Variegated Frond

Variegation

Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the foliage, flowers, and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants, granting a speckled, striped, or patchy appearance. The colors of the patches themselves vary from a slightly lighter shade of the natural coloration to yellow, to white, or other colors entirely such as red and pink. This is caused by varying levels and types of pigment, such as chlorophyll in leaves. Variegation can be caused by genetic mutations affecting pigment production, or by viral infections such as those resulting from mosaic viruses. Many plants are also naturally variegated, such as Goeppertia insignis. Most of these are herbaceous or climbing plants, and are most often species native to tropical rainforests.

Frond

A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the large leaves of cycads, as well as palms (Arecaceae) and various other flowering plants, such as mimosa or sumac. "Frond" is commonly used to identify a large, compound leaf, but if the term is used botanically to refer to the leaves of ferns and algae it may be applied to smaller and undivided leaves. Whatever the term frond can also refer to structures or organisms of ediacaran lifeforms called Frondomorphs, which may be related to primitive animals.

variegated

Adjective

1. Streaked, spotted, or otherwise marked with a variety of color.
2. Very colorful.

Verb

1. simple past and past participle of variegate

frond

Noun

1. The leaf of a fern, especially a compound leaf.
2. Any fern-like leaf or other object resembling a fern leaf.