So I had a new leaf unfurl a week ago on a gloriosum and it's looking a bit funny! The leaf was mechanically damaged that's why it's looking a bit savage, but it's got some weird pigmentation going on both on the leaf and petiole.

I wonder if your Philodendron (Philodendron gloriosum) may have some type of virus?

@Gina1960 is knowledgeable with plants in this family, perhaps she can offer advise.

P. gloriousum is one of those plants that often will produce a leaf with something that looks like a transient variegation. The easiest way to think of it is like a birth mark. It usually goes away or at least is not present in all leaves. True variegation on gloriosum is rare but does happen. I would watch it and see what it looks like when it hardens off. Take another photo then.

This is one that mine did some years ago


It was transient and did not persist past this one leaf

Thanks @Gina1960 & @plantladylin! I was initially worried the plant may be diseased. Interesting how the transient variegation occurred on nearly the same area as yours @Gina1960.

Will update when the leaf hardens off.

This kind of transient discoloration might be a couple of things...it might be a genetic mutation that is trying to make a variegate, but the mutation only goes through a limited and uneven number of cellular layers. It could also be caused by an uneven distribution of nutrients through out the cell layers of the leaf. When some tissue does not get supplied with some nutrients, it can cause these funny patches. Th fact that the petiole has the discoloration as well seems to say that this aberration, whatever it is, occurred in the meristem tissues and was translated up to the leaf blade. I would just watch it and see what it does.

Thank you for the information @Gina1960 , I really do appreciate the knowledge!!

How big are your gloriosums in that picture? They look like perfect green aliens - almost unreal!!

When this photo was taken these were about knee high and the leaves over a foot across and long.