Spotted Dumb Cane, Dumb Cane, Dieffenbachia Camille

Description:

White or light green coloring spreads from the center to the dark green rim or outside of the leaf. There are large, wide leaves in the shape of an eye and has a fairly pointed tip. Soft, columnar stems hold the leaves upright with a few knobs around the “stump” or lower region of the plant. The plants can be small table plants, approximately 20 inches tall or around 50 centimeters.

Habitat:

The tropical rainforests of South America are the native habitat for these plants. The optimal temperature ranging from 24 degrees Celcius to 29 degrees Celcius and prefers bright sunlight. This specific plant was a potted plant purchased from Walmart and displayed on a table in the upper parts of Makakilo, Hawaii.

Notes:

The plant excretes calcium oxalate in its sap, a chemical that irritates skin and can paralyze vocal chords and cause swelling when ingested. The sap is known for its toxicity and is nicknamed the “dumb cane” because it causes temporary speech inability.