Question
Hi Wayne King,

Could you please explain to me the terms "Mutation & variegated" in orchid world?

Thanks in advace,
Nwe Lay

Answer
A mutation is a modification of one or more genes responsible for one or more characteristics of the plant. When it occurs, it initially affects the germinal tissue such as the pollen or ovaries and only rarely results in viable embryos.  Another way of putting it is that most mutations are lethal. These mutations may be the result of environmental factors such as naturally occuring radiation or naturally occuring chemicals called mutagens. An embryo may have mutations that adversely affect it during its development. That embryo's development cannot proceed beyond a certain stage because tissues cannot develop normally for any of many reasons.  Sometimes a naturally occuring mutation may result in an unusual plant characteriistic and, rarely, in orchids, that characteristic is viable and seen as desirable. These rarities rssult, in nature, in varieties of a species.

Some orchid growers attempt to artifically mutate a plant to procuce a cultivar (ie cultivated variety).  This is done using a chemical mutagen such as colchicine.  When a desirable cultivar appears (very rarely) it is cloned, resulting in thousands of exact copies.  These exact copies are assigned a name which is attached to the cross name.  This cultivar name is placed in single quotes (eg BLC Malworth 'Orchidglade') to distinguish it from other hybrids of the same name.

The term "variegated" refers to leaves that have patterns, usually of a color different from the usual color. The most often encountered example of variegated leaves are with a group of orchids referred to collectively as "Jewel Orchids".  These are almost always terrestrial orchids and can be temperate or tropical.  They rarely are grown for their flowers which are small and usually white in color.  In general, they are delicate orchids that grow in moist areas or areas of high humidity and low light.