| Spear Sansevieria | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Sansevieria |
| Species: | S. cylindrica |
| Binomial name | |
| Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer, 1837 |
|
Sansevieria cylindrica, also known as the Cylindrical Snake Plant, African Spear or Spear Sansevieria,[1] (Chinese: 石筆虎尾兰) is a succulent plant native to Angola.
S. cylindrica has striped, round leaves that are smooth and a green-gray color. A single leaf is about 3 cm (1 in) thick and grows to a height between 1 m (3 ft) and 2 m (7 ft).[1] The Spear Sansevieria grows fan-shaped, with its stiff leaves growing from a basal rosette. The species is interesting in having rounded instead of strap-shaped leaves caused by a failure to express genes which would cause the cylindrical bud to differentiate dorsoventrally or produce a distinctive and familiar top and bottom surface to the leaf blade.[1][2] The plant blooms once a year in the spring or mid-summer,[3] producing 3 cm (1 in) greenish-white tubular flowers tinged with pink.[2] The species is drought-tolerant and in captivity needs water only about once every other week during the breeding season.[2] The species was described by Wenceslas Bojer in 1837. Sansevieria cylindrica received its name from a competition in a Dutch national newspaper.[1] It is popular as an ornamental plant[1] as it is easy to culture and take care of in a home.[2]