Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Dark red variety of kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Crassulaceae
Genus:	Kalanchoe
Species:	K. blossfeldiana
Binomial name
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln.
Synonyms[1]
Kalanchoe globulifera var. coccinea H. Perrier

One of the Calandiva® line of double-flowered Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivars

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a herbaceous^[2] and commonly cultivated house plant^[3] of the genus Kalanchoe native to Madagascar. It is known by the English common names flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, florist kalanchoe^[4] and Madagascar widow's-thrill.^[5]

Taxonomy and naming

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is in the Kalanchoe section of the Kalanchoe genus, with a description of the plant published in 1934 (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 35:159).^[6] With regards to the etymology of the binomial, Adanson adapted the generic name Kalanchoe from 'Kalanchauhuy', a Chinese name for one species recorded by Georg Joseph Kamel, a botanist and Jesuit missionary to the Philippines.^[7][8][9] The Oxford English Dictionary states that it is "based on [the] Chinese gāláncài",^[10] whilst the Collins English Dictionary merely restates the claim that the generic name was derived from the local Chinese name for one of the species.^[11] The specific epithet blossfeldiana is in tribute to German hybridiser and botanist Robert Blossfeld, who first introduced the plant to the rest of the world in 1932.^[12] The common name Christmas Kalanchoe comes from the plant's flamboyant and colourful blooms in winter.^[13][14]

Description

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana in China

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a glabrous,^[13] bushy, evergreen and perennial succulent plant which (in 2–5 years)^[15] can reach an ultimate height of between 30–45 cm (12-18 in.)^[4] and an ultimate spread of between 10–50 cm (4-20 in.).^[15] K. blossfeldiana has a round habit and a moderate plant density; its growth rate has been described as 'slow'.^[2] The plant has green,^[15] shiny and textured glossy foliage^[4] which stays green all year round.^[15] The scallop-edged and ovate leaves are arranged in an opposite/subopposite fashion, are simple in type with crenate margins and an oblong shape.^[2] The arrangement of the veins in a leaf (venation) can be absent or very hard to see; the leaf blades are 5–10 cm. (2-4 in.) long.^[2] K. blossfeldiana flowers in late autumn to early winter; each flower has four petals and can be one of a wide variety of colours, from the dark reds and pinks to oranges, golds and whites. The ovary is tetracarpellary and apocarpous while stamens are four in number and are epipetalous.^[4] The inflorescences are born by peduncles which are higher up than the leaves and are terminal in nature.^[16]

Parts of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana are poisonous if ingested.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is native to Madagascar, where the plant can be found growing in the relatively cool plateaus of the Tsarantanana Mountains; K. blossfeldiana in this environment grows in humus soil.^[17]

Ecology

While generally disease free, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana can be damaged by pest insects such as Otiorhynchus sulcatus (vine weevil) or mealybugs.^[15]

References

See also

• List of kalanchoe diseases

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