Variegated leaf facts for kids
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Example --> Money plant.
Contents
Uses
A variegated leaf is useful in conducting experiments to show that chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis to happen. They are also popular in horticulture.
Experiments
The easiest of these experiments is to stain the places where starch is produced (starch is a more compact form of glucose).
Place the leaves in boiling water for six minutes to soften the cells, and then in ethanol (alcohol). When the leaves are drained of colour, spread them out on a flat surface. Soak the leaves in iodine and the green parts will turn blue/black and the non green parts will stay the yellowish brown colour of iodine liquid. The green parts contain starch, which makes iodine turn blue/black. The blue/black stain is what shows starch is present. You could take "before & after" photos to prove the black areas were green at the start.
Images for kids
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Variegated leaves of a Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar plant.
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Variegation of fruits and wood in Ficus carica 'Panascè', a bicolor (yellow-green) common fig cultivar. This Italian cultivar is a chimera.
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Variegation in holly leaves
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Leaves of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) have a typical v-shaped variegation.
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Variegated foliage used in an English garden. Plants shown include Aralia elata 'Aureovariegata' and Carex ornithopoda 'Variegata'
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The rare rainforest plant, Cryptocarya williwilliana, showing leaf venation and variegated leaves
See also
In Spanish: Variegación para niños
