Below is the same plant that is available in nursery but in a very different form --- ground-creeping version with arrowhead shaped leaves. Once it starts climbing up tree trunk, it transforms into a very different form ---- the leaves become larger and split. As it adapts very well to the natural environment here, it is now a common climber in the wild.
Another two common gigantic climbers here that exhibit such changes in their leaves from juvenile to mature stage are Epipremnum aureum and Epipremnum pinnatum. A good review of this transformation can be found in the Exotic Rainforest website.
The young plants with non-variegated leaves:
Reference:
Chong KY, Ang PT, Tan HTW. Identity and spread of an exotic Syngonium species in Singapore. Nature in Singapore 2010;3:1-5. | Read article |