Kalanchoe prolifera

January 25, 2010

Among the species of the genus / section Bryophyllum are very interesting agents, for the most part and blooming beautifully. Such a gem is Kalanchoe prolifera, with pinnate leaves and relatively large, yellow-green flowers, longitudinally striped red or purple. If we add a square stem, ornately decorated shed leaves scars, get juicy plant, often sought after by collectors and others. Kalanchoe prolifera belongs to the section / genus Bryophyllum. In Madagascar we can find very nice plants.

Sustained, robust, tough, square stems are high 0.8 - 3 mA in diameter and 5 cm. The stems grow upright or poléhají nerozvětvují and up. The whole plant is glabrous. The leaves have stems that are at the base and extended objímavé, their length is 5-12 cm. Leaf blade is pinnate, fleshy, and pinnate pinnatisect to total leaf blade length of up to 30cm. Pinnate leaf pieces are built asymmetrically and are sessile. Their shape is oblong obdélníkovitý, lanceolate to oblong egg-shaped. Length of lines is 7-15 cm and width 1.5 - 5 cm. The summit is obtuse, margins crenate to zoubkovitý. They are often tinged with purple edge. The inflorescence is a very large compound panicle, up to 80 cm high and 40 cm wide. The inflorescence bears up to 700 anyone's flowers and numerous others have withered flowers and propagule. Flower stopečky are 8-15 mm long. The cup has a bell shape, papilózní. Calyx tube is 13-16 mm long, its corners are semi-circular shape and the pointed top. They are 3-7 mm long and equally wide. Calyx color is green. Crown cylindrical tube has a long 15 to 25 mm, ovate with corners on top zahrocenými, a length of 2.7 - 4 mm and width of 3-4 mm. Crown color is red, green or yellow. Chopsticks are established under half of corolla tube and extend from the throat. Ovate anthers are 2 - 2.6 mm large. Nektaria have rounded up lichoběžníkovitý shape with a length of 1.3 to 1.6 and a width of 2 - 2.5 mm. Karpel are 7-8 mm high, pistil protrudes and is 17 to 20 mm high.

Kalanchoe prolifera occupies the central position of the rocky plateau of Madagascar.

Visually similar to K. rubella. This species is found both in the central part of Madagascar and the east, always in wet places in the woods. Compared K. prolifera (figures in brackets) is always this kind of circular cross-section of stem (square), with significant white-green, linear-decorated surface (pure green surface on young shoots very slightly pale green dashed). Leaf stalks objímavé shirt (objímavé, no collar on the upper surface of the trough). Scars after opadlých crescent-shaped leaves with rounded bottom corners sticking up (irregular, but in one plane and the edges of the square stem interconnected with other scars). Flower cup significantly wider than the crown (the crown pressed), fleshy (paper), with chips and wedge lilac mauve accents (pure green). Anthers gray (light brown), egg-shaped and serrated (ledvinovité, hairy). Blizna green (yellowish green), tight (jagged).

Kalanchoe prolifera in our, Central prefers semi-shade conditions, it is protected from the most pressing, the midday sunlight. Plant in well accrete, the leaves evolve into a larger length. Morning and afternoon sun pinnate leaf edges colored to dark red, the upper surface is brownish petioles. If we kind of water frequently, almost as tejn indoor plants can grow to great heights. But we must always plants for a short period, of a dry period, otherwise the stem does not produce strong enough cloth and starts poléhat, or even break. Have a small plant, only 10 cm high, begins at the base of the stem odnožovat and gradually grow into a group of lofty, edged in red, green umbrellas on decorative legs. Well-drained growing medium is essential for species survival during prolonged precipitation. As Kalanchoe prolifera tolerate free culture. Plants do not need podstrojovat. Poor soil suits them.

To provide the type of winter temperatures above 12 ° C. Well tolerated even at room temperature. The main problem is the need for light posts. In the absence of light the plant stretches (etolizuje). The initial problem is the lower tolerance to prolonged drought. The plant reacts during drying leaves, the leaf fall. If the plant is a threat, prevents the formation of propagules at the edges of leaf pieces. Trunk is long and heavily then recovering. Fortunately propagule very good spice and gradually, over a year, create a new plant (according to some cultures growing to 20 cm), which begins at the base to create offshoots.

Bryophylla generally contain a considerable amount of active substance. For these reasons they are used for medical purposes. Kalanchoe prolifera in Madagascar is used to treat rheumatism. In addition, however, plants contain antioxidants and heart toxins. This species was also used on numerous anatomical and biological study.

The main concern for growers is the attractiveness of this kind and beautiful flowers.

Kalanchoe prolifera (Bowie ex Hooker) Hamet, Bull. Herb. Boissiere, ser. 2, 8: 19 (1908)

Synonym:

Bryophyllum Bowie proliferate ex Hooker (1859)

Kork