Mother of Millions

Bryophyllum delagoense, commonly known as "mother of millions", is a member of the family Crassulaceae, and is native to Madagascar. It is a poisonous, succulent, upright plant with mottled leaves and bunches of pinkish-red, bell-like flowers. Although it can spread by seed, any fragment of the plant can take root and form a new plant. It has been declared a noxious weed in New South Wales and Queensland as it displaces native plants, but also contains bufadienolide cardiac glycosides which can cause fatal poisoning, particularly in grazing animals like cattle. It can be spread by animals, slashers, machinery and vehicles, but also by floodwaters, and establishes if pastures are in poor condition. Another common name for this species is "devil's backbone". How appropriate!