Sansevieria

Sansevieria
Sansevieria hyacinthoides
illustration c 1700 by Jan Moninckx
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Sansevieria
Thunb.[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Acyntha Medik
  • Sanseverinia Petagna, rejected name
  • Salmia Cav.
Sansevieria ehrenbergii in habitat.

Sansevieria is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants, native to Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia.[2] Common names include mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn's tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant and snake tongue.[3] It is often included in the genus Dracaena;[4] in the APG III classification system, both genera are placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae).[5] It has also been placed in the former family Dracaenaceae.

Etymology

The genus was originally named Sanseverinia by Petagna to honor his patron Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, Count of Chiaromonte (1724-1771), but the name was altered for unknown reasons by Thunberg, possibly influenced by the name of Raimondo di Sangro (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.

Characteristics

There is great variation within the genus, 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 stolons.[6][7]

Foliage

The leaves of Sansevieria are typically arranged in a rosette around the growing point, although some species are distichous. There is great variation in foliage form within the genus. All species can be divided into one of two basic categories based on their leaves: hard leaved and soft leaved species. Typically, hard leaved Sansevieria originate from arid climates, while the soft leaved species originate from tropical and subtropical regions.[6] Hard leaved 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 and are generally shorter than those of their soft leafed tropical counterparts, which are wide and strap-like.[6]

Flowers

The flowers are usually greenish-white, also rose, lilac-red, brownish, 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.[6][7] The raceme of Sansevieria is derived from the apical meristem and a flowered shoot will no longer produce new leaves. Unlike plants such as agave which die after flowering, a bloomed Sansevieria shoot will simply cease to produce new leaves. The flowered shoot continues to grow by producing plantlets via its rhizomes or stolons.

Uses

Rope and traditional uses

In Africa, the leaves are used for fiber production;[8] 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.[9][10]

Ornamental purposes

A variegated cultivar of Sansevieria trifasciata (namely 'Laurentii'), the most common species in cultivation

Several species are popular houseplants in temperate regions, with Sansevieria trifasciata the most widely sold; numerous cultivars are available. In China, the plant is usually kept potted in a pot often ornamented with dragons and phoenixes.[11] 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. They can rot from over-watering, so it is important that they are potted in well-drained soil, and not over-watered. They need to be re-potted or split at the root from time to time because they will sometimes grow so large that they break the pot they are growing in.

In Korea, potted Sansevieria is commonly presented as a gift during opening ceremonies of businesses or other auspicious events. In Barbados, Sansevieria is also popularly referred to as the "money plant", with the belief that the person having it will always have money. The belief seems to be based on an association of the colour (green) with the US bills.

Other Sansevieria species are less common in cultivation. Another species is Sansevieria cylindrica, which has leaves which look quite different from S. trifasciata, but is equally tough.

Scenery in film and television

Sansevieria is frequently used in many films and TV shows, and has been a popular set decoration since at least the 1980s.

Air purification

Like the Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans), Sansevieria species are 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.[12] Sansevieria use the crassulacean acid metabolism process, which absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen at night. This purportedly makes them suitable bedroom plants. However, since the leaves are potentially poisonous if ingested, Sansevieria is not usually recommended for children's bedrooms.

Feng shui

According to feng shui, because the leaves of Sansevieria grow upwards. the plants can be used for feng shui purposes.[13][14] Some believe that having Sansevieria near children helps reduce coarseness, although care must be taken to ensure the child cannot reach the plant's poisonous leaves.[15] Others recommend placing pots near the toilet tank to counter the drain-down vibrations.[16] Such placement appears in the 1986 film Blue Velvet.

Selected species

  • Sansevieria aethiopica Thunb.
  • Sansevieria angustiflora Lindb.
  • Sansevieria arborescens Cornu ex Gérôme & Labroy
  • Sansevieria aubrytiana Carrière
  • Sansevieria braunii Engl. & K.Krause
  • Sansevieria canaliculata Carrière
  • Sansevieria concinna N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer ex Hook.
  • Sansevieria dawei Stapf
  • Sansevieria deserti N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria dooneri N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria ehrenbergii Schweinf. ex Baker
  • Sansevieria eilensis Chahin.
  • Sansevieria fasciata Cornu ex Gérôme & Labroy
  • Sansevieria gracilis N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria grandicuspis Haw.
  • Sansevieria grandis Hook.f.
    • Sansevieria grandis var. zuluensis N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce
  • Sansevieria intermedia N.E.Br.
  • Sansevieria kirkii Baker
  • Sansevieria liberica Gérôme & Labroy
  • Sansevieria longiflora Sims
  • Sansevieria metallica Gérôme & Labroy
  • Sansevieria parva N.E.Br.

Formerly placed here

References

  1. ↑ "Genus: Sansevieria Thunb.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ↑ Mbugua, P. K.; D. M. Moore. "Taxonomic studies of the genus Sansevieria (Dracaenaceae)". In L. J. G. van der Maesen; M. van der Burgt; J. M. van Medenbach de Rooy. The Biodiversity of African Plants (hardcover) (1st ed.). p. 880.
  4. ↑ Stevens, P.F. (2001–2012), Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Nolinoideae
  5. ↑ Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
  6. 1 2 3 4 Stover, Hermine (1983). The Sansevieria Book.
  7. 1 2 Chahinian, B. Juan (2005). The Splendid Sansevieria: An Account of the Species. ISBN 987-43-9250-9.
  8. ↑ Kirby, F. Vaughan (1899). Sport In East Central Africa: Being An Account Of Hunting Trips In Portuguese And Other Districts Of East Central Africa.
  9. ↑ Chinasa, EC; Obodoike, EC & Chhukwuemeka, ES (2011), "Evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of the leaves of Sansevieria liberica ger. and labr. (fam: Dracaenaceae).", Asian Pac J Trop Med., 4 (10): 791–5, doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60195-8
  10. ↑ Philip, D; Kaleena, PK; Valivittan, K & Girish Kumar, CP (2011), "Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Sansevieria roxburghiana Schult. and Schult. F.", Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 10 (4): 512–8
  11. ↑ http://www.about-garden.com/a/en/1919-sansevieria-trifasciata-snake-plant
  12. ↑ https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19930072988
  13. ↑ http://www.fengshuipalace.com/fs101/faq.shtml
  14. ↑ http://www.portlandnursery.com/plants/houseplantPicks/sansevieria-cylindrica.shtml
  15. ↑ http://www.womanspassions.com/articles/2149.html
  16. ↑ Englebert, Clear (2001). Bedroom Feng Shui. Crossing Press. p. 143. ISBN 1-58091-109-9.
  17. ↑ "Species: Sansevieria pinguicula P.R.O.Bally". GBIF. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  18. 1 2 "GRIN Species Records of Sansevieria". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
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