Bryophyllum delagoense
Bryophyllum
chandelier plant, tingo tingo
simple, terete, 5–20 dm × 0.5–1 cm.
mostly erect [scandent], branching or often simple proximal to cyme, often bare by anthesis, succulent.
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.
persistent, cauline, sometimes subrosulate, mostly opposite, sometimes in whorls of 3, sessile or petiolate, subclasping basally, (narrowed apically);
blade obovate or triangular to lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, laminar (B. delagoense subcylindric), 2–50 cm, fleshy, base not spurred, margins entire, lobed, or 1–2 times imparipinnate;
veins not conspicuous.
terminal cymes, often paniculate (branches 1–5 times bifurcate with flower in fork).
5–30 mm.
present.
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.
pendulous, 4-merous;
sepals connate basally or into tube (calyx often inflated and accrescent in fruit), all alike;
petals erect, connate into tube, orange, yellow-green marked with lavender, pale yellow flecked with red, orange-red, scarlet, pink, lavender, yellow-green flecked with violet-red, or greenish white with maroon distally, (corolla throat 2–4 times subglobose tube, often constricted against pistils at base, lobes shorter than throat);
calyx and corolla not circumscissile in fruit;
nectaries semicircular to linear;
stamens [mostly] 8;
filaments adnate on corolla tube;
pistils erect, (often connate basally);
ovary base somewhat narrowed, tapering to styles;
styles 2–4 times longer than ovary.
[mostly] erect.
ellipsoid, ribbed, finely cross-ribbed.
mostly dense, corymbiform, 0.5–2 dm diam.;
branches to 3 cm.
= 17.
= 68.
Bryophyllum delagoense
Bryophyllum
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.)
Kalanchoë Adanson sect. Bryophyllum (Salisbury) Boiteau & Mannoni
Species ca. 30 (5 in the flora).
Because of some intermediates, Bryophyllum is often included in Kalanchoë, as by P. Boiteau and L. Allorge-Boiteau (1995). M. Lauzac-Marchal (1974) argued for separation; the case is not clear.
Some species of Bryophyllum are widely naturalized in Australia, southern Africa, and elsewhere. The five species and one hybrid that infest over 10,000 hectares in Queensland are highly toxic to livestock, particularly cattle, with bufadienolides that cause cardiac glycoside poisoning (P. I. Forster 1996; R. A. McKenzie and P. J. Dunster 1986; McKenzie et al. 1987). The widespread B. pinnatum is commonly used to treat rheumatism, ulcers, burns, infections, and inflammations, as well as for old-fashioned magic, and has been the subject of many biological and phytochemical studies Some other species have similar uses and have also been studied (S. S. Costa et al. 1995).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves mostly pinnate (or the 1st simple), blade elliptic-oblong, margins crenate-serrate; calyx 25-50 mm, inflated. | B. pinnatum |
1. Leaves all simple, blade triangular to obovate, lanceolate, or subcylindric, margins crenate, sinuate, serrate, or entire; calyx 6-25 mm, inflated or not | → 2 |
2. Corollas to 2 times length of calyx, contracted basally; calyx lobes shorter than tube; bulbils borne in notches of leaf margins; herbage not mottled | → 3 |
2. Corollas 3-4 times length of calyx, not contracted basally; calyx lobes equaling or longer than tube; bulbils borne on spoon-shaped spur in notch of leaf margins; herbage mottled | → 4 |
3. Leaves evenly spaced, petiole terete, blade obovate, 2-10 cm, lavender-gray; calyx 10-18 mm; corolla 18-25 mm; plants polycarpic. | B. fedtschenkoi |
3. Leaves crowded near base, subrosulate, petiole indefinite, broad, blade lanceolate, 15-50 cm, green or gray-green, sometimes with maroon or dark green blotches; calyx 18-25 mm; corolla 40-50 mm; plants monocarpic. | B. gastonis-bonnieri |
4. Leaves petiolate, opposite, blade triangular to lanceolate, margins serrate and bulbiferous. | B. daigremontianum |
4. Leaves with blades and petioles indistinguishable, mostly in 3s, blade and petiole subcylindric, margins entire except for 3-9 teeth at apex, bulbiferous at apex. | B. delagoense |
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