Donkey Ear Plant

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri is a succulent plant native to Madagascar, and has now been naturalized in tropical areas of the Amazon, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere in the tropics. This species has been used traditionally in several countries such as Africa, South America, and Asia as an important ingredient in medicine, including to treat internal wounds and burns. However, in its use, caution is required. Based on the results of laboratory studies show that consuming Kalanchoe can be toxic in doses of more than 5 grams per kilogram per day. However, apart from its medicinal value, the uniqueness of its flowers and leaves makes this species widely planted by the public as an ornamental plant.

No found data on this. Need further research.

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri is found growing on calcareous rocks in tropical forests. This species is a relatively easy plant to grow, and can grow in both full sun and partial shade. Thrives on well-drained, nutritious porous soil. Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri is drought tolerant, but intolerant of extreme freezing. Flowers will only be produced by healthy plants that grow under optimal conditions.

• Stems - erect, usually branching only from the base, the entire plant glabrous.
• Leaves - unifoliate, rosette, thick and fleshy (up to 0.3-0.5 m long), grayish green with brown to reddish brown spots, waxy. Young leaves are more whitish to grayish, while mature leaves are greener. The leaves are egg-shaped to spear-shaped (ovoid to lanceolate) with toothed leaf edges, pointed leaf tips (acute), triangular breech leaf base (cuneate). Small plantlets often grow along the edges of the leaves. The leaves first grow upright, then bend and touch the ground with their tips. 
• Flowers - bisexual, tubular, drooping flowers reddish to pink-orange near base with yellow, broad tips. Flowers are arranged in branched clusters (terminal inflorescences) and are borne on stalks 0.6-0.9 m high. Pale peach flower buds darken, and become petals that hold petals (crown strands) that are yellowish green or reddish salmon with broad tips and yellow insides. The anthers are almost white with yellow anthers.
• Fruits - dehiscent, dried fruit known as follicles.

Propagated by seeds and suckers - This species begins to flower at the age of about 2-3 years. The mother plant dies after flowering once.

Alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids quercetin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside-7-O-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α- L-rhamnopyranoside, 6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-β-D-glucopyranosylapigenin (vicenin-2).

• Treat genitourinary disorders (urinary tract infections), ovarian cysts, vaginal infections, uterine fibroids, vaginal contraceptives. 
• Relieve headaches and symptoms of colds and flu. 
• Treat insect bites, bruises, burns, ulcers, internal wounds, rheumatism, inflammation, hypertension,  diarrhea, tumors, abscesses, against leishmaniasis (a parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania parasite).