I was doing some winter houseplant care (cleaning and pruning) when I cut the browning tip of a clivia leaf. Clivias are related and similar to amaryllis; however, they are evergreen with clusters of smaller flowers. They are tough, drought-tolerant plants suitable for shady borders in San Diego and Miami. The rest of us have to grow them as houseplants.

Immediately after the leaf the was cut, orangish sap began to flow from the wound. A lot of sap for such a thin, hard leaf. The droplets appeared along the veins, pooled, and began dripping onto the cereus stems and other leaves below. It was instant, like bleeding. I did not trim another leaf. I just watched and wondered. What's the purpose for such profuse dripping?

The plant seemed hard and dry. I have not given it a good drink since October and I was wondering if it could hold on until March for its annual Shower Of Rejuvenation. Then when I cut it, the orangish sap practically skeets out, like bile in a B horror movie? Why waste so much energy on internal pressure of an old leaf?

My best guess is to thwart predation. If I had been a rabbit, I would have had a mouth full of sticky orange sap before I could even begin to chew the leaf tip. The entire daffodil/amaryllis family produces toxins to stop herbivory (being eaten by plant eaters). And you know that sticky orange sap coming from a tough, waxy, evergreen leaf has got to be very toxic.

If only tulips, crocuses, lilies, hepaticas, and asters were as well defended, the blasted rabbits and I could be just unfriendly neighbors instead of mortal enemies.