Kalanchoë

Adanson

Fam. Pl. 2: 248. 1763,.

Etymology: Apparently from Chinese name for one of the species
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 157. Mentioned on page 149, 158.

Herbs [shrubs], perennial, not viviparous, 0.3–6 dm, glabrous or pubescent. Stems erect [scandent], branching, succulent. Leaves persistent, cauline, opposite [alternate], petiolate [sessile], base (or petiole) often subclasping; petiole to 20 cm; blade elliptic, ovate, obovate, or oblong-spatulate, laminar, 3–20 cm, fleshy, base not spurred, margins entire, crenate-dentate, or lobed; veins not conspicuous. Inflorescences terminal [lateral] cymes, often paniculate. Pedicels present. Flowers erect, 4-merous; sepals connate basally, all alike; petals erect or spreading, connate into 4-gonal, flask-shaped tube, yellow, orange, or red; calyx and corolla not circumscissile in fruit; nectaries subquadrate to linear; stamens [4] usually 8; filaments adnate near top of corolla tube; pistils (connivent), erect, (nearly distinct); ovary base tapered; styles mostly 2+ times shorter than ovary. Fruits erect. Seeds ellipsoid, ribbed, finely cross-ribbed. x = 18.

Distribution

Introduced; Fla., South America (Brazil), s Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar).

Discussion

Species ca. 75 (3 in the flora).

Some species of Kalanchoë are grown as houseplants or as greenhouse plants, or in warm climates as rock-garden plants. Bryophyllum, often included, is treated here as a separate genus.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Inflorescences glandular-pubescent. Kalanchoe integra
1 Inflorescences glabrous or pubescent, not glandular > 2
2 Corollas yellow or yellowish orange, tube 20 mm, lobes 25 mm. Kalanchoe laciniata
2 Corollas scarlet, tube 8 mm, lobes 4 mm. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana