Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln., Crassulaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: flaming Katie, flaming Katy, kalekana

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Subshrub, perennial, to 40 cm high (16 in) or more.  Leaves simple, alternate, succulent, blade elliptic to ovate, oblanceolate on upper stems, 2-10  cm long (3/4- 4 in), margins red, crenate.  Flowers anytime during the year; flowers many, in spreading, terminal panicles.   Corolla of fused petals, red or sometimes yellow, salverform, tube 8-11 mm long (1/4 - 1/2 in), lobes four, spreading, about half as long as the tube.  Fruit of four follicles from separate ovaries. (Whistler, 2000).

"Perennial herb of compact growth; shoots erect, little branched, about 30 cm high, glabrous and smooth all over; leaves petiolate, petiole grooved, 2.5 cm long, leaves elongate or ovate-oblong, about 7 cm long, 4 cm wide, dark green, shining, edged with red, at first entire, towards the centre and apex somewhat sinuate and crenate; flowers often 60 in capitate inflorescences, 9-10 mm in diameter, 12-13 mm long, scarlet" (Jacobsen, 1960; pp. 642-644).

Habitat/ecology:  Full sun, but may need some shade in hotter climates; needs little water (Dave's Garden).

Propagation:  Seed (Jacobsen, 1960; pp. 642-644).

Native range:  Madagascar (Whistler, 2000; pp. 292-293).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Penrhyn (Tongareva) Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2008)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 86)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 117)

Comments:  Reported as possibly an invasive plant in the Galápagos Islands per Charles Darwin Research Station.

Additional information:
Additional online information about Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Kalanchoe blossfeldiana as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Kalanchoe blossfeldiana may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Jacobsen, Hermann. 1960. A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae. Blandford Press, London.

Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. 2008. Flora of the Marquesas Islands. National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Smithsonian Institution. Online database.

McCormack, Gerald. 2008. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Whistler, W. A. 2000. Tropical ornamentals: a guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 542 pp.