Bryophyllum (from the Greek βρῦον/βρύειν bryon/bryein = sprout, φύλλον phyllon = leaf) is a group of plant species of the family Crassulaceae native to Madagascar.
[1] This section is notable for vegetatively growing small plantlets on the fringes of the leaves; these eventually drop off and root.
These plantlets arise from mitosis of meristematic-type tissue in notches in the leaves.
[2] Bernard Descoings redefined Bryophyllum as 26 species,[1] and molecular phylogenetic analysis shows that his definition is almost monophyletic, except that K. beauverdii and K. delagoensis (hence as well as their relatives and hybrids) should be included while K. pubescens and K. streptantha excluded.
[10] Kalanchoe pinnata may have similar chemical components, bufadienolide alkaloids.