Collection: Clivia,variegated forms

Clivia breeders have over the years named various forms of variegation in clivia. Readily identified types are:

• Fukurin with white or yellow bands on both margins of leaves
• Shima-fu with its vertical white or yellow and green lines on the leaves
• Akebono with white or yellow bands transversely across the middle areas of strap like leaves
• Light of Buddha is similar to Akebono but with less pure bands and broader and shorter foliage
• Mandarin duck with about 50% of the leaves white of yellow and the balance green
• Tiger with lines reminiscent of brindled stripes of a tiger

New forms of variegation are appearing where there is a combination of different types of variegation in the foliage:

• Shima-fu and Akebono
• Shima-fu and Light of Buddha andits reverse
• Shima-fu and Tiger
• A combination of 3 or 4 of the above types

Variegation can be a result of chloroplast mutation or nuclear trait. Chloroplast mutation is the most common form and is readily recognizable by its lack of uniformity across all foliage. This type of variegation is maternally inherited. From past experience only about 10% of seed from a variegated plant producers high quality variegated seedlings with the balance ranging from average variegation, poor variegation, no variegation (green) to albino (no chloroplasts in the plant cells). Uniformity of variegation, on the other hand, can be past on from both the maternal and paternal parents. From past experience, Fukuran and Manadarin Duck variegation, albeit uniform, is not nuclear variegation.

Variegated plants produce variegated and non variegated seedlings as well as albino seedlings. Albino seedlings typically die once all the nutrients are exhausted from the seed. Berry colour is important in determining whether or not the seedlings will be variegated. Green berries produce non variegated seedlings; white berries produce albino seedlings; cream green produce Liight of Buddha and variegated produce variegated, non variegated and albino seedlings depending upon where the variegation in the berry is positioned over the seeds. Variegated seed typically only produces about 30% variegation in seedlings and of that only about 10 to 12% would be considered excellent variegation. Hence plants that exhibit excellent variegation command high prices.