dumb cane

1 8.6

A common houseplant with large green leaves that can make your mouth and throat swell if eaten

noun
/dʌm keɪn/

: caña tonta

If you're considering adding a dumb cane to your collection, remember to handle it carefully, as it can be harmful if eaten.

Examples

Many people enjoy growing dumb cane indoors, but it's important to keep it out of reach of pets and children due to its toxic properties.
There is also a species of dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) that is about three feet high and grows with stems so close together that getting through them is nearly impossible.

Academic text (1995)
Dumb Cane

Blog text (29)
The beautiful leaves of the dumb cane make it a popular choice for home decor, though its sap can cause throat swelling if ingested.

Synonyms

mother-in-law plant

vsdumb cane

1 8.8

An indoor plant with large dark leaves that can make your tongue and throat swell if eaten

emphasizes tropical origin rather than garden or decorative use

Dieffenbachia sequine

vsdumb cane

Specialized

9.9

A large tropical house plant with green leaves that can cause tongue and throat swelling when touched or eaten

uses a common nontechnical name instead of a scientific label

Surface Forms

dumb cane singular

dumb canes plural

Morphology

dumb + cane

The name combines 'dumb' (mute) and 'cane' (a plant/stem), so a learner who knows both words could plausibly infer this refers to a plant that causes silence or speech loss, making the basic idea partly recoverable. However, the specific botanical referent and the precise toxic effect (tongue/throat swelling) are lexicalized and not fully predictable from the parts, so full understanding requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Dumb cane got its name from a simple image: its poisonous sap can swell your tongue and throat so you cannot speak and are 'silent', so dumb means 'silent' and cane refers to its cane-like stem. That's why the name now points to a plant that can be dangerous if eaten.