Spotted dumbcane
Dieffenbachia seguine
Family: Araceae
What it is like
An erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 0.9-1.8 m tall and spreads 45-60 cm wide. The stems are cane like. The leaves are large and leathery. They are oval with pointed tips. Several named varieties occur.
There are about (25) 114 Dieffenbachia species. They grow in tropical America.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Brazil, Central America, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, North America, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, West Indies
How it is used for food
CAUTION: These are normally very poisonous plants. The oxalate cystals can inflame the throat. Baking soda (Bicarbonate of soda) is drunk in a glass of water as first aid.
Edible parts
Fruit, stem starch
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dumb cane, Seguine
Synonyms
Arum seguine Jacq.; Arum seguinum L.; and others