Yellow forest violet (Viola pubescens) with variegated leaves in forest along Mill Prong Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, in mid-May. Vari

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Yellow forest violet (Viola pubescens) with variegated leaves in forest along Mill Prong Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, in mid-May. Variegation of leaves is produced when there is a cell mutation (cytological chimera), and all cells produced from that mutant mother cell lack the pigments, either because plastids are not present or the plastid cannot complete the manufacture of the pigment apparatus. White areas lack chlorophyll and therefore cannot contribute to the manufacture of sugars, so plants with variegated leaves tend to grow more slowly.

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Size: 3634px × 5712px
Photo credit: © Gerry Bishop / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: abnormality, cell, chimera, chlorophyll, cytological, forest, growth, leaves, mill, mutation, national, park, photosynthesis, plant, prong, pubescens, shenandoah, trail, variegated, viola, violet, virginia, wildflower, yellow