what is a dumb fruit
Dumb Fruit Characteristics:
The term “Dumb Cane” was originally assigned to Dieffenbachia plants of any variety due to the severe health effects that the toxins within (calcium oxalate crystal, specifically) can have on people and pets. Caution is recommended when choosing a growing location.
Dumb Canes rarely flower when raised as houseplants. When they do, their blooms aren’t very showy or fragrant. They are similar in shape to the blossoms of a Peace Lily, but without any bright coloration to help them stand out from the rest of the plant. Unless you find their smell irritating, you don’t need to cut the flowers off until after they’ve withered.
The odor of Dumb Cane flowers can vary somewhat. Some have virtually no smell, while others give off an earthy musk that can be scented from across the room. The fragrance has been compared to dust, cucumbers, black pepper, and decaying wood. Most people don’t find it unpleasant, but it’s a smell reminiscent of the mossy floor of an old-growth forest rather than living room décor.
Dieffenbachias belong to the Araceae or aroid family, which includes popular houseplants like Anthuriums, Monsteras, Chinese Evergreens, and Philodendrons. These plants, prized for their foliage, share a unique bloom structure.
The spadix of the Dumb Cane is beige or pale yellow and points upright, resembling a small piece of baby corn. The spathe wraps around the lower section and flares out around the upper section like a hooded robe on a comic-book villain. However, it blends in with the plant’s leaves, not catching the eye like blooms of an Anthurium or a Peace Lily.
Specifically, Dieffenbachia seguine, commonly called dumb cane, is a herbaceous plant native to the Caribbean and South America, widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. If fruit develops, it is berry-like in appearance, maturing to bright red or orange and being 2- or 3-lobed.
