Well that leaf's certainly marching to a different drummer! Quick goog didn't show any ("variegated parlor palm.") I'm curious too!

Wow! Pretty. Almost like a person with a birthmark in their hair and that one spot in their hair is white.
Super neat on the plant!

That's what is called a chimera (kye MEER a), a genetic anomaly...a type of mutation. Chimeras occur quite frequently in plants and sometimes result in very interesting (and horticulturally important) physical characteristics.

rhizo_1,
Thanks for the interesting tid bit, it makes sense that plants can undergo genetic anomalies but I didn't know there was an exact term for it. I guess that would explain my all white hoya leaves as well!

Planto

Hoyas sometimes develop all white leaves from one new branch (bud). That's a sport...yet another type of mutation.

If a hoya leaf is part green and part white, you have a chimera.

rhizo_1,
So that's what a sport is called (I've seen it mentioned a few times on the Hosta forum but never bothered to look it up). With that said, I do have what appears to be a sport and a chimera on my Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen' (the leaf in the yellow circle is half green and half white).

Planto

Darn thing didn't post my photo!

Planto

I've got some variegation on one of my Carpentaria palms and I'm waiting to see whether it will continue as the plant grows. These can also be caused by (non lethal) viruses.

Plantomaniac, That is a lovely variegation on your parlour palm. Like with most Neanthe bellas bought from stores, your pot seems to be full of many different seedlings. It might be worth checking to see which one this leaf is springing from, and if the variegation continues, perhaps you could gently separate it and grow it on on its own. In that case, when you move it enclose it in a plastic bag until you're sure it has 'taken' to its new home.

marguerite,
I love your idea! Unfortunately after looking at my parlour palm though, the variegated frond connects to two (one being newer) fronds that are all green. I guess I could wait and see if variegation occurs again down the road, but I'm not sure that it will.

Planto

Planto, your palm variegation is interesting. Wouldn't it be nice if your entire plant changed color?

Do you rotate your palm? Reason I'm asking, I was wondering if the variegated side got more or less sun.???

Here I thought Chimera was a plant related to AV..Thanks for the explaination, Rhizo.

Now I'll have to inspect all my plants to see if there's one w/variegation or a green and white leaf. Toni

Toni,
To be honest, the palm is a new addition (I just purchased it last week). The main reason I picked it up was because of the variegation. At first, I thought it had received too much sun and it was some kind of sun scorch!

Planto

Hello,

I am a big collector of variegated palms. Would you consider selling the Bella? I have been searching for a variegated Bella for years and would love to get it for my collection.

I have plenty of palms to trade as well if that is what you would prefer.

Jerod
SurfCityPalms

I just bought a variegated neanthe bella palm at home depot