Star of Bethlehem
Hippobroma Longiflora
Star of Bethlehem
Hippobroma Longiflora
Star of Bethlehem (Hippobroma longiflora), also known locally as madamfate, is a striking but highly dangerous flowering plant in the bellflower family. It is native to Jamaica but has spread widely across the Caribbean, tropical Americas, and parts of Oceania, where it often grows in gardens, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
The plant is best known for its long, narrow, star-shaped white flowers, which make it attractive as an ornamental despite its risks. All parts of the plant produce a milky white sap that contains a powerful toxin. Contact with this sap can cause severe irritation, burning of the mouth and throat, eye damage, and in extreme cases, blindness. Because of its toxicity, this plant should never be ingested and should be handled with extreme care, avoiding contact with the sap at all times.
Hippobroma Longiflora
Star of Bethlehem (Hippobroma longiflora), also known locally as madamfate, is a striking but highly dangerous flowering plant in the bellflower family. It is native to Jamaica but has spread widely across the Caribbean, tropical Americas, and parts of Oceania, where it often grows in gardens, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
The plant is best known for its long, narrow, star-shaped white flowers, which make it attractive as an ornamental despite its risks. All parts of the plant produce a milky white sap that contains a powerful toxin. Contact with this sap can cause severe irritation, burning of the mouth and throat, eye damage, and in extreme cases, blindness. Because of its toxicity, this plant should never be ingested and should be handled with extreme care, avoiding contact with the sap at all times.
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