Kalanchoe pinnata

Taxobox
name = "Kalanchoe pinnata"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Vegetative reproduction in the "Air Plant", "Kalanchoe pinnata"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Saxifragales
familia = Crassulaceae
genus = "Kalanchoe"
sectio = "Bryophyllum"
species = "K. pinnata"
binomial = "Kalanchoe pinnata"
binomial_authority = (Lam.) Pers.
synonyms = "Bryophyllum pinnatum" (Lam.) Oken , "Bryophyllum calycinum"

"Kalanchoe pinnata" (syn. "Bryophyllum calycinum", "Bryophyllum pinnatum", also known as the Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf and the Goethe Plant) is a succulent plant native to Madagascar. It is distinctive for the profusion of miniature plantlets that form on the margins of its leaves, a trait it has in common with the other members of the "Bryophyllum" section of the "Kalanchoe" genus.

It is a popular houseplant and has become naturalized in temperate regions of Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean.

Description

Distribution and introduction

"Kalanchoe pinnata" has become naturalized in temperate regions of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Macaronesia, Mascarenes, Galapagos, Melanesia, Polynesia, and Hawaii. [cite web
title = "Kalanchoe pinnata" (Lam.) Pers.
work = USDA GRIN Taxonomy for Plants
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?21076
accessdate = 2007-10-01] In many of these, such as Hawaii, it is regarded as an invasive species. [cite web
title = "Kalanchoe pinnata"
work = Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hortweeds/species/kalpin.htm
accessdate = 2007-10-01 ]

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

ubspecies and hybrids

Common names

Vernacular names for "Kalanchoe pinnata" include Cathedral Bells, Air Plant, Life Plant, Miracle Leaf and the Goethe Plant. The first two of these are also commonly names for plants of other species and genera. Also called "Wonder of the World" in the English speaking Caribbean.

Ecology

Agricultural impacts and control

Uses

Toxicity and traditional medicine

In common with other Crassulaceae (such as the genera Tylecodon, Cotyledon and Adromischus), "Kalanchoe pinnata" has been found to contain bufadienolide cardiac glycosides [ cite web
last = Steyn
first = Pieter S
coauthor = van Heerden, Fanie R.
title = Bufadienolides of plant and animal origin
publisher = Royal Society of Chemistry
work = Natural Product Reports
date = 1998
url = http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayArticleForFree.cfm?doi=a815397y
accessdate = 2007-09-19] These can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals. [ cite web
last = McKenzie
first = RA
coauthor = Dunster PJ.
title = Hearts and flowers: Bryophyllum poisoning of cattle.
work = Aust Vet J.
date = July 1986
url = PMID 3778371
accessdate = 2007-09-19] [ cite web
last = McKenzie
first = RA
coauthor = Franke FP, Dunster PJ.
title = The toxicity to cattle and bufadienolide content of six Bryophyllum species.
work = Aust Vet J.
date = October 1987
url = PMID 3439945
accessdate = 2007-09-19]

In traditional medicine, "Kalanchoe" species have been used to treat ailments such as infections, rheumatism and inflammation. "Kalanchoe" extracts also have immunosuppressive effects. "Kalanchoe pinnata" has been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago as being used as a traditional treatment for hypertension and for the treatment of kidney stones in India where is goes by the name of Pather Chat or Paan-futti [ cite web
last = Lans
first = CA
title = Ethnomedicines used in Trinidad and Tobago for urinary problems and diabetes mellitus.
work = J Ethnobiol Ethnomed.
date = 2006-10-13
url = PMID 17040567
accessdate = 2007-09-19]

Bufadienolide compounds isolated from "Kalanchoe pinnata" include bryophillin A which showed strong anti-tumor promoting activity, and bersaldegenin-3-acetate and bryophillin C which were less active. [ cite web
last = Supratman
first = U
coauthors = Fujita T, Akiyama K, Hayashi H, Murakami A, Sakai H, Koshimizu K, Ohigashi H
title = Anti-tumor promoting activity of bufadienolides from "Kalanchoe pinnata" and "K. daigremontiana x tubiflora".
work = Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.
date = April 2001
url = PMID 11388478
accessdate = 2007-09-19] Bryophillin C also showed insecticidal properties. [ cite web
last = Supratman
first = U
coauthors = Fujita T, Akiyama K, Hayashi H
title = New insecticidal bufadienolide, bryophyllin C, from "Kalanchoe pinnata".
work = Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.
date = June 2000
url = PMID 10923811
accessdate = 2007-09-19]

Other uses

References

External links