Interseting Hans, Please update it's Progress as I'm Interested in seeing if it Continues 1 into the next Generation and what affect it has on the Flowers
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Hans-Werner, that is fascinating and very lovely.

I'm curious: do you know what might cause variegation on only one "side" (for lack of a better word) of the leaves? I've heard of this sort of thing with Iris germanica blooms, but have never received a satisfactory explanation as to its cause.

At any rate, what a great discovery. If that were my plant, I would be feeding it like never before, trying to push new growth to see what happened to the variegation. :) There sorts of things really try a gardener's patience...but are worth the wait, I think.

What is the probable ploidy of this seedling? I'm curious about what you might cross it with. Do you have H. 'Santos'? This one has beautifully variegated leaves, although they are not as striking as the leaves on your seedling--the variegation on Santos is dark green/light green. But what might crossing your seedling with a variegated hybrid do for the offspring? (I believe Santos is diploid. At least I hope it's diploid, and not triploid. I attempted to cross it with various 4ploid hybrids last year, and got nothing. So this year, if it gets over sulking after repotting, I will try it with 'Emerald' and the like.)

Sorry for so many questions; it's just such an interesting phenomenon. Thank you for posting on it.

Amanda

Hello Amanda:

Do not worry about your many questions - instead I thank YOU for your interest.

So at first I like to confirm that the plant is cared the very best way for, sitting in an "own" 13cm (2l) TEKU-Tainer under Osram L-Fluora tubes (200 W / m2; 16 h/day ) and guess, I even know rather accurately its actual water consumption at 22-24°C that is 45 mL / day.

As regards to inheriting this fine ornamental property to generative progeny I am not at all optimistic.
I assume that this feature is somewhat more "superficial" - not at all embedded into the generative cell line initials (sorry for unadeqate terminology) I would just feel big satisfaction if I could finallly "bring" this variegation on the leaves of both lines.

My speculation is that bulblets from the variegated side will emerge variegated leaves only. That alone is good motivation to do the very best for the plant. Fortunately and as can be seen from the line of seedlings laying on the floor this exceptional seedling is one of the best growing of the grex from this H.aulicum x "Giraffe" cross.
And furthermore both parents are well known offset producers

The ploidity of this seedlings should be 2n; this is common for species and rather the primordial hybrids.

2n cultivars cross with other 2n cultivars (selfing being mostly impossible).
2n cultivars can SOMETIMES accept pollen of 4ploid hybrids.
One which accepts promiscuitely all pollen regardless to coming from 2n or 4n cultivars - that is the above mentioned mother plant H.aulicum v.robustum.
To the reciprocal attempt, I NEVER experienced any 4n cultivar to accept pollen from 2n, while these often big blooming hybrids are easily crossed among one another and selfed, too.

If you believe this beautifull straight white ligamented gracile H."Santos" with its dark variegated leaves to be 2n - what would you presume in the case of the similar "Baby Star" ?! - (It is a 4n from the gracilis subgroup)
But please do not give up trying "impossible" crossings. It is only a question of time and of the number (of attempts)

Hans-Werner

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Baby Star; click on the th_ images

Today I like to update this theme

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Incredibly but true: The bulb has meanwhile formed a first offset.
But - alas - the first two leaves of this bulblet are... green - oh no - solely green

Hi Hans-Werner, It continues to be impressive!!! Were the offsets produced on the side of the mother bulb that is producing all green leaves?? It looks like from the pic that one side of the bulb is all green leaves whereas the other side has the variegated leaves. Once you get an offset from the variegated side then you will know whether it can be vegetatively propagated or if you will have to stabilize it with a cross I would think. As you may know the only variegated Amorphophallus konjac in existence started with just a smidge of white on the leaf from one side of the tuber. Daughter tubers from that side of the plant ended up being variegated, but those from the all green side were not so I think this is probably pretty typical for bulbous plants, although perhaps this is not the case...a variegated plant nut could help on this!! Please keep updating us :o) Dan

Yes I find this variation of the striped character very impressive, too.
Now please have a closer look on the enlarged version of the center image. You can see the little green pin, below, on the left side?!
This skew orientation is exactly that from the variegation itself, not that from the whole leaf bunch of the left side/line.
I have to wait for a further offset in the latter orientation. Or perhaps for several - and this is simply thrilling.

But I am thankfull that this young plant exhibits offset formation in this early stage (1 y old) and I am confident that I shall have definite info - provided by further bulblets -within 2006.

Hans-Werner