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Overview
A lovely soft wooded perennial that's mainly used in indoor or patio situations.
The lush leaves are paddle-shaped and quite large with a dark green surface which is speckled with white blotches.
In good, bright light, this plant will develop a dense habit with the lush foliage packed onto the stem.
This is an attractive foliage plant of which there are many cultivars available.
Soil: A loam based potting mix.
Maintenance: Remove any spent leaves and spray with a mist spray.
They like to dry out a bit between watering so feel the soil regularly and wait till the surface dries before you water.
Diseases: Aphids
Toxicity: While this plant is mildly toxic to humans, it can be very poisonous for dogs, cats, horses and other animals.
Every part of this plant from leaf to stems and roots are toxic since it contains insoluble oxalate crystals, similar to other plants in the Araceae family.
If the sap gets into eyes it may cause redness, pain, burning and swelling.
If any part of the plant is consumed the crystals released can irritate the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort to the throat, and burning pain to the stomach.
Treat with milk or icy poles - symptoms usually diminish over time naturally.
Comments: The leaves are poisonous and if chewed they can cause speechlessness, hence the common name.
Author: Bob Saunders.