Fauna
Plant

Velvet-leaf

Kalanchoe beharensis

Also known as Feltbush, Felt Plant, Elephant's Ear Kalanchoe

Velvet-leaf is a slow-growing arborescent succulent that anchors the arid spiny thickets of southern Madagascar, sometimes forming small trees with gnarled, scar-studded trunks. Its large, undulating triangular leaves are cloaked in a thick pelt of star-shaped hairs that trap air, minimize water loss, and reflect harsh tropical sunlight. Small, urn-shaped yellow-green flowers bloom on tall branched inflorescences during the dry winter months, providing critical nectar for opportunistic pollinators.

SucculentDrought-TolerantTree-Form
Velvet-leaf reference1 / 7
(c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shaun Swanepoel · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic
Predators
  • Mealybugs
  • Scale insects
  • Browsing livestock
ThreatsHabitat loss from charcoal production, land clearance, illegal wild harvesting
HabitatsSpiny thickets, dry deciduous forests, rocky scrublands
Life span30–60 years
Classification
  1. OrderSaxifragales
  2. FamilyCrassulaceae
  3. GenusKalanchoe
  4. SpeciesKalanchoe beharensis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains cardiac glycosides toxic to pets and livestock; place out of reach of domestic animals.
Why it is dangerous
Tissues contain bufadienolide cardiac glycosides that disrupt normal cardiac rhythm, inducing vomiting, extreme salivation, arrhythmias, and potentially fatal cardiac failure in animals.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for large, ruffled triangular leaves covered in dense, bronze to silvery felt atop a thick, branching woody stem.
What to do
Keep away from grazing pets, and wash hands thoroughly after trimming foliage or handling broken stems.
What to notice
Wild plants form architectural, multi-branched small trees with notable triangular leaf scars ringing the mature trunk.
Support conservation
Never collect specimens or seeds from wild populations, and purchase only ethically nursery-propagated stock.
Responsible observation
  • Landscape Display: Provide full sun and sharply draining soil to keep foliage dense and richly colored.
  • Pet Safety: Position container specimens on elevated benches where dogs and cats cannot chew on leaves.
  • Propagation: Root single mature leaves or stem cuttings easily in coarse sand or perlite.
Related species
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