What is a Variegated Leaf?
A variegated leaf is one that features at least one other color besides green. Yellow, cream and white are the most common colors found on variegated leaves, but many others are possible. The additional color may be focused around the leaf’s edge or appear in veins, spots, stripes or patches on the leaf. In most cases, the areas of color are irregular or uneven in shape. Variegated leaves indicate an absence of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are dominant pigments that take in light and reflect it back as green. Plants that feature varying shades of green leaves have different amounts of chlorophyll in each leaf area. Plants that have colors other than green on their leaves don’t have any chlorophyll in those areas — the usually dominant chlorophyll pigment is being dominated by another pigment. Studies show that a variegated leaf is more likely to be weaker in its tissue than a green one and is more susceptible to problems such as insect infestation. Yet, variegated plan
Total absence of plastid pigments causes a sector of a leaf or stem to have white patches. This condition is termed variegation (Metrosideros) A green leaf which is blotched, edged, or spotted with multiple colors. The colors are, however, commonly yellow, white, or cream color. These zones of tissue lacking green chlorophyll are usually in an irregular pattern. here are example of plants with variegated leaf. a bromeliad and Begonia, an aroid, Sanchezia, striped inch plant, and milk thistle.
