An article titled “Why Does the Same Plant Look Different?” was published in “Kórniczanin”, issue no. 10/2026 of 29 May 2026, on pages 14–15. The article was prepared as part of the series “News from the Kórnik Gardens”.
The authors, João Paulo Rodrigues Martins and Maciej Rajek from the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, explain the phenomenon of phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability of plants to change their appearance and functioning in response to environmental conditions. The article describes, among other things, why the leaves of the same plant may differ in size, colour, shape, or the presence of cuts and holes. The authors discuss examples of Monstera, Epipremnum, bromeliads, Japanese maple, and houseplants which, after being brought indoors, adapt to new light, humidity, and temperature conditions.
