Variegated

Variegated is an adjective used to describe organisms whose tissues show two or more distinct colors. In plants, variegation most often refers to patches, stripes, or sectors of leaf tissue that differ in chlorophyll content, producing white, cream, yellow, or pale-green markings alongside normal green tissue. Variegation can occur in flowers, stems, and other organs but is most noticeable in foliage.

Causes and forms: Variegation can be genetic, arising from somatic mutations in chloroplast-containing cells, or from periclinal or mericlinal chimeras in which different cell layers carry different pigment patterns. It can also result from viral infection, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental stress, though the latter two typically create transient or less stable patterns. The arrangement of pigment cells yields patterns classified as sectorial (one region lacks pigment), mericlinal (partial layer affected), or periclinal (an entire tissue layer affected).

In horticulture, variegated plants are valued for ornamental color, but they often have reduced photosynthetic capacity and slower growth. Propagation is usually vegetative to preserve the variegation; seeds may yield green offspring. Light exposure and temperature can influence color intensity; intense light often enhances white or yellow markings but can increase leaf scorch in delicate varieties.

Common examples include variegated Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Philodendron varieties, Croton species, Coleus, and various ornamental hostas and kalanchoes. The pattern and stability of variegation vary by species and cultivar, with some patterns remaining consistent across generations and others reverting to solid green under certain conditions or with age.