potting soil. This species needs careful fertilizer treatment; mixes of calcium nitrate, iron chelate (EDDHA and DTPA), magnesium sulphate, mono potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, borax, manganese, molybdenum and copper sulphate. Ideal growing conditions under which this plant is grown is 21-23 degrees Celsius during the day and 20 degrees Celsius at night. For flower initiation Sweet Dario gets 60 ppm of gibberalic acid (depending on the pot size, plant development and age of plant). Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

Appearance . Broad upright with leaf petioles growing directly from base.

Time of flowering. 18 weeks after potting of a 20 cm cutting.

Stems . Leaves grow directly from base, so no stems are visible.

Roots . Time to initiate roots: 1-2 weeks under 21-23 degrees Celsius (day) and 20 degrees Celsius at night. Time to develop roots: 3-4 weeks under 21-23 degrees Celsius (day) and 20 degrees Celsius at night. Rooting habit: Freely branching.

Shape . Narrow elliptic to lanceolate.

Apex . Acute to slightly apiculate.

Leaf color. Upper surface: Closest to green RHS 139A. Lower surface: Green RHS 137C.

Petiole sheath . Average 20 cm long and 4 mm wide (measured at halfway point).

Veins . Average 12 pairs of furrowed secondary veins, upper side color yellow-green RHS 144A, under side color green RHS 137B to RHS 137C.

Lastingness of the individual inflorescence . On average over two weeks.

Seed production: No observation to date.

Fruit production: No observation to date.

Disease resistance/susceptibility: No observation to date.