BRYOPHYLLUM |PATTHARCHATTA: पत्थरचट्टा | |VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION|

Scientific Name: Kalanchoe pinntum

Common Name: Pattharchatta, Rakta Kusum, Miracle leaf, Goethe plant, Cathedral Bells

Family: Crassulaceae

Altitude:1000-2000m 

Parts Used: Leaf

Description

Bryophyllum

Bryophyllum is a common succulent perennial plant native to Madagascar mostly popular for its vegetative propagation through leaves. Traditionally, it has been used to cure various infections, bowel diseases, healing wounds etc. 

This medicinal herb is often planted as decorative or ornamental plant species in gardens. People find a great interest in growing it as a home garden plant due to its interesting reproduction pattern. 

It can be cultivated very easily in pots and the propagation is even easier since a single leaf can give birth to multiple plantlets.

The plant can grow maximum 30-200 cm tall and has a hollow stem with fleshy, oblong green leaves which are slightly purple in color underneath. 

The edges of the leaves consists of small bulbs which are responsible for the origin of new plantlets. The bulbs can turn into roots while being attached to the leaves. 

Medicinal Uses

Pattharchatta as its name suggests in traditional medicine system, is considered to have kidney-stone breaking property. The leaves of this plant are widely used by tribal and other populations for the remedy of kidney stones and urinary disorders.

 It has also been used as ethnomedicine for the treatment of earache, ulcer, insect bite, diarrhea, lithiasis (source*). 

The health benefits of bryophyllum searched from reliable research papers are mentioned below:

• Pattharchatta leaves are used for dissolving kidney stones (1*)

• The leaves of Bryophyllum are taken for the treatment of diabetes, diuresis, respiratory tract infection and also applied to wounds and insect bites (2*)

• It shows medicinal properties like: anthelmintic, immunosuppressive, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant (3*) (4*)

• Studies have demonstrated the presence of anticancer and anti HPV activity in B. pinnata leaves that can be further exploited as anticancer and anti HPV therapeutic for the treatment of HPV infection and cervical cancer (5*)

• Researchers have shown the preventive effects of its leaves against the formation of renal calculi validating its ethnomedical uses in urinary disorders. (6*)

Propagation and Cultivation

Bryophyllum is popularly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. As the behavior of other succulents, it also prefers well drained soil otherwise the roots are susceptible to rots. 

It  thrives in adequate sunlight, the leaves show a beautiful reddish outline in presence of plenty of sunlight. But, the direct sunlight in summer may lead to leaves getting sun burned. 

Vegetative Propagation in Bryophyllum

Reproduction in Bryophullum takes place by vegetative propagation through leaves. 

The notches present on the lining of the the oblong leaves give rise to buds which eventually grow into roots meanwhile being attached to the old leaf. 

Placing the buds in the soil will lead to the growth of plantlet bearing roots, shoot and leaves as a whole. 

After coming in contact with the soil, the new plantlet will detach from the mother leaf and grow independently as a mature plant.

Reproduction in Bryophyllum

Toxicity

Kalanchoe pinnata has been found to contain bufadienolide cardiac glycosides. These can cause cardiac poisoning, particularly in grazing animals.

Though the plant has various benefits, it is suggested to use only after consultation with the doctors or experts.