Corazon de Maria is the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG) Plant of the Month (POM) for October 2020. The “corazon de maria” or scientifically known as Caladium bicolor (Ait.) Vent. belongs to family Araceae.
Corazon de Maria contains calcium oxalate crystals that causes formation of kidney stones. High concentration of crystals are found in the leaves and tubers of the plant but despite this fact, many people from the West Indies and Tropical America still used it as a vegetable.
TRIVIA: The leaves of this plant is used as deworming medicine, as insecticide and as cleansing agent (purgative), while its bulbs are used to treat facial paralysis and tumors.
Come, visit and explore MBG soon and see it for yourself!
#plantito #plantita
by: Angela A. Limpiada and Analyn C. Malayba