BloodValkyrie · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
This perennial herbaceous plant is popular as an indoor foliage plant due to its simple, alternate leaves that often feature white spots and flecks. It is notable for its toxicity, containing calcium oxalate crystals called raphides, which can cause severe oral irritation upon chewing.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant has a straight stem and simple, alternate leaves containing white spots and flecks. Cultivars such as 'Camille' and 'Tropic Snow' are noted.
Distribution & habitat
Native to the New World Tropics, ranging from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina.
Ecology
The plant's leaf axils are utilized by the strawberry poison frog (*Oophaga pumilio*) for depositing almost all (89%) of their tadpoles. Its decline in the La Selva Biological Station was linked to increased feeding by the collared peccary (*Dicotyles tajacu*).
Cultivation notes
It must be grown indoors in temperate areas with a minimum temperature of 5 °C (41 °F). It prefers medium sunlight and moderately dry soil, requiring water about twice a week. Average home temperatures of 62–80 °F (17–27 °C) are ideal.
History & etymology
The genus was named by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott to honor his head gardener Joseph Dieffenbach (1790–1863).
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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