Sansevieria
Encyclopedia
Sansevieria is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plant
s, whose common names include mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn
's tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant and snake tongue. It is often included in the genus Dracaena; in the APG III classification system
, both genera are placed in the family
Asparagaceae
, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been placed in the former family Dracaenaceae.
(1710–1771), prince of San Severo
in Italy. Spellings "Sanseveria" and "Sanseviera" are commonly seen as well, the confusion deriving from alternate spellings of the Italian place name.
, and species range from succulent
desert plants
such as Sansevieria pinguicula
to thinner leafed tropical plants such as Sansevieria trifasciata
. Plants often form dense clumps from a spreading rhizome
or stolon
s.
. There is great variation in foliage form within the genus Sansevieria. All sansevieria species can be divided into one of two basic categories based on their leaves: Hard leafed and soft leafed species. Typically, hard leafed Sansevieria originate from the arid climates, while the soft leafed species originate from tropical and subtropical regions.
Hard leafed Sansevieria have a number of adaptations for surviving dry regions. These include thick, succulent leaves for storing water and thick leaf cuticles
for reducing moisture loss. These leaves may be cylindrical to reduce surface area are generally shorter than their soft leafed tropical counterparts, which are wide and strap-like.
s are greenish-white, produced on a simple or branched raceme
. The fruit
is a red or orange berry
. In nature, Sansevieria flowers are pollinated by moths, but both flowering and fruiting is erratic and few seeds are produced. The raceme of Sansevieria is derived from the apical meristem and a flowered plant will no longer produce new leaves. Unlike plants such as agave
which die after flowering, Sansevieria will simply cease to produce new leaves. The flowered plant will continue to grow by producing plantlets via its rhizomes or stolons.
production; in some species, e.g. Sansevieria ehrenbergii
, the plant's sap has antiseptic qualities, and the leaves are used for bandages in traditional first aid
.
s in temperate regions, with Sansevieria trifasciata
the most widely sold; numerous cultivar
s are available. The Chinese usually keep this plant potted in a pot often ornated with dragons and phoenixes. Growth is comparatively slow and the plant will last for many years. The tall-growing plants have stiff, erect, lance-shaped leaves while the dwarf plants grow in rosettes. As houseplants, Sansevieria thrive on warmth and bright light, but will also tolerate shade. Sansevieria can rot from over-watering, so it is important that they are potted in well-drained soil, and not over-watered. In Seoul, potted Sansevieria is commonly presented as a gift during opening ceremonies of businesses or other auspicious events.
Other Sansevieria species are less common in cultivation, but another beautiful species is Sansevieria cylindrica
which has leaves which look quite different from S. trifasciata, but is equally tough.
) and Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans
), Sansevieria species are believed to act as good air purifiers by removing toxins (such as formaldehyde
, xylene
and toluene
) from the air, thereby gaining a reputation as a good cure for sick building syndrome
. Some reports seem to suggest that Sansevieria produces oxygen at night which makes it suitable as a plant to be placed in the bedroom.
purposes as well. Some believe that having Sansevieria near children (such as in the study room) helps reduce coarseness, while others recommend placing pots near the toilet tank to counter the drain-down vibrations.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s, whose common names include mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn
Jinn
Jinn are supernatural beings in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings.Jinn may also refer to:* Jinn , a Japanese band* Qui-Gon Jinn, a character in the Star Wars universe...
's tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant and snake tongue. It is often included in the genus Dracaena; in the APG III classification system
APG III system
The APG III system of flowering plant classification is the third version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy...
, both genera are placed in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Asparagaceae
Asparagaceae
Asparagaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.In earlier classification systems, the species involved were often treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae...
, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). It has also been placed in the former family Dracaenaceae.
Etymology
The genus was named in honor of Raimondo di SangroRaimondo di Sangro
Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero was an Italian nobleman, inventor, soldier, writer and scientist, best remembered for his reconstruction of the Chapel of Sansevero in Naples.-Early life:...
(1710–1771), prince of San Severo
San Severo
San Severo is a city and comune of 55,486 inhabitants of the province of Foggia in the southern Italian region of Apulia....
in Italy. Spellings "Sanseveria" and "Sanseviera" are commonly seen as well, the confusion deriving from alternate spellings of the Italian place name.
Characteristics
There is great variation within the genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, and species range from succulent
Succulent plant
Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climates or soil conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots...
desert plants
Xerophyte
A xerophyte or xerophytic organism is a plant which has adapted to survive in an environment that lacks water, such as a desert. Xerophytic plants may have adapted shapes and forms or internal functions that reduce their water loss or store water during long periods of dryness...
such as Sansevieria pinguicula
Sansevieria pinguicula
Sansevieria pinguicula, also known as the Walking sansevieria, is a xerophytic CAM succulent native to the Bura area of Kenya, near Garissa. The species was described by Peter René Oscar Bally in 1943.-Etymology:...
to thinner leafed tropical plants such as Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata is a species of Sansevieria, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes...
. Plants often form dense clumps from a spreading rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
or stolon
Stolon
In biology, stolons are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external skeletons.-In botany:...
s.
Foliage
The leaves of Sanseveria are typically arranged in a rosette around the growing point, although some species are distichousPhyllotaxis
In botany, phyllotaxis or phyllotaxy is the arrangement of leaves on a plant stem .- Pattern structure :...
. There is great variation in foliage form within the genus Sansevieria. All sansevieria species can be divided into one of two basic categories based on their leaves: Hard leafed and soft leafed species. Typically, hard leafed Sansevieria originate from the arid climates, while the soft leafed species originate from tropical and subtropical regions.
Hard leafed Sansevieria have a number of adaptations for surviving dry regions. These include thick, succulent leaves for storing water and thick leaf cuticles
Plant cuticle
Plant cuticles are a protective waxy covering produced only by the epidermal cells of leaves, young shoots and all other aerial plant organs without periderm...
for reducing moisture loss. These leaves may be cylindrical to reduce surface area are generally shorter than their soft leafed tropical counterparts, which are wide and strap-like.
Flowers
The flowerFlower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are greenish-white, produced on a simple or branched raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is a red or orange berry
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
. In nature, Sansevieria flowers are pollinated by moths, but both flowering and fruiting is erratic and few seeds are produced. The raceme of Sansevieria is derived from the apical meristem and a flowered plant will no longer produce new leaves. Unlike plants such as agave
Agave
Agave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies ; they are commonly known as the century plant....
which die after flowering, Sansevieria will simply cease to produce new leaves. The flowered plant will continue to grow by producing plantlets via its rhizomes or stolons.
Rope and Traditional Uses
In Africa, the leaves are used for fiberNatural fiber
Fibers or fibres are a class of hair-like materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of thread. They can be spun into filaments, thread, or rope. They can be used as a component of composite materials. They can also be matted into sheets to...
production; in some species, e.g. Sansevieria ehrenbergii
Sansevieria ehrenbergii
Sansevieria ehrenbergii is a flowering plant which grows in northeastern Africa from Libya south to Tanzania,Oman and also in Saudi Arabia. It occurs notably in proliferation along the Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania...
, the plant's sap has antiseptic qualities, and the leaves are used for bandages in traditional first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
.
Ornamental Purposes
Several species are popular houseplantHouseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...
s in temperate regions, with Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata is a species of Sansevieria, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes...
the most widely sold; numerous cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s are available. The Chinese usually keep this plant potted in a pot often ornated with dragons and phoenixes. Growth is comparatively slow and the plant will last for many years. The tall-growing plants have stiff, erect, lance-shaped leaves while the dwarf plants grow in rosettes. As houseplants, Sansevieria thrive on warmth and bright light, but will also tolerate shade. Sansevieria can rot from over-watering, so it is important that they are potted in well-drained soil, and not over-watered. In Seoul, potted Sansevieria is commonly presented as a gift during opening ceremonies of businesses or other auspicious events.
Other Sansevieria species are less common in cultivation, but another beautiful species is Sansevieria cylindrica
Sansevieria cylindrica
Sansevieria cylindrica, also known as the Cylindrical Snake Plant, African Spear or Spear Sansevieria, is a succulent plant native to Angola....
which has leaves which look quite different from S. trifasciata, but is equally tough.
Air Purification
Like the Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureumEpipremnum aureum
Epipremnum aureum, also known as the Pothos , Money Plant, Silver Vine, Centipede tongavine, Devil's Ivy and Solomon Islands' Ivy, is an aroid native to southeastern Asia and New Guinea...
) and Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans is a flowering plant species that is native throughout tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique, west to Côte d'Ivoire and southwest to Angola, growing in upland regions at altitude.-Description:...
), Sansevieria species are believed to act as good air purifiers by removing toxins (such as formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
, xylene
Xylene
Xylene encompasses three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomers are distinguished by the designations ortho- , meta- , and para- , which specify to which carbon atoms the two methyl groups are attached...
and toluene
Toluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
) from the air, thereby gaining a reputation as a good cure for sick building syndrome
Sick building syndrome
Sick building syndrome is a combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work or residence. A 1984 World Health Organization report into the syndrome suggested up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS...
. Some reports seem to suggest that Sansevieria produces oxygen at night which makes it suitable as a plant to be placed in the bedroom.
Feng shui
Because their leaves grow upwards, Sansevieria can be used for Feng ShuiFeng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
purposes as well. Some believe that having Sansevieria near children (such as in the study room) helps reduce coarseness, while others recommend placing pots near the toilet tank to counter the drain-down vibrations.
Selected species
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Sansevieria kirkii Sansevieria kirkii, also known as Star Sansevieria, is a succulent plant native to Africa. The flower of S. kirkii is greenish-white, scented, and has a conical inflorescence.-External links:*... Baker |
Sansevieria pinguicula Sansevieria pinguicula, also known as the Walking sansevieria, is a xerophytic CAM succulent native to the Bura area of Kenya, near Garissa. The species was described by Peter René Oscar Bally in 1943.-Etymology:... P.R.O.Bally Sansevieria trifasciata Sansevieria trifasciata is a species of Sansevieria, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is an evergreen herbaceous perennial plant forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes... Prain
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Formerly placed here
- Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth (as S. carnea Andrews)