Sansevieria

Taxobox
name = "Sansevieria"


image_width = frameless
image_caption = "Sansevieria ehrenbergii"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Ruscaceae
genus = "Sansevieria"
genus_authority = Thunb.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Sansevieria ehrenbergii"
"Sansevieria hyacinthoides"
"Sansevieria trifasciata"

"Sansevieria" (mother-in-law's tongue) is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants in the family Ruscaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. [cite book | last = Mbugua
first = P. K. | coauthors = D. M. Moore | editor = L. J. G. van der Maesen, M. van der Burgt, J. M. van Medenbach de Rooy, editors| title = The Biodiversity of African Plants | origdate = 1996--6-30 | format = hardcover | edition = 1st | language = English | pages = 880 | chapter = Taxonomic studies of the genus Sansevieria (Dracaenaceae)]

They are xerophytic herbaceous to shrubby succulent perennial plants with evergreen strap-shaped leaves, growing to 20 cm to 3 m tall, often forming dense clumps from a spreading rhizome or stolons. The flowers are greenish-white, produced on a simple or branched raceme 40-90 cm long. The fruit is a red or orange berry.

The genus was named in honor 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.

Uses

In Africa, the leaves are used for fibre production; [cite book | last = Kirby | first = F. Vaughan |title = Sport In East Central Africa: Being An Account Of Hunting Trips In Portuguese And Other Districts Of East Central Africa | date = 1899 ] in some species, e.g. "S. ehrenbergii", the plant's sap has antiseptic qualities, and the leaves are used for bandages in traditional first aid.

Several species are popular houseplants in temperate regions, with "S. trifasciata" the most widely sold; numerous cultivars are available.

References

* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/splist.pl?10698 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Sansevieria"]