Screw you, genetics!

[RobRainford]

Saw this whilst helping to take down a conifer, thought i was rather interesting!

 

An A. platanoides 'Drummondii' which had a branch deciding not to bother with conforming!

[Tommy_B]

Its reversion. Happens to Cultivared trees. Its the tree trying to "return" to its normal state. Prune it out before it takes over. The tree down my local looks like that in negative. The whole thing is green and a tiny bit of the patterned leaf.

[RobRainford]

I had heard of this from college but never seen it, it was hopefully going to get pruned out, i was only there briefly. thought id take a picture.

 

ive seen copper beech trying to revert aswell

[Tommy_B]

Its a good picture. You can see the contrast nicely. Good man.

[Graham]

Not sure if the variegation in 'Drummondii' is caused by a virus. Sometimes the meristem tissue in plants can outgrow the virus....think I remember it right from college but I'll stand to be corrected:001_smile:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

this reversion is common in the variety.

 

variegated foliage is weaker due to less clorophyl so wild sprouts get ahead.

 

I only know one client who managed to beat the shoots into submission and the tree is one of the finest looking cultivars you will ever see, they are hard work, but when mature worth every effort to stop the reversion.

[Bundle 2]

As a matter of interest, Im not sure the copper beech is reverting in the same sense entirely. The leaves that are most heavily shaded tend to display more green. This is due to light levels and not the genetics of dominance whu...Anyone else care to comment?

Tim

[Graham]

Don't they both have the same amount of chlorophyll in their leaves but is less obvious in the copper variety due the presence of carotin?

[nepia]

I had heard of this from college but never seen it, it was hopefully going to get pruned out, i was only there briefly. thought id take a picture.

 

ive seen copper beech trying to revert aswell

 

Keep your eyes peeled from now on; you'd be surprised how common this is in plants of all sizes and types from trees to bedding plants. I've got Holly and Euonymus in the garden that do this all the time. You just need to keep on top of the green bits, i.e. cut them out. I gave up with a variegated privet some years ago as the pure green simply took over the moment my back was turned.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

As a matter of interest, Im not sure the copper beech is reverting in the same sense entirely. The leaves that are most heavily shaded tend to display more green. This is due to light levels and not the genetics of dominance whu...Anyone else care to comment?

Tim

 

Yes, this is the ungrafted wild version, the grafted purples tend to be consistant though.

 

I do love a nice copper and purple beech, a friend of mine thinks they are hideous blots on the landscape and all purple trees should be removed!

 

They are a natural occurance!

 

some people!