Latin name of the genus and grex of the plant claimed: The Latin name of the genus and grex of the plant claimed is Oncidium Sweet Ears.
Variety denomination: The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Oncidium orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’.
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Oncidium comprises a genus of about 400 species from the tropical and subtropical Americas. Oncidium orchids are primarily epiphytic or lithophytic with a minor portion being terrestrial. All species are sympodial in growth and may vary greatly in other morphology and size.
Oncidium breeding is typically done from sexual methods. Asexual propagation of Oncidium is often done in aseptic tissue culture from apical or axillary shoots.
The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor within the progeny of a cross made by the Inventor on Oct. 3, 1994. The Inventor selected Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ as a single plant from a population of over 120 plants grown by James McCully Orchid Culture Inc. dba The OrchidWorks in Hakalau, Hi., a company owned by the Inventor. Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ was submitted by the Inventor to a commercial tissue culture laboratory, BB Laboratory, Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 12, 1999, for propagation through aseptic tissue culture technique. A quantity was produced for evaluation and has demonstrated that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
Other seedlings from the cross that produced Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ have been commercially available from others. The characteristics of Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ are clearly distinguishable from the characteristics of those other plants. Those other plants were sold by The OrchidWorks without specific epithet to individuals and other nurseries. To the Inventor's knowledge, there are no named clones owned by others. Plants of the grex Oncidium Sweet Ears are sold as plants of the grex without specific epithet.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of new cultivar which in combination distinguish this Oncidium orchid as a new and distinct cultivar:
Flowers of the new cultivar are densely marked with chocolate bars laid over a yellow background on the sepals and petals. The labellum is bright yellow and dotted with 2 millimeter (mm) brown spots. The natural horizontal spread is 3.8 centimeters (cm); natural vertical spread is 5.1 cm; sepal width 0.8 cm; sepal length 1.5 cm; petal width 1.0 cm; petal length 1.7 cm; labellum width 3.8 cm; labellum length 3.6 cm. There are 50 to 100 flowers on a first bloom plant depending on the plant's environment.
Inflorescence is panicle, approximately 60 cm on a first bloom plant and has 5 to 7 side branches as long as 20 cm, some having secondary branching. The branches become shorter nearer the panicle apex. The panicle is self erect and does not require a stake to appropriately display the flowers. The size of the inflorescence is appropriate to the overall size of the plant and typical pot size for this cultivar.
There are generally four leaves on a mature pseudobulb, two from the apex which are larger than those produced at the base of the pseudobulb. The larger, apical leaves have been measured up to 35 cm in length with the opposing leaf being approximately 90 percent of that length. The axillary leaves at the base of the pseudobulb may be as short as to appear to be a bract and as long as 18 cm. This characteristic seems to be variable from growth to growth. The width of the larger leaves is approximately 5.5 cm. The shape is linear-ligate to lanceolate, texture and substance is subcoriaceous. The plants of Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ grow to maturity and flower in approximately 18 months.
Plants of the new cultivar have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without however any change in genotype.
Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the parent cultivars in flower size, panicle size, overall plant size, rate of growth, and speed to maturation. Perhaps the closest commercial comparison to the new cultivar can be made to seedling-derived Oncidium orchids which are genetically heterogeneous, and typically lack uniformity in growth, vigor, plant habit, and flower quality. Since this reference point has inconsistent characteristics, a direct comparison for Oncidium Sweet Ears ‘The OrchidWorks’ is not available. The new cultivar is a single genotype asexually propagated via tissue culture; thus, its combined horticultural characteristics listed above are uniform and predictable.
The drawings show the colors of the new variety as nearly true as possible with an illustration of this type. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant to reveal the growth habit, general characteristics with its flowers, which is typical of this new variety.
FIG. 2 is a close up view of the flowers to show their shape.
FIG. 3 is a view of several micro propagated plants.
All color references are measured against the Pantone® Color System. Colors and numerical measurements are approximate as plant growth and development depends on environmental conditions and cultural practices such as light level, temperature, water quality, fertilization formula and rate, among others, without, however, any variance in genotype.
Plants used for this description are 1 to 2 years in vivo and grown in 3.5 inch, square plastic pots, grown in a poly-carbonate covered greenhouse near Hakalau, Hi., where day temperatures range from 75 to 88 degrees and night temperatures range from 62 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Light levels are between 1500 and 2500 foot candles. This information reflects the annual variations for the area.