dumb cane

[So called because its leaves contain a substance that swells the throat when eaten.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

dumb′ cane`

a West Indian foliage plant, Dieffenbachia seguine, having yellow-blotched leaves that cause temporary speechlessness when chewed.

[1690–1700]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

dumb cane - an evergreen plant with large showy dark green leaves; contains a poison that swells the tongue and throat hence the name

Dieffenbachia sequine, mother-in-law plant, mother-in-law's tongue

aroid, arum - any plant of the family Araceae; have small flowers massed on a spadix surrounded by a large spathe

Dieffenbachia, genus Dieffenbachia - evergreen perennial herbs of tropical America with lush foliage and poisonous sap; often cultivated as houseplants

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References in periodicals archive

Dieffenbachia, commonly known as dumb cane, is a tropical ornamental house plant in the Araceae family and the Arum class (Figure 1).

Accidental Poisoning of a Child by Dieffenbachia/Bir Cocukta Kazara Difenbahya Zehirlenmesi

The Dieffenbachia plant, or dumb cane in layman terms, is common among Philippine households.

Pros and perils of indoor plants

It is thought the frog lives and breeds in much drier habitats than similar frogs, and it lays its eggs in tropical flowering Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) plants and in holes in trees.

Endangered frog bred at zoo

Flowers and plants that can kill dogs include: Agapanthus, azalea (in large amounts), cyclamen, delphinium, dumb cane (dieffenbachia), foxglove, lantana, larkspur, mistletoe, oleander, rhododendron and sago palms.

BEWARE OF THE POISON PLANTS; RIGHT AT HOME

HOUSEHOLD PLANTS Poisonous pot plants include azalea, dieffenbachia (dumb cane), lillies, mistletoe and philodendron.

Is your house a horror for pets? Hidden hazards revealed

Dieffenbachia (spotted dumb cane), Philodendron (elephant ear), Monstera deliciosa (delicious monster) and Zantedechia (arum lily)

More about ... emergency medicine: poisonous plants

Other potentially harmful plants include the Glory Lily, Foxglove, and the Dumb cane. Also on the ones-towatch list are Morning Glory, Fremontodendron, Woody Nightshade and the Giant hogweed.

Poison plants

All parts of the plant are poisonous * DUMB CANE (Dieffenbachia) This large-leaved houseplant is poisonous, while the sap can cause skin and eye irritation.

Summer can be pretty dangerous; As schools break up for summer and the children venture into the garden, keep a watchful eye on the poisonous plants they may be mixing with, Hannah Stephenson reports

Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) - This large-leaved houseplant is poisonous, while the sap can cause skin and eye irritation.

POISONOUS PLANT PERILS; As schools break up for summer and the children venture into the garden, keep a watchful eye on the poisonous plants they may be mixing with

Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) - This houseplant is poisonous, while the sap can cause skin and eye irritation.

Poisons in the garden; As schools break up and children venture into the garden, keep a watchful eye on the poisonous plants, Hannah Stephenson reports

House plants such as dieffenbachia (dumb cane) should be avoided as these are poisonous for rabbits.

Things to know before you adopt a rabbit

Scientists at NASA, no less, researched this field and came up with a list that also includes dumb cane, dragon tree, English ivy, Pothos, peace lily, umbrella plant, spider plant, tree philodendron, weeping fig and white butterfly to improve air quality.

"I'm keen to buy an [...]