Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Araceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect to decumbent herb to 2 m tall; stem cylindrical, ca. 3 cm diam., green with leaf scars, producing a milky or watery, caustic sap when cut. Leaves borne distally on stems; blades usually spotted or variegated, 20-50 x 12-24 cm, elliptic or oblong-ovate, chartaceous, the apex acute or acuminate, the base rounded or cordate, usually asymmetric, the margins entire; petioles 30-40 cm long, sheathing. Inflorescences axillary, ascending, in groups of 2 or 3; peduncles 4-15 cm long, cylindrical; spathe fleshy, 18-30 cm long, green; spadix white, shorter than the spathe. Berry orange red.
Distribution and Ecology - An occasional herb of wet seepage areas. Bordeaux (A4705), Maho Bay Gut (W863). Also on St. Thomas and Tortola; throughout tropical America.
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Discussion
Common name: dumb cane.
Note: The sap of this plant is irritating to the skin and, if ingested, is inflammatory to the tongue and digestive tract; hence the common name, dumb cane.