Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 40 species of monocotyledon

Monocotyledon

Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of two major groups of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized, the other being dicotyledons, or dicots. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon , in contrast to the two cotyledons typical of dicots...

ous flowering plant

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 in the family Araceae

Araceae

Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...

, native to tropical regions of the Americas

Americas

The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...

 and southeastern Asia

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

. Certain species of Spathiphyllum are commonly known as Spath or Peace Lilies.

They are evergreen

Evergreen

In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...

 herbaceous

Herbaceous

A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...

 perennial plant

Perennial plant

A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...

s with large leaves 12–65 cm long and 3–25 cm broad. The flower

Flower

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 produced in a spadix

Spadix

In botany, a spadix is a type of spike inflorescence having small flowers borne on a fleshy stem. Spadix are typical of the Family Araceae known as arums or aroids...

, surrounded by a 10–30 cm long, white, yellowish, or greenish spathe. The plant does not need excessive light or water to survive.

Selected species

• Spathiphyllum atrovirens
• Spathiphyllum bariense
• Spathiphyllum blandum
• Spathiphyllum brevirostre
• Spathiphyllum candicans
• Spathiphyllum candidum
• Spathiphyllum candolleanum
• Spathiphyllum clevelandii
• Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum
  Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum
  Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum is a plant of the genus Spathiphyllum in the family Araceae.-References:...
  
  
• Spathiphyllum commutatum
• Spathiphyllum cuspidatum
• Spathiphyllum floribundum
  Spathiphyllum floribundum
  Spathiphyllum floribundum is a flowering plant in the family Araceae, native to northwestern South America from Panama east to Venezuela and south to Peru....
  
  
• Spathiphyllum friedrichsthalii
• Spathiphyllum fulvovirens
• Spathiphyllum gardneri
• Spathiphyllum glaziovii
• Spathiphyllum grandifolium
• Spathiphyllum huberi
• Spathiphyllum jejunum
• Spathiphyllum juninense
• Spathiphyllum kalbreyeri
• Spathiphyllum kochii
• Spathiphyllum lacustre
• Spathiphyllum laeve
• Spathiphyllum lechlerianum
• Spathiphyllum liesneri
• Spathiphyllum lynise
• Spathiphyllum maguirei
• Spathiphyllum mawarinumae
• Spathiphyllum monachinoi
• Spathiphyllum montanum
  Spathiphyllum montanum
  Spathiphyllum montanum is a flowering plant of the genus Spathiphyllum in the family Araceae....
  
  
• Spathiphyllum neblinae
• Spathiphyllum patini
• Spathiphyllum perezii
• Spathiphyllum phryniifolium
• Spathiphyllum quindiuense
• Spathiphyllum silvicola
  Spathiphyllum silvicola
  Spathiphyllum silvicola is a flowering plant of the genus Spathiphyllum in the family Araceae....
  
  
• Spathiphyllum sipapoanum
• Spathiphyllum solomonense
• Spathiphyllum wallisii
  Spathiphyllum wallisii
  Spathiphyllum wallisii, commonly known as Peace lily, White sails, or spathe flower is a very popular indoor house plant of the family Araceae. The genus name means "spathe-leaf," and the specific epithet is named after Gustav Wallis, the German plant collector.It is a caespitose herbaceous perennial...
  
  
• Spathiphyllum wendlandii

Cultivation and uses

Several species are popular indoor houseplant

Houseplant

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. Spathiphyllum cleans indoor air of many environmental contaminants, including benzene

Benzene

Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....

, 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...

, and other pollutants. It cleans best at one plant per 10 m². It lives best in shade and needs little sunlight to thrive. It is watered approximately once a week. The soil is best left moist but only needs watering if the soil is dry.

Spathiphyllum is mildly toxic to humans and animals when ingested. The Peace Lily is not a true lily from the Liliaceae family. True lilies, as well as onions and garlic, are much more toxic to cats and dogs.
The Peace Lily contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation, burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, and nausea.

External links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Spathiphyllum species list