Variegated Wild Plants
I've been finding a few variegated plants this summer, and I've decided to use this journal as a way of tracking what species I find, and the observations.
Variegation is the appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants.
From some research, they all appear to be chimeric mutations. Plants that are chimeras contain tissues with more than one genotype. A variegated chimera contains some tissues that produce chlorophyll and others that do not. Because the variegation is due to the presence of two kinds of plant tissue, propagating the plant must be by a vegetative method of propagation that preserves both types of tissue.
Let me know if you find/have found any variegated plants in your adventures!
References:
Marcotrigiano, Michael. “Chimeras and variegation: Patterns of deceit.” HortScience, vol. 32, no. 5, 1997, pp. 773–784, https://doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.32.5.773.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variegation
https://propg.ifas.ufl.edu/03-genetic-selection/04-genetic-chimera.html
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)Observer
micholokoDescription
Seems to be a variegated mutation in C.canadensis
Photos / Sounds
What
Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)Observer
micholokoDescription
At Ethan Allen Homestead
Possibly a variegated I. capensis
Photos / Sounds
What
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)Observer
micholokoDescription
Wild variegated mutation
Comments
I have found variegated plant leaves near areas where they spray herbicide. Bedell Bridge State Park, Haverhill, NH, has pumpkins in the fields on either side of the road leading to the park. There was a mass of variegated leaves in the spring along the road. Right now the variegation is happening along the east edge of the river near the park. It usually hits the edges of the leaves, similar to your Jewelweed photo. They spray herbicide in the spring before planting and again in the fall to kill the pumpkin leaves before going in to harvest.
@hollyyoung Interesting! Thanks for your input! I wonder if it is causing variegation similar to a mosaic virus, or damaging cells in a pattern, or if it is causing the plant to mutate somehow?
Do you happen to have an observation showing what you saw by the river?
That could have potentially happened with the Jewelweed, as it was growing on the edge of a field, although it was the only variegated individual. The other two observations were not sprayed with herbicide to my knowledge.
I'm sorry, I don't have any photos. Now I think I need to read how herbicide disrupts growth. I do know if sprayed on a windy day it can travel quite a distance.
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