Plant Name
Scientific Name: Hippobroma longiflora
Synonyms: Isotoma longiflora, Laurentia longiflora
Common Names: Madam Fate, Madamfate, Star of Bethlehem, Star-of-Bethlehem, Star Flower
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Hawaii Native Status: Introduced. This naturalized ornamental garden plant is native to the West Indies.
Flower Color: White
Height: To 2 feet (61 cm) tall or more
Description: The flowers are up to 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) long, tubular, and star-like with 5, narrow, pointed lobes. Although the flowers have a jasmine-like appearance, they are not fragrant. The fruit is a drooping green capsule. The leaves are green, sessile, oblanceolate, and pinnately lobed with pointed, toothed lobes. The lower leaves are in a basal rosette, while the stem leaves are alternate.
Here in Hawaii, Madam Fate grows in moist, shady, lowland areas with moderate rainfall.
Special Characteristics
Poisonous – The milky white sap is very poisonous and irritating. Do not get the sap in your eyes as it can cause blindness. Wear gardening gloves when handling this plant.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Campanulales
Family: Campanulaceae – Bellflower family
Genus: Hippobroma G. Don – hippobroma
Species: Hippobroma longiflora (L.) G. Don – madamfate
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