Bryophyllum

Updated on Jan 04, 2024

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Kingdom Plantae Scientific name Bryophyllum Rank genus		Family Crassulaceae Higher classification Crassulaceae Order Saxifragales

Lower classifications Bryophyllum pinnatum, Bryophyllum delagoense, Bryophyllum manginii, Kalanchoe millottii, Kalanchoe adelae

Different develpomental stages of the medicinal plant bryophyllum pinnatum or air plant

Bryophyllum (from the Greek βρῦον/βρύειν bryon/bryein = sprout, φύλλον phyllon = leaf) is a plant genus of the Crassulaceae family that has sometimes been included within the genus Kalanchoe. There are about forty species in the group, native originally of South Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. The group is notable for vegetatively growing small plantlets on the fringes of the leaves; these eventually drop off and root. These plantlets arise from mitosis of meristematic-type tissue in notches in the leaves.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana, formerly known as Bryophyllum daigremontianum and commonly called mother of thousands, alligator plant, or Mexican hat plant.

Nowadays, bryophyllums are naturalised in many parts of the tropics, and deliberately cultivated for their attractiveness or for their interesting reproduction.

Kalanchoe pinnata, formerly known as Bryophyllum pinnatum

Leaf of life bryophyllum pinnatum

Toxicity

Kalanchoe pinnata, formerly known as Bryophyllum pinnatum, also known as the air plant, cathedral bells, life plant and miracle leaf.

Several species of Kalanchoe are economically important for causing cardiotoxic effects in sheep and cattle, and diseases affecting the nervous system and muscles known as krimpsiekte ("shrinking disease") or as cotyledonosis. Bryophyllum pinnatum may have similar chemical components, bufadienolide alkaloids.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana, formerly known as Bryophyllum daigremontianum

There are many hybrids within Bryophyllum, and also hybrids with Kalanchoe such as Kalanchoe × crenatodaigremontiana (B. laxiflorum (as the synonym B. crenatum) × K. daigremontiana) or Houghton's hybrid (K. daigremontianum × B. delagoense).

Electricity generation

Tests conducted in Bangladesh by Dr. Kamrul Alam Khan showed crushed leaves of Bryophyllum daigremontianum (পাথরকুচি) is a good electrolyte and it can be used in a battery to generate electricity. 1 kg of crushed Bryophyllum leaves can produce up to 20 kW of power.

Selected species

The three most commonly cultivated species are:

Bryophyllum daigremontianum: Devil's Backbone or mother-of-thousands. Native of Madagascar; introduced and naturalized in many parts of tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia (Indian Ocean islands), North America (Florida) and South Africa; cultivated in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh for its medicinal properties. In Bangladesh it is known as Patharkuchi Pata.

Bryophyllum pinnatum: Air Plant. Native of Tropical Africa, cultivated or naturalized on many Pacific Islands (Tonga, Hawaii). It is also called the "Goethe Plant" since the famous 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 the essay that was titled Geschichte meiner botanischen Studien ("History of my botanical studies").

Bryophyllum delagoense

Some other species in this section are:

Bryophyllum beauverdii

Bryophyllum bouvetii

Bryophyllum campanulatum

Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi

Bryophyllum gastonis-bonnieri

Bryophyllum laxiflorum

Bryophyllum macrochlamys

Bryophyllum manginii

Bryophyllum marnierianum

Bryophyllum miniatum

Bryophyllum proliferum

Bryophyllum pubescens

Bryophyllum rolandi-bonapartei

Bryophyllum rosei

Bryophyllum schizophyllum

Bryophyllum streptanthum

Bryophyllum suarezense

Bryophyllum uniflorum

References

Bryophyllum Wikipedia

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