Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana

''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' is a herbaceous and commonly cultivated house plant of the genus ''Kalanchoe'' native to Madagascar. It is known by the English common names flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe, florist kalanchoe and Madagascar widow's-thrill.

Taxonomy and naming

''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' is in the ''Kalanchoe ''section of the ''Kalanchoe ''genus, with a description of the plant published in 1934 (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 35:159). Regarding the etymology of the binomial, Adanson adapted the generic name ''Kalanchoe'' from 'Kalanchauhuy', a Chinese name for one species recorded by Georg Joseph Kamel, a botanist and Jesuit missionary to the Philippines. The Oxford English Dictionary states that it is "based on heChinese 伽藍菜 gāláncài", whilst the Collins English Dictionary merely restates the claim that the generic name was derived from the local Chinese name for one of the species. The specific epithet ''blossfeldiana'' is in tribute to German hybridiser and botanist Robert Blossfeld, who first introduced the plant to the rest of the world in 1932. The common name Christmas Kalanchoe comes from the plant's flamboyant and colourful blooms in winter.

Description

''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' is a glabrous, bushy, evergreen and perennial succulent plant which (in 2–5 years) can reach an ultimate height of between and an ultimate spread of between . ''K. blossfeldiana'' has a round habit and a moderate plant density; its growth rate has been described as 'slow'. The plant has green, shiny and textured glossy foliage which stays green all year round. The scallop-edged and ovate leaves are arranged in an opposite/subopposite fashion, are simple in type with crenate margins and an oblong shape. The arrangement of the veins in a leaf (venation) can be absent or very hard to see; the leaf blades are long. ''K. blossfeldiana'' flowers in late autumn to early winter; each flower has four petals and can be one of a wide variety of colours, from the dark reds and pinks to oranges, golds and whites. ''K. blossfeldiana'' is a short-day plant, meaning that its blooming cycle is regulated by the amount of sunlight it receives each day. The plant will bloom when it is receiving approximately 10 hours of daylight and 14 hours of darkness for 6-8 weeks. The ovary is tetracarpellary and apocarpous while stamens are four in number and are epipetalous. The inflorescences are born by peduncles which are higher up than the leaves and are terminal in nature.
Parts of ''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' are poisonous if ingested.

Distribution and habitat

''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' is native to Madagascar, where the plant can be found growing in the relatively cool plateaus of the Tsarantanana Mountains; ''K. blossfeldiana'' in this environment grows in humus soil.

Ecology

While generally disease-free, ''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' can be damaged by pest insects such as ''Otiorhynchus sulcatus'' (vine weevil) or mealybugs.

Cultivation

With a minimum temperature of ''K. blossfeldiana'' requires the protection of glass during the winter months in temperate locations. It needs to be in a cool, partially shaded spot. However, it may be placed outside in summer. In the UK It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Gallery

File:Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Korallvirág) (9).jpg, alt=Madagaszkár szigetéről származó pozsgás növény. Hazánkban is kifejezetten népszerű növénynek számít, a lakások, sziklakertek, balkonládák elmaradhatatlan dísze., Virág
File:Kalanchoe Blossfeldina.jpg, Kalanchoe Blossfeldina at the beginning of flowering
File:Kalanchoe Balossfeldine.jpg, Kalanchoe Balossfeldina plant developing small sucker
File:Kalanchoe blossfeldiana var. Calandiva (2).jpg, One of the Calandiva line of double-flowered ''Kalanchoe blossfeldiana'' cultivars
File:Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plant.jpg, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plant

See also

* List of kalanchoe diseases
search for kalanchoe blossfeldiana

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q132145

Garden plants
blossfeldiana
Plants described in 1934
Endemic flora of Madagascar
Crassulaceae