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Scientific Name
Synonyms
Family
Common Names
Origin
Cultivation
Naturalised Distribution
Habitat
Habit
Distinguishing Features
Stems and Leaves
Flowers and Fruit
Reproduction and Dispersal
Environmental Impact
Other Impacts
Legislation
Management
Similar Species
Print Fact Sheet
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Click on images to enlarge

large infestation (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

dense infestation (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

the variegated cylindrical leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

close-up of leaves showing groove and apical notches (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

older leaves with plantlets (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

flower clusters (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

close-up of drooping flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

old flower cluster (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

close-up of mature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

young seedling (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

young plants (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

comparison of young mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense ) plant, on the left, and young hybrid mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum x houghtonii) plant, on the right (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

comparison of the almost cylindrical leaves of mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense), on the left, and the boat-shaped leaves of hybrid mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum x houghtonii), on the right (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

small infestation along an urban footpath in Brisbane (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

habit prior to flowering (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

Bryophyllum delagoense

Scientific Name

Bryophyllum delagoense (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Schinz

Synonyms

Bryophyllum tubiflorum Harv.
Bryophyllum verticillatum (Scott-Elliot) Berger
Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & Zeyh.
Kalanchoe tubiflora (Harv.) Raym.-Hamet
Kalanchoe verticillata Scott-Elliot

Family

Crassulaceae

Common Names

chandelier plant, Christmas bells, common mother of millions, frogs' legs, mission bells, mother of millions, mother-of-millions, pregnant plant

Origin

Native to Madagascar.

Cultivation

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) has been widely cultivated as a garden ornamental in Australia, and it can still be commonly seen growing in older gardens.

Naturalised Distribution

A widely distributed species that is mainly naturalised in the eastern parts of Australia. It is most common in the coastal and sub-coastal regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales. Also present in the inland regions of these states, along the central and southern coasts of New South Wales, in coastal Western Australia, in inland South Australia, in Victoria and on Norfolk Island.

Naturalised overseas in southern and eastern Africa, in parts of South America (e.g. Ecuador), in south-eastern USA (i.e. Florida and Texas), on some Pacific islands (i.e. Hawaii and New Caledonia) and in the Mascarenes (i.e. La Réunion).

Habitat

A widespread weed of pastures, grasslands, open woodlands, waste areas, disturbed sites, fencelines, roadsides, embankments, and railways in sub-tropical, semi-arid, tropical and warmer temperate regions. It is commonly found growing in rocky sites or on poor soils.

Habit

A long-lived (i.e. perennial) fleshy (i.e. succulent) plant with upright (i.e. erect) stems usually growing 30-180 cm tall, but occasionally reaching up to 2.5 m or more in height.

Distinguishing Features

Stems and Leaves

The stems are hairless (i.e. glabrous), mostly unbranched, and greyish or pinkish-grey in colour.

The greyish coloured leaves are fleshy (i.e. succulent) in nature (15-150 mm long and 2-6 mm wide) and almost cylindrical (i.e. terete), but with a small lengthwise (i.e. longitudinal) groove. There are several (3-9) 'teeth' located at or near the tip of each leaf (i.e. apical notches). The leaves, and sometimes also the stems, have a darker mottling (i.e. they are variegated) and tiny plantlets form in the 'teeth' at the leaf tips (i.e. in the apical notches).

Flowers and Fruit

The bell-shaped (i.e. tubular) flowers (2-4 cm long) are either red, orange-red or pinkish-red in colour and the four petals are fused for most of their length (i.e. into a corolla tube). They are drooping (i.e. pendulous) and grouped into tightly branched clusters (10-20 cm wide) at the top of the stems (i.e. in terminal corymbose inflorescences). These flowers also have four partially fused greyish coloured sepals (5-13 mm long), a four-lobed ovary, four styles and eight stamens. They are borne on individual stalks (i.e. pedicels) 5-20 mm long. Flowering occurs mainly during winter and early spring.

The dry, papery fruit is a 'follicle' (about 10 mm long) and remains enclosed in the old flower parts. It is deeply-divided into four sections (i.e. carpels) and contains numerous minute brown-coloured seeds (less than 1 mm long).

Reproduction and Dispersal

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) reproduces by seed and by tiny plantlets that are produced at the tips of its fleshy (i.e. succulent) leaves. Dislodged leaves and broken leaf parts can also take root and give rise to new plants.

This species is commonly spread in dumped garden waste. Its very fine seeds are probably wind and water dispersed and its leaves and plantlets may also be dislodged and spread by animals, vehicles, machinery and slashers.

Environmental Impact

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is regarded as a significant environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales, a minor environmental weed in Western Australia, and a potential environmental the Northern Territory. It is probably of most concern in southern and central Queensland, and was recently ranked as the third most important environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland. It is actively managed by community groups in Queensland and is listed as a priority environmental weed in eight Natural Resource Management regions throughout eastern Australia. In New South Wales it is currently of concern in coastal districts and in inland regions in the north of the state.

This species is well adapted to dry environments and able to survive droughts. It forms very large infestations in grasslands and open woodlands in inland regions and spreads down river systems during flood events. In inland central Queensland, near Dingo, mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is competing with and replacing the native herbs that make up the diet of the endangered nail-tailed wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). At Mungle Creek, in northern New South Wales, it has invaded a flora reserve and is interfering with the regeneration of remnant stands of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), and near Childers, in inland southern Queensland, it is one of four invasive plant species that is impacting on the endangered Isis tamarind (Alectryon ramiflorus ).

It is also very invasive in sandy coastal sites (i.e. on foredunes and islands) and was listed as one of three invasive species that were modifying the vegetation structure on Lady Elliott Island in northern Queensland. Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) was also found to be one of the twelve most invasive ornamental species on the fore dunes of the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland. Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is also regarded as a potentially serious weed threat to the Abrolhos Islands, which are located off the coast of Geraldton in Western Australia.

Other Impacts

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is very poisonous to livestock and humans. Cattle deaths resulting from ingestion of this species are quite common, particularly in south-eastern Queensland. This species commonly invades rangelands and pastures, replacing grasses and legumes, and can significantly reduce the productivity of these areas.

Legislation

This species is declared under legislation in the following states and territories:

Management

For information on the management of this species see the following resources:

Similar Species

Mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is very similar to hybrid mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum x houghtonii) and mother-of-thousands (Bryophyllum daigremontianum). It is also relatively similar to resurrection plant (Bryophyllum pinnatum), prolific mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum proliferum) and lavender scallops (Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi). These species can be distinguished by the following differences:

Cotyledon (Cotyledon orbiculata) is also relatively similar to mother of millions (Bryophyllum delagoense). However, this species can be distinguished by its much broader, green or greyish, leaves that usually have a reddish-coloured margin.