Final answer:
A variegated plant is an example of a chimera, where the plant contains genetically distinct cell types that create patterns of different colors on the leaves.
Step-by-step explanation:
A variegated plant is an example of a chimera. This biological term refers to an organism that contains two or more genetically distinct types of cells. In the context of plants, variegation often occurs when there are two different types of tissue, with one type containing green, chlorophyll-producing cells, and the other type lacking chlorophyll, usually resulting in white or yellow regions. These different sections arise due to genetic mutations that take place in some of the plant's cells after the plant has developed from a single fertilized egg.
Variegated plants are not an example of apomixis, which involves asexual reproduction without fertilization. Nor are they considered clones, because clones would imply that they are genetically identical copies of another organism. Finally, variegated plants are typically not hybrids, as hybrids result from the mating between two different species or varieties.
Variegation and the formation of a chimera can be a desirable trait in horticulture and gardening. For instance, through techniques like grafting, desirable traits can be combined from different plants to establish novel characteristics such as a variegated foliage pattern.