Dumbcane

At a glance

Origin / distribution: West Indies, Cuba, Brazil, Germany, Guadelupe, Portorico, Wi(Carib), Colombia

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Angina, Aphrodisiac, Arrow, Castration

Science studied: CALCIUM-OXALATE, DUMBCAIN, L-ASPARAGINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Araceae

Scientific name: Dieffenbachia seguine

Common names: Dumbcane, Aro Seguino, Brazo Poderoso, Canne à gratter, Chucha, Comigo-ninguém-pode, Dieffenbachia des fleuristes, Dieffenbachie, Dumb Cane, Dumb-cane, Dėmėtoji difenbachija, Hoja de coche, Hoja elegante blanca, Hoja pinta, Kuchi manti, Malangueta, Mandí del cerdo

POWO: 86911-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in West Indies, Cuba, Brazil, Germany, Guadelupe, Portorico, Wi(Carib), Elsewhere and 6 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Angina
• Aphrodisiac
• Arrow
• Castration
• Contraceptive
• Corn
• Dropsy
• Dysmenorrhea

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• West Indies
• Cuba
• Brazil
• Germany
• Guadelupe
• Portorico
• Wi(Carib)
• Elsewhere
• Colombia
• Brazil(Tucuna)
• "
• Colombia(Vichada)

Documented cultural uses

• Angina
• Aphrodisiac
• Arrow
• Castration
• Contraceptive
• Corn
• Dropsy
• Dysmenorrhea
• Edema
• Frigidity
• Homeopathy
• Impotency

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Angina · West Indies · "
• Aphrodisiac · Cuba · "
• Arrow · Brazil · "
• Castration · Germany · "
• Contraceptive · Cuba · "
• Contraceptive · Guadelupe · "
• Contraceptive · Portorico · "
• Corn · Cuba · "
• Dropsy · Wi(Carib) · "
• Dysmenorrhea · West Indies · "
• Edema · West Indies · "
• Frigidity · Elsewhere · "
• Homeopathy · Elsewhere · "
• Impotency · Elsewhere · "
• Internulcer · Colombia · "
• Poison(Arrow) · Brazil · "
• Poison(Arrow) · Brazil(Tucuna) · "
• Poison · " · "
• Prurigo · West Indies · "
• Sterilizant(Male) · West Indies · "
• Varicosity · Wi(Carib) · "
• Wart · Cuba · "
• Yaws · Wi(Carib) · "
• Cyanogenetic · Elsewhere · "

10 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Dieffenbachia seguine (Araceae). · 2015 source ↗
• Novel plant metalloproteinase from Dieffenbachia seguine causes fingertip necrosis. · 2010 source ↗
• Restricted pollen flow of Dieffenbachia seguine populations in fragmented and continuous tropical forest. · 2009 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• CALCIUM-OXALATE
• DUMBCAIN
• L-ASPARAGINE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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