Bryophyllum pinnatum

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from Kalanchoe pinnata)
Jump to: navigation, search
Bryophyllum pinnatum
Kalanchoe veg.jpg
Vegetative reproduction in the "Air Plant", Bryophyllum pinnatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
(unranked):
(unranked):
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
B. pinnatum
Binomial name
Bryophyllum pinnatum
Synonyms[1]
<templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Bryophyllum calycinum Salisb.
  • Bryophyllum germinans Blanco
  • Cotyledon calycina Roth
  • Cotyledon calyculata Sol. ex Sims
  • Cotyledon calyculata Solander
  • Cotyledon pinnata Lam.
  • Cotyledon rhizophylla Roxb.
  • Crassula pinnata (Lam.) L.f.
  • Crassuvia floripendia Comm. ex Lam.
  • Crassuvia floripenula Comm.
  • Kalanchoe brevicalyx (Raym.-Hamet & H. Perrier) Boiteau
  • Kalanchoe calcicola (H. Perrier) Boiteau
  • Kalanchoe floripendula Steud.
  • Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers.
  • Sedum madagascariense Clus.
  • Vereia pinnata (Lam.) Spreng.

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Bryophyllum pinnatum illustrated in Flora de Filipinas by Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.)

Bryophyllum pinnatum, also known as the air plant, cathedral bells, life plant, miracle leaf, and Goethe plant is a succulent plant native to Madagascar, which is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas. It is distinctive for the profusion of miniature plantlets that form on the margins of its phylloclades, a trait it has in common with some other members of its genus.

Description

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The "leaves" of this species are actually leaf-stem combinations called phylloclades.[2]

Distribution and introduction

Bryophyllum pinnatum has become naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas, including parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Macaronesia, Mascarenes, Galapagos Islands, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Hawaii.[3] In many of these, such as Hawaii, it is regarded as an invasive species.[4] It is also widely distributed in the Philippines and it is known as katakataka or kataka-taka which is also an adjective meaning astonishing or remarkable.[5][6][7]

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").

Taxonomy and nomenclature

Subspecies and hybrids

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Common names

Vernacular names for Bryophyllum pinnatum include Cathedral Bells, Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf, Goethe Plant and the Katakataka. The first two of these are also commonly names for plants of other species and genera. In West Bengal,state of India it is called Patharkuchi (পাথরকুচি) in Bengali It is also called "Leaf of Life" and "Wonder of the World" in the English speaking Caribbean. In maharashtra state of india it is called "Panfuti" (one which grows from leaves).

File:Red PierrotDSC 0302.JPG
Red Pierrot butterfly is resting in the edge of the Patharkuchi (পাথরকুচি) leaf

Toxicity and traditional medicine

In common with other Crassulaceae (such as the genera Tylecodon, Cotyledon and Adromischus), Bryophyllum pinnatum has been found to contain bufadienolide cardiac glycosides[8] These can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals.[9][10]

Bryophyllum pinnatum has been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago as being used as a traditional treatment for hypertension.[11]

Chemical constituents

Bufadienolide compounds isolated from Bryophyllum pinnatum include bryophillin A which showed strong anti-tumor promoting activity in vitro, and bersaldegenin-3-acetate and bryophillin C which were less active.[12] Bryophillin C also showed insecticidal properties.[13]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Kalanchoe pinnata at Wikispecies
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.