Araceae
Dieffenbachia Schott
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Araceae Status: Valid
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Succulent terrestrial herbs sometimes to 2 meters tall.
Leaves: Leaves entire, many times with white spots on the adaxial side of the leaf.
Exudate: Sap caustic, malodorous.
Reproductive Morphology
Flowers: Spathe persistent, completely covering and enclosing the spadix.
Fruit: The fruits more or less separate, green-yellow, opening irregularly when mature, exposing a white, harinose mesocarp.
Seeds: Seeds 2 per fruit with orange aril.
Other
Uses: Many species cultivated as ornamentals.
Distribution: Ecuador, Brazil, and Peru.