Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia , commonly known as dumb cane or leopard lily, is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Araceae. It is native to the New World Tropics from Mexico and the West Indies south to Argentina. Some species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants, especially as houseplants, and have become naturalized on a few tropical islands. Dieffenbachia is a perennial herbaceous plant with straight stem, simple and alternate leaves containing white spots and flecks, making it attractive as indoor foliage. Species in this genus are popular as houseplants because of their tolerance of shade. The English names, dumb cane and mother-in-law's tongue (also used for Sansevieria species) refer to the poisoning effect of raphides, which can cause temporary inability to speak. Dieffenbachia was named by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, director of the Botanical Gardens in Vienna, to honor his head gardener Joseph Dieffenbach (1796–1863). Species The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families lists the following species: Dieffenbachia aglaonematifolia Engl. – Brazil, Paraguay; Corrientes + Misiones Provinces of Argentina Dieffenbachia antioquensis Linden ex Rafarin – Colombia Dieffenbachia aurantiaca Engl – Costa Rica, Panama Dieffenbachia beachiana Croat & Grayum – Costa Rica, Panama Dieffenbachia bowmannii Carrière – Colombia, northwestern Brazil Dieffenbachia brittonii Engl. – Colombia Dieffenbachia burgeri Croat & Grayum – Costa Rica Dieffenbachia cannifolia Engl. – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru Dieffenbachia concinna Croat & Grayum – Costa Rica, Nicaragua Dieffenbachia copensis Croat – Panama Dieffenbachia cordata Engl. – Peru Dieffenbachia costata Klotzsch ex Schott – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru Dieffenbachia crebripistillata Croat – Panama Dieffenbachia daguensis Engl. – Colombia, Ecuador Dieffenbachia davidsei Croat & Grayum – Costa Rica Dieffenbachia duidae (Steyerm.) G.S.Bunting – Venezuela, Guyana Dieffenbachia elegans A.M.E.Jonker & Jonker – Bolivia, northwestern Brazil, the Guianas Dieffenbachia enderi Engl. – Colombia Dieffenbachia fortunensis Croat – Panama Dieffenbachia fosteri Croat – Panama Dieffenbachia fournieri N.E.Br.