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Dieffenbachia - Dumb Cane

Family: Araceae

The plant shown here is one of the dwarf cultivars presumably of hybrid origin and much used by florists in making dish gardens.

The variegated leaves and stems bear numerous minute raphide crystals of calcium oxalate which can be easily viewed by squeezing the juice from any cut surface onto a microscope slide. Raphide bundles are characteristic of the family Araceae. These microscopic crystals are highly irritating to mucuous membranes. Supposedly, persons who attempt to eat Dieffenbachia will experience so much oral and gullar swelling that speech becomes impossible, hence the common name, "dumb" cane. The swelling can be so great that suffocation is a distinct possibility. So why would anybody attempt to consume Dieffenbachia? Reputedly, the tissues also contain a compound that reduces male fertility, i.e., acts as an effective male contraceptive.