A variegated Stachytarpeta jamaicensis

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In a remote village in the province of Quezon, I chanced upon the common weed Stachytarpeta jamaicensis, but with variegated leaves- it certainly stood out amongst ferns and another rapacious weed, Sphagneticola trilobata.  Stachytarpeta is a weed that originally came from tropical America but has now firmly established in many warmer parts of the world. If there is a disturbed area, there must be a Stachytarpeta somewhere. Weed as it may be, this plant is of value to butterfly watchers as the flowers are very attractive to, well, butterflies.

Young leaves look more or less normal, but in reality, the variegation is almost the same color as the rest of the leaves then intensify to white as they age- or at least that is what I have observed. Rabid collectors of variegated plants may find this specimen very interesting; I will show you the location if the price is right 😜



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