Dieffenbachia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dieffenbachia |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Dieffenbachia oerstedii at Chicago Botanic Garden | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Subfamily: | Aroideae |
| Tribe: | Dieffenbachieae |
| Genus: | Dieffenbachia Schott |
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Dieffenbachia, often called dumb cane or leopard lily, is a popular genus of flowering plants. They belong to the arum family, which is called Araceae. These plants naturally grow in tropical parts of the Americas. They can be found from Mexico and the West Indies down south to Argentina. Because they look pretty, many species are grown across the world as favorite indoor houseplants.
A botanist named Heinrich Wilhelm Schott gave this plant its name. He named it to honor his head gardener, Joseph Dieffenbach.
Contents
What Does the Dumb Cane Plant Look Like?
Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant. This means it can live for many years and has soft green stems. The plant grows straight up with large, beautiful leaves. These leaves have patterns with cream, yellow, or white spots. Because it does not mind dim corners, it is a very common choice for homes.
Like other plants in its family, it produces a special kind of flower spike. Different types, such as Dieffenbachia seguine and Dieffenbachia oerstedii, show off slightly different leaf designs.
How Does Dieffenbachia Live in Nature?
In the wild tropical rain forest, this plant plays a big role in the ecosystem. In Costa Rica, scientists at the La Selva Biological Station studied how frogs use it. They discovered that the strawberry poison frog, known as Oophaga pumilio, loves this plant. The mother frog carries her tadpoles and places them inside the moist leaf spaces. Almost 89% of these frogs chose Dieffenbachia pools for their young.
However, wild animals also like to eat these plants. A pig-like mammal called the collared peccary, or Dicotyles tajacu, munches on them. When many peccaries live in an area, the number of plants drops quickly.
How to Grow Dieffenbachia Indoors
Dieffenbachia is fairly simple to care for inside a house. In temperate regions with cold winters, people must keep it indoors.
- The plant prefers warm room temperatures between 62 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- It enjoys bright light that is filtered through a window curtain.
- Direct, burning sunlight can scorch its colorful leaves.
- The soil should stay lightly damp, meaning it needs water once or twice each week.
- Well-draining dirt keeps the roots healthy.
If lower leaves turn yellow, the plant may need plant food. Two famous varieties called 'Camille' and 'Tropic Snow' have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Why Is Dieffenbachia Called Dumb Cane?
The common name dumb cane comes from how the plant protects itself. Inside its plant cells, it makes tiny, needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals. These microscopic needles are called raphides.
If an animal or person chews a leaf, these needles poke the mouth. This can cause stinging pain, redness, and swelling. The swelling inside the mouth can make it difficult for someone to speak. That temporary loss of speech inspired the funny nickname dumb cane.
Stories claiming that touching the leaf causes fatal harm are simply an urban legend. Even so, it is wise to keep pets and small children from chewing on it. Washing your hands after handling broken stems keeps your skin safe.
Images for kids
-
A 47 year old 9.75 foot tall Dieffenbachia house plant
-
A large dieffenbachia with big bright green leaves on display as a houseplant
-
Dieffenbachia shoot
-
Dieffenbachia crossview
See also
In Spanish: Dieffenbachia para niños
