Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Young plants on leaf
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Kalanchoe
Section:	Bryophyllum
Species:	K. daigremontiana
Binomial name
Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier
Synonyms
Bryophyllum daigremontianum Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier

Kalanchoe daigremontiana syn. Bryophyllum daigremontianum also called Devil's Backbone, Alligator Plant, Mexican Hat Plant or Mother of Thousands is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. This plant is distinguished by its ability to propagate via vegetative propagation. All parts of the plant are poisonous, which can even be fatal if ingested by infants or small pets.

Classification

Plants of the genus Kalanchoe able to propagate vegetatively are often included in section Bryophyllum, therefore Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet & Perrier is synonymously called Bryophyllum daigremontianum (Hamet & Perrier) Berger.

Morphology

Plants reach up to 1 m (3 feet) tall with opposite, fleshy oblong-lanceolate "leaves" that reach 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long and about 3.2 cm (1.25 inches) wide. These are medium green above and blotched with purple underneath. The margins of these leaf-like organs have spoon-shaped bulbiliferous spurs that bear young plants. The plantlets form roots while on the plant. The "leaves" are actually short, determinate, leaf-like branches that can be termed phylloclades or cladodes.

Adult plants can also develop lateral root structures on its main stalk, as high up as 10-15 cm from the ground. The plant has several nodes with two or three leaves on each node. The upper leaves of the plant tend to develop into disproportionately large structures, causing the main stalk to bend downwards and the lateral roots to take up root of their own, anchoring into the soil and eventually developing new primary stalks which establish themselves as independent plants.

Furthermore, Kalanchoe daigremontiana can go through a flowering season, where the main stalk elongates vertically upwards by as much as 30 cm, within a couple of days, developing an umbrella-like terminal inflorescence (a compound cyme) of small bell-shaped pink flowers. Flowering is, however, not an annual event and will occur sporadically if at all.

Physiology

Plants of the genus Kalanchoe as well as many other plants growing in arid regions photosynthesize through Crassulacean acid metabolism.

K. daigremontiana is toxic, it contains a cardiac glycoside - daigremontianin.

Distribution

K. daigremontiana is native to the Fiherenana valley and Androhibolava mountains in southwest Madagascar. It has been introduced to Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii where it has gained a foothold.

Gallery

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  Kalanchoe daigremontiana potted

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  Kalanchoe daigremontiana county distribution in Florida.

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  Flowering Kalanchoe daigremontiana in Florida Everglades.

References

Literature

• Everitt, J.H.; Lonard, R.L., Little, C.R. (2007). Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press.  ISBN 0-89672-614-2

External links

• photos of inflorescences
• United States Department of Agriculture
• plantoftheweek.com
• Poisonous houseplants