| Kalanchoe delagoensis | |
|---|---|
| Flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Crassulaceae |
| Genus: | Kalanchoe |
| Section: | Bryophyllum |
| Species: | K. delagoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & Zeyh. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Bryophyllum delagoense |
|
Kalanchoe delagoensis is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. In common with the other members of the Bryophyllum section of the genus Kalanchoe, K. delagoensis is notable for vegetatively growing small plantlets on the fringes of its leaves, leading to its common names of mother of thousands and mother of millions. Chandelier plant is an alternative common name.
The plant's capability for vegetative reproduction, its resistance to drought, and its popularity as a garden plant, have allowed the plant to become an invasive weed in places such as eastern Australia and many Pacific islands. In the Neotropics it even gets pollinated by hummingbirds on occasion[1].
As well as displacing native plants, K. delagoensis is also unwelcome because it contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides[2] which can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals[3]. During 1997, 125 head of cattle died after eating mother-of-millions on a travelling stock reserve near Moree, NSW. [4]