Dumbcane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dumbcane |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dieffenbachia
|
| Species: |
seguine
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Dieffenbachia maculata |
|
Dumbcane, also called Dieffenbachia seguine, is a cool plant from the warm, tropical parts of the Americas. You can find it growing naturally from southern Mexico, through Central America, all the way to northern South America and Brazil. It also grows on many Caribbean islands, like Puerto Rico.
What is Dumbcane?
Dumbcane is a type of plant that lives for many years. It can grow from 3 feet (0.91 m) to 10 feet (3.0 m) tall. It also spreads out, becoming about 2 feet (0.61 m) to 3 feet (0.91 m) wide.
This plant has big, green leaves. Often, these leaves have cool white patterns on them. It also grows pretty white flowers.
Important safety tip: The sap inside the dumbcane plant is poisonous. If you get it on your skin, it can cause a rash. If someone eats it, it can make their mouth and throat swell up. This swelling can make it hard to talk, which is why it's called "dumbcane." So, it's super important to never eat any part of this plant and to wash your hands if you touch its sap.
Growing Dumbcane
People love to grow Dieffenbachia seguine because it's a beautiful ornamental plant. You can see it in gardens that have a lot of shade. It's also a very popular houseplant for homes and offices.
There are many different types of dumbcane plants. Each type, called a cultivar, has its own unique patterns on its leaves. This makes them fun to collect and display!
Images for kids
-
The flowers of a Dieffenbachia plant.
-
A close-up view of the plant's stem.
-
This Dieffenbachia houseplant is 47 years old and almost 10 feet tall!
-
A large dumbcane plant with bright green leaves.
-
A new shoot growing from a dumbcane plant.
-
Another view of the plant's stem.
See also
In Spanish: Dieffenbachia para niños
