Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental-It is commonly grown as an ornamental in the tropics, and as a houseplant in colder areas. Medicine- The leaves are astringent, antibacterial, antiseptic, demulcent, diuretic and febrifuge.
Madagascar
Thrives in warm, sunny locations with well-draining soil. Can become invasive in some areas.
It is fleshy perennial herb reaching about 100 cm tall. Spreads readily by producing plantlets on the edges of its leaves.
Stem is cylindrical with a reddish tinge, especially in new growth. Can reach thicknesses of up to 2 cm.
Leaves are thick, fleshy, elliptical, and curved with rounded toothed or sawtoothed margins. Often reddish, especially towards the edges. Leaves are simple at the base of the stem and become compound towards the top, with 3-5 pairs of fleshy lobes. Each leaf can reach 10-30 cm long. A remarkable feature is the development of tiny plantlets with roots, stems, and leaves along the leaf margins between the teeth. These plantlets can fall and root themselves, creating new plants.
Flowers are arranged in a panicle (branched cluster) at the top of the stem. They are numerous, hanging, and red-orange in color. The sepal cup is formed from a long tube, red at the base and veined with yellowish-green or green with reddish-brown spots. It has four small triangular lobes at the tip. The tubular flower has a pronounced constriction separating its subspherical and ovoid sections. It ends in four lobes reaching up to 5 cm long and is yellowish with red-purple streaks. Eight stamens are about 4 cm long.
Fruit is dry, papery follicle about 1 cm long containing numerous tiny brown seeds. Not a prominent feature.
Flowering: Late winter or early spring.