Kalanchoe pinnata
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| Kalanchoe pinnata | ||||||||||||||||
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 Vegetative reproduction in the "Air Plant", Kalanchoe pinnata
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. |
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Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken , Bryophyllum calycinum |
Kalanchoe pinnata (syn. Bryophyllum calycinum, Bryophyllum pinnatum, also known as the Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf and the Goethe Plant) is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. It is distinctive for the profusion of miniature plantlets that form on the margins of its leaves, a trait it has in common with the other members of the Bryophyllum section of the Kalanchoe genus.
It is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in temperate regions of Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean.
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[edit] Description
[edit] Distribution and introduction
Kalanchoe pinnata has become naturalized in temperate regions of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Macaronesia, Mascarenes, Galapagos, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Hawaii.[1] In many of these, such as Hawaii, it is regarded as an invasive species.[2]
Much of the reason for the widespread naturalization of this plant can be traced to its popularity as a garden plant. The writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - who also was an amateur naturalist of some repute - was "passionately fond" of this plant and liked to give the baby plantlets as gifts to friends who visited his home. He also discussed his air plant at length in an essay titled Geschichte meiner botanischen Studien ("History of my botanical studies").
[edit] Taxonomy and nomenclature
[edit] Subspecies and hybrids
[edit] Common names
Vernacular names for Kalanchoe pinnata include Cathedral Bells, Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf and the Goethe Plant. The first two of these are also commonly names for plants of other species and genera. Also called "Wonder of the World" in the English speaking Caribbean.
[edit] Ecology
[edit] Agricultural impacts and control
[edit] Uses
[edit] Toxicity and traditional medicine
In common with other Crassulaceae (such as the genera Tylecodon, Cotyledon and Adromischus), Kalanchoe pinnata has been found to contain bufadienolide cardiac glycosides[3] These can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals.[4][5]
In traditional medicine, Kalanchoe species have been used to treat ailments such as infections, rheumatism and inflammation. Kalanchoe extracts also have immunosuppressive effects. Kalanchoe pinnata has been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago as being used as a traditional treatment for hypertension and for the treatment of kidney stones in India where is goes by the name of Pather Chat or Paan-futti[6]
Bufadienolide compounds isolated from Kalanchoe pinnata include bryophillin A which showed strong anti-tumor promoting activity, and bersaldegenin-3-acetate and bryophillin C which were less active.[7] Bryophillin C also showed insecticidal properties.[8]
[edit] Other uses
[edit] References
- ^ Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers.. USDA GRIN Taxonomy for Plants. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ Kalanchoe pinnata. Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants. Retrieved on 2007-10-01.
- ^ Steyn, Pieter S (1998). Bufadienolides of plant and animal origin. Natural Product Reports. Royal Society of Chemistry. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ McKenzie, RA (July 1986). [PMID 3778371 Hearts and flowers: Bryophyllum poisoning of cattle.]. Aust Vet J.. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ McKenzie, RA (October 1987). [PMID 3439945 The toxicity to cattle and bufadienolide content of six Bryophyllum species.]. Aust Vet J.. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ Lans, CA (2006-10-13). [PMID 17040567 Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus.]. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed.. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ Supratman, U; Fujita T, Akiyama K, Hayashi H, Murakami A, Sakai H, Koshimizu K, Ohigashi H (April 2001). [PMID 11388478 Anti-tumor promoting activity of bufadienolides from Kalanchoe pinnata and K. daigremontiana x tubiflora.]. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ Supratman, U; Fujita T, Akiyama K, Hayashi H (June 2000). [PMID 10923811 New insecticidal bufadienolide, bryophyllin C, from Kalanchoe pinnata.]. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
