Kalanchoe daigremontiana
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| Kalanchoe daigremontiana | ||||||||||||||||
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 Young plants on leaf
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier |
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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 vivipary.
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[edit] Classification
Plants of the genus Kalanchoe able to propagate viviparously are often included in section Bryophyllum, therefore Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet & Perrier is synonymously called Bryophyllum daigremontianum (Hamet & Perrier) Berger.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Hybrid mixup
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There seems to be a mixup between K. daigremontiana (KD) and K. daigremontiana × delagoensis (KDD). Plants which are most often called KD are in reality KDD[1]. The real KD has its leaves opposite and more spread out over the stem, while in KDD they are clustered. Also the V-shape form of the leaf broadens to a triangle (when seen from above) at the stalk and is peltate for KD[2], while it tapers smoothly into the stalk for KDD[3]. Currently all pictures at wikipedia seem to be of KDD while labeled as KD.
[edit] Gallery
 Kalanchoe daigremontiana potted |
 Kalanchoe daigremontiana county distribution in Florida. |
 Flowering Kalanchoe daigremontiana in Florida Everglades. |
There seems to be some confusion about this plant, I have several mature specimens growing in my garden on the Costa Tropical in Spain but I have only just discovered their name last year all my plants were of the KD type with leaves growing opposite each other and just a large crown of pink bell like flowers, most of these leaves have now fallen away and are being replaced by clusters of leaves containing pink bell like flowers growing all the way up the stem so now I have two in one plants a phot is available if anyone is interested
[edit] References
- ^ Weeds Australia - Weed Identification - Hybrid mother of millions
- ^ see for example: [1] and [2]
- ^ see for example: Image:Kalanchoe daigremontiana.jpg
[edit] 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
[edit] External links
