Mother of Thousands
Kalanchoe laetivirens
It reproduces asexually by generating fully-formed miniature plantlets along its leaf margins that drop and root instantly upon touching soil.
- Scientific name
- Kalanchoe laetivirens
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Saxifragales › Crassulaceae › Kalanchoe
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Arid scrublands, rocky slopes, and dry xerophytic shrublands.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (requires sunlight, carbon dioxide, and minimal soil moisture).
- Range
- Madagascar, Australia, Southern United States, South America
- Size
- Up to 30 cm tall with leaves 15-20 cm long.
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat clearance in its native range, though highly secure globally due to widespread cultivation and invasive naturalization.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but highly toxic if ingested by humans, pets, or livestock due to cardiac glycosides. Keep plants out of reach of curious animals. If any part of the plant is consumed, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.
Kalanchoe laetivirens is a species of Kalanchoe (section Bryophyllum ). It is most likely a hybrid between K. daigremontiana and K. laxiflora (syn. Bryophyllum crenatum ), and therefore a group of invalid names for such a hybrid, including Kalanchoe crenodaigremontiana , Kalanchoe crenato-daigremontiana , Bryophyllum crenodaigremontianum and Bryophyllum crenato-daigremontianum , are just synonyms of K. laetivirens .
Photo: Klaus Wehrlin, CC0, via iNaturalist
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