Kalanchoe delagoensis, formerly known as Bryophyllum delagoense[1] and commonly called mother of millions or chandelier plant,[3] is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. Like other members of Bryophyllum (now included in Kalanchoe[2]), it is able to propagate vegetatively from plantlets that develop on its leaf margins.
| Kalanchoe delagoensis | |
|---|---|
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| It is able to propagate vegetatively from plantlets that develop on its leaf margins. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Genus: | Kalanchoe |
| Species: | K. delagoensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Kalanchoe delagoensis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
editIt is a robust, completely bare, biennial or more or less perennial, succulent plant that reaches heights of between 0.2 and 2 meters. The upright stems are simple and round. The three-seated, seemingly opposite or alternate leaves are usually upright to straight when spread out. They are slightly cylindrical, a little rutty on the top and reach a length of 1 to 13 centimeters with a diameter of 2 to 6 millimeters. The leaf blade narrowed at the base is reddish-green to gray-green with reddish brown spots. At the tip of the leaf margin there are two to nine small teeth on which there are numerous brood buds.
Inflorescences
editThe compact, multi-flowered inflorescences form thyrses 10 to 25 centimeters long. The slender flower stalk is between 6 and 20 millimeters long. The hermaphrodite flowers are hanging. The reddish to green and red-striped petals are fused together like a bell. The 2.5 to 6 millimeter long corolla tube ends in sharply pointed, triangular-lanceolate corolla lobes 5 to 10 millimeters long and 3.7 to 5.7 millimeters wide. The stamens are attached below the center of the corolla tube and do not protrude beyond the tube. The 2 to 2.5 millimeters large anthers are egg-shaped. The nectar flakes, 0.7 to 2 centimeters long are half-round to square with a rounded tip. The oval-elongated carpel is 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters long. The stylus has a length of about 2 millimeters.
The upright follicles contain seeds with a diameter of 0.6 to 2.5 millimeters.
Invasive species
editThis species' capability for vegetative reproduction, its drought tolerance, and its popularity as a garden plant, relate to this species' becoming an invasive weed in places such as eastern Australia, South Africa[4] and many Pacific islands. In the Neotropics hummingbirds sometimes pollinate this non-native plant.[5]
Kalanchoe delagoensis is unwelcome because it displaces native plants and contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides[6] which can cause fatal poisoning, particularly in grazing animals like cattle.[7] During 1997, 125 head of cattle died after eating this species on a travelling stock reserve near Moree, NSW.[8]
In the Australian states of New South Wales[9] and Queensland,[10] this species and its hybrids have been declared a noxious weed.
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ a b Rafter, M.A.; Gillions, R.M.; Walter, G.H. (2008). "Generalist herbivores in weed biological control—A natural experiment with a reportedly polyphagous thrips". Biological Control. 44 (2). Elsevier BV: 188–195. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.09.011. ISSN 1049-9644.
- ^ a b "Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & Zeyh". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
- ^ "Kalanchoe delagoensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
- ^ "Invasive Species South Africa, Chandelier plant".
- ^ For example sapphire-spangled emerald (Amazilia lactea) in Brazil (Baza Mendonça & dos Anjos 2005)
- ^ Bryotoxins A, B and C: McKenzie et al. (1987), Steyn & van Heerden (1998)
- ^ McKenzie & Dunster (1986), McKenzie et al. (1987)
- ^ les tanner. "North West Weeds". Northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
- ^ "The New South Wales Government WeedWise Resource".
- ^ "The Queensland Government Resource on invasive plants".
References
edit- Baza Mendonça, Luciana & dos Anjos, Luiz (2005): Beija-flores (Aves, Trochilidae) e seus recursos florais em uma área urbana do Sul do Brasil [Hummingbirds (Aves, Trochilidae) and their flowers in an urban area of southern Brazil]. [Portuguese with English abstract] Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 22(1): 51–59. doi:10.1590/S0101-81752005000100007 PDF fulltext
- McKenzie, R.A. & Dunster, P.J. (1986): Hearts and flowers: Bryophyllum poisoning of cattle. Australian Veterinary Journal 63(7): 222-227. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb03000.x PMID 3778371 (HTML abstract)
- McKenzie, R.A.; Franke, F.P. & Dunster, P.J. (1987): The toxicity to cattle and bufadienolide content of six Bryophyllum species. Australian Veterinary Journal 64(10): 298-301. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1987.tb07330.x PMID 3439945 (HTML abstract)
- Steyn, Pieter S & van Heerden, Fanie R. (1998): Bufadienolides of plant and animal origin. Nat. Prod. Rep. 15(4): 397-413. doi:10.1039/a815397y PDF fulltext