Bryophyllum delagoense
Bryophyllum daigremontianum
chandelier plant, tingo tingo
devil's backbone, maternity plant
simple, terete, 5–20 dm × 0.5–1 cm.
mostly simple, terete, 5–25 dm × 0.5–2 cm.
mostly in 3s, opposite or whorled, evenly spaced, simple;
petiole and blade indistinguishable, reddish green to gray-green with reddish brown spots, narrowly oblong, subcylindric, grooved adaxially, 3–15 cm × 3–6 mm, margins entire except for 3–9 conic teeth at apex, apex blunt, surfaces not glaucous;
bulbils borne between teeth, spurs spoon-shaped.
opposite, evenly spaced, simple, largest subpeltate;
petiole subterete, 1–5 cm;
blade purple-blotched abaxially, triangular to lanceolate, 5–25 × 3–12 cm, margins serrate, apex acute, surfaces glaucous;
bulbils borne in notches of leaf margins, spurs spoon-shaped.
5–30 mm.
5–15 mm.
calyx pale green, not inflated, 8–16 mm, tube 3–6 mm, lobes triangular, 5–10 mm, longer than tube, apex acuminate;
corolla orange to scarlet, 25–40 mm, not contracted basally, lobes obovate, 6–12 mm, apex rounded or apiculate.
calyx green or purplish, not inflated, 6–10 mm, tube 3–4 mm, lobes triangular, 3–7 mm, equaling or longer than tube, apex acute;
corolla pink or lavender, 20–30 mm, not contracted basally, lobes obovate, 6–12 mm, apex rounded, apiculate.
mostly dense, corymbiform, 0.5–2 dm diam.;
branches to 3 cm.
lax, paniculate, 1.5–3 dm diam.;
branches to 15 cm.
= 68.
= 38.
Bryophyllum delagoense
Bryophyllum daigremontianum
The names Bryophyllum tubiflorum and Kalanchoë tubiflora are widely used in horticultural as well as botanical works, with K. delagoensis usually listed in synonymy as a nomen nudum. H. R. Toelken (1985) wrote that the three-word original diagnosis of K. delagoensis was enough to distinguish it from other species treated. R. W. Long and O. Lakela (1971) misidentified it as K. grandiflora A. Richards.
The subcylindric part of the leaf seems to be the petiole, bearing a greatly reduced blade with one to four pairs of teeth (P. Boiteau and L. Allorge-Boiteau 1995).
This prolific species is an aggressive weed, well established in southern Florida and coastal southern Texas. In Australia, where it is called “mother of millions,” it is a serious pest because it is highly poisonous to cattle (P. I. Forster 1996).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Bryophyllum daigremontianum is well established and an aggressive weed in southern Florida and in coastal southern Texas. M. G. Groner (1975) found that exudates of its roots can inhibit the growth of nearby plants, as can extracts of its shoots. The entire plant contains bufadienolides and is toxic to cattle (R. A. McKenzie et al. 1987).
The hybrid Bryophyllum daigremontianum × B. delagoense is much like B. daigremontianum but with narrower leaves; some specimens identified as B. daigremontianum may possibly be the hybrid. The hybrid is widely naturalized in Queensland.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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