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Dieffenbachia

 
Dieffenbachia

 
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Dieffenbachia
 
 
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Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical plant
Plant

Plants are Life organisms belonging to the Kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae....
s in the Family Araceae
Araceae

Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood....
 noted for their patterned leaves
Leaves

Leaves are an Iceland five-piece alternative rock band who formed in 2001. They came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves....
. Members of this genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 are popular as houseplant
Houseplant

A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as House and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes and health reasons such as indoor air purification....
s because of their tolerance to shade. The name commemorates Ernst Dieffenbach
Ernst Dieffenbach

Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach was a Germany physician, geologist and natural history, the first trained scientist to live and work in New Zealand, where he travelled widely under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, returning in 1841–42 and publishing in English his Travels in New Zealand in 1843....
, a German physician.

ieffenbachia plants can grow outdoors in tropical climates, but specimens kept as houseplants must be kept indoors during most of the year outside the tropics.






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Encyclopedia


Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical plant
Plant

Plants are Life organisms belonging to the Kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae....
s in the Family Araceae
Araceae

Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood....
 noted for their patterned leaves
Leaves

Leaves are an Iceland five-piece alternative rock band who formed in 2001. They came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves....
. Members of this genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 are popular as houseplant
Houseplant

A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as House and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes and health reasons such as indoor air purification....
s because of their tolerance to shade. The name commemorates Ernst Dieffenbach
Ernst Dieffenbach

Johann Karl Ernst Dieffenbach was a Germany physician, geologist and natural history, the first trained scientist to live and work in New Zealand, where he travelled widely under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, returning in 1841–42 and publishing in English his Travels in New Zealand in 1843....
, a German physician.

Favorable conditions for houseplants

Dieffenbachia plants can grow outdoors in tropical climates, but specimens kept as houseplants must be kept indoors during most of the year outside the tropics. Temperatures below about 5°C (40°F) can kill the plant. The plant needs light but filtered sunlight through a window is usually sufficient. When the plant is brought home from the nursery, it will likely need repotting. The plant needs moderately moist soil. The soil should be fertilized with either regular liquid fertilizing or fertilizer pellets or spikes. Leaves will periodically roll up and fall off to make way for new leaves. Yellowing of the leaves is generally a sign of problematic conditions, such as a nutrient deficiency in the soil.They also respond well to hot and dry temperatures.

Selected species

  • Dieffenbachia amoena
    Dieffenbachia amoena

    Dieffenbachia amoena is a monocotyledon which is commonly cultivated as a houseplant, for its decorative leaves. It is a very popular and hardy shade-loving plant....
  • Dieffenbachia maculata
  • Dieffenbachia seguine
    Dieffenbachia seguine

    Dieffenbachia seguine is a species of Dieffenbachia often kept as an ornamental plant. This plant is native to the Americas from Mexico to Brazil and several Caribbean islands....


Toxicity

The cell
Cell (biology)

The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known Life organisms. It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is often called the building bricks of life....
s of the Dieffenbachia plant contain needle-shaped calcium oxalate
Calcium oxalate

Calcium oxalate is a chemical compound that forms needle-shaped crystals. Its chemical formula is CaC2O4 or Ca2....
 crystal
Crystal

A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions....
s called raphides. If a leaf is chewed, these crystals can cause a temporary burning sensation and erythema
Erythema

Erythema is redness of the skin caused by capillary congestion....
. In rare cases, edema
Edema

File:Oedema.jpgEdema or Oedema , formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin, or in one or more cavities of the body....
 of tissues exposed to the plant have been reported. Mastication and ingestion generally result in only mild symptoms. temporary citation: Journal Of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology [J Toxicol Clin Toxicol] 1991; Vol. 29 (4), pp. 485-91. Symptoms from chewing any part of the plant may include temporary numbness of the tongue and vocal cords. This is where its common name, Dumb Cane, comes from. A large ingestion of plant matter will produce diarrhea and vomiting. Rare cases, more commonly among children, difficulty breathing will occur, and, even more uncommon, suffocation, due to the swelling of the tongue and mouth.

Dieffenbachia can be lethal to pets.