Patent Publication Number: US-PP25398-P3

Title: Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Circus’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:  Phalaenopsis  hybrid. 
     Variety denomination: ‘Circus’. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant, botanically known as  Phalaenopsis  of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Circus’. 
       Phalaenopsis  comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse.  Phalaenopsis  is 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 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey. 
       Phalaenopsis  orchids, 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. 
       Phalaenopsis  produces 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 petal, 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. 
       Phalaenopsis  orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of  Phalaenopsis  is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate. 
     The new  Phalaenopsis  ‘Circus’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new  Phalaenopsis  cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market. 
     The new  Phalaenopsis  ‘Circus’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the  Phalaenopsis  cultivar designated ‘Leopard Prince’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the  Phalaenopsis  cultivar designated ‘Chih Shang Stripes’, unpatented. The new  Phalaenopsis  ‘Circus’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. 
     Asexual reproduction of the new  Phalaenopsis  cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, 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. The new cultivar reproduces true to type. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Circus’, which in combination distinguish this  Phalaenopsis  as a new and distinct cultivar:
         1. flowers which are white with purple spots/stripes;   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.       

     In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Circus’, the female parent ‘Leopard Prince’ has dark pink striped flowers and the male parent ‘Chih Shang Stripes’ has dark red striped flowers, whereas the flowers of ‘Circus’ are purple striped flowers. 
     Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘Circus’ can be meaningfully compared. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS 
       The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new  Phalaenopsis  ‘Circus’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with 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 color of ‘Circus’. 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Circus’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age. 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Circus’. 
         FIG. 3  shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Circus’. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
     The new  Phalaenopsis  cultivar ‘Circus’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant. 
     The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Circus’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Circus’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Circus’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Circus’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Circus’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months. 
     Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Circus’ plants described is 12 months after potting.
     Classification:
             Botanical.—Phalaenopsis  hybrid.       
       Parentage:
             Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis  cultivar designated ‘Leopard Prince’, unpatented.     Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis  cultivar designated ‘Chih Shang Stripes’, unpatented.       
       Propagation:
             Type.— Tissue culture.     Rooting habit and description.— Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6 mm wide and green in color (RHS 191B); freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to initiate roots.       
       Plant:
             Size at maturity.— Height: about 60 cm. Spread: about 50 cm.     Growth habit.— Standard; dark-green leaves and a relatively normal raceme.     Vigor.— Moderate.     Crop time.— Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks 2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.       
       Foliage:
             Quantity per plant.— About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before flowering.     Arrangement and attachment.— Half up/horizontal and on two sides.     Overall shape of leaf.— Oval, the tip is blunt and asymmetric.     Texture  ( upper  &amp;  underside ).—Smooth and leathery.     Pubescence.— 3 to 4 pairs of leaves.     Mature leaf length.— About 10 to 20 cm.     Mature leaf width.— About 5 to 9 cm.     Mature leaf thickness.— About 2 mm.     Mature leaf color.— Upper side: green (RHS N137B). Under side: green (RHS 138A) with grey/purple (RHS N187A).     Leaf base.— Acute.     Margin.— Entire.     Venation.— Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side: green (RHS N137B). under side: grey/purple (RHS N187A) and green (138A).       
       Raceme:
             Quantity per plant.— About 1 to 2.     Number of flowers per raceme.— About 15.     Length.— About 70 cm.     Diameter.— About 4 mm.     Strength.— Strong.     Aspect.— Upright.     Texture.— Glabrous and smooth.     Color.— Combination of brown (RHS N200A) and green (RHS 143C).     Internode.— Length: about 25 mm to 30 mm.       
       Inflorescence description:
             Appearance .—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.     Buds .—Height (from base to tip): about 22 mm. Diameter (at midpoint): about 20 mm. Shape: egg-shaped/oval with a bump. Color: yellow/green (RHS 145A).     Flowering time .—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.     Flowering longevity .—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.     Fragrance .—No fragrance.     Flower .—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see  FIG. 2 . Size: Height: about 60 mm to 75 mm. Diameter: about 75 mm to 90 mm. Depth of tube: about 9 mm.     Petals .—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement: Inner whorl of petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: round. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 50 mm. Width: about 35 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper side: white (RHS NN155D) with purple stripes and spots (RHS N78A). Under side: white (RHS NN155D), at the base a green haze (RHD 144D) and purple veins (RHS N79B and a little RHS N78A). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Apex: lateral lobes: oval. Midlobe: round corners. Length: about 50 mm. Width (not flattened): about 35 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Midlobe: upper surface: the vein and the edges are purple (RHS N79A) at the center a white mark (RHS NN155C). At the base at the center and on the edges some yellow (RHS 14A), further all red/purple (RHS 71A). Under surface: the edges, some marks and a stripe in the center are purple (RHS 71A). The center is white (RHS NN155 B) and on the edges also some yellow (RHS 15A). Lateral lobes: upper surface: purple (RHS N79B and RHS N71A), the lower edges are yellow (RHS 13B) and the upper edges white (RHS NN155D). At the base also some yellow (RHS 13B) and white (RHS NN155D). Under surface: white (RHS N155A), lower edges yellow (RHS 13B). at the base some purple stripes and spots (RHS N78A) and a purple mark (RHS 71A). Chirri: long and curly (about 10 to 15 mm); color: purple (RHS 79A) and white tips (RHS NN155D). Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 6 mm. Width (not flattened): about 7 mm. Color: yellow/orange (RHS 15C), white grey/purple spots (RHS 185A).     Sepals .—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length: about 40 mm. Width: about 26 mm. Apex: dorsal: oval; lateral: slightly pointed. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper surface: white (RHS NN155D) with purple stripes/spots (RHS N78A). The lateral sepals have more spots at the base, which makes the color RHS N79B) Under surface: white (RHS NN155C) and some green (RHS 144B and RHS 144C) with purple spots/stripes (RHS N78A and RHS N79B).       
       Reproductive organs:
             Arrangement .—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single, short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.     Column .—Length: about 6 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color: purple (RHS N78A) with a white tip (RHS NN155D).     Pollinia .—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color: orange (RHS 25A).     Ovary .—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color: white (RHS NN155B) and purple (RHS N78A).     Pedicel .—Length: about 25 mm to 30 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: yellow/green (RHS 151A) and closer to the flower grey/orange (RHS N170C).       
       Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or susceptibility observed.   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C. and to a high temperature about 30° C.