Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken
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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
Crassulaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Erect, fleshy herb, to 1 m tall, mostly with 1 main, unbranched stem, glabrous. Leaf simple to deeply lobed (the segments often distinct and pinnately compound); blades (or segments) 6-13 X 2-8 cm, fleshy, lanceolate, elliptic, oblong, or oblanceolate, the apex obtuse, rounded and retuse, the base obtuse, rounded, or truncate, the margins deeply crenate, usually reddish, often producing plantlets; petioles usually longer than blades. Flowers pendulous on large, terminal panicles. Calyx slightly inflated, green to reddish green, 2.5-4 x 1-1.5 cm; corolla dull reddish to salmoncolored, 4-5 cm long, much narrower than the calyx, developing late, the buds accumulating water; stamens and pistil included, each carpel with a nectary gland at base. Follicles ellipsoid, 1- 1.5 cm long, beaked, brown, covered by persistent, accrescent sepals. Seeds linear, ca. 1 mm long, dark brown.
Distribution and Ecology - A common weed found in open, disturbed areas. Susannaberg (A2384, A3959). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; native to Madagascar, now cultivated and naturalized throughout the neotropics
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Discussion
Common names: clapper bush, green love, leaf of life, life plant, wonderful leaf.