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Sansevieria hyacinthoides [family DRACAENACEAE]

Date Updated: 19 August 2007

Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Sansevieria hyacinthoides [family DRACAENACEAE]
Common names
Aloe hyacinthoides L.: 321 (1753). Aletris hyacinthoides (L.) L.: 456 (1762). Aloe hyacinthoides var. guineensis L.: 321 (1753) (type variety). Aletris hyacinthoides var. guineensis (L.) L.: 456 (1762). Aletris guineensis (L.) Jacq.: 36 (1770). S. guineensis (L.) Willd.: 159 (1799); Kunth: 16 (1850); Bak.: 547 (1875); Bak.: 5 (1896). S. thyrsiflora Petagna: 643 (1787), nom. illegit. based on type of A. hyacinthoides. S. thyrsiflora (Petagna) Thunb.: 65 (1794); Thunb.: 329 (1823); Bak.: 547 (1875); Bak.: 5 (1896). S. angustiflora Lindb.: 130, t. 5 (1875). Iconotype: Lindb. in Acta Societatis scientiarum fennicae 10: 130, t. 5 (1875): no specimen preserved. S. grandis Hook, f.: t. 7877 (1903). Iconotype: t. 7877 in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1903), drawn from specimen sent to Kew from Cuba, but probably not indigenous there, not preserved ? S. grandis var. zuluensis N.E. Br.: 251 (1915). Type: Natal, Zululand, at Somkele, Wylie in NH 12010 (NH, hole).
Information
Acaulescent, rhizomatous perennials forming large colonies. Rhizome and roots typical. Leaves rosulate, ± 2-8, lanceolate to broadly linear, up to ± 600 x 40-80 mm, flat to somewhat in­curved, with irregular, paler horizontal areas, margin entire with a thin, red and pale, mem­branous edge. Inflorescence a simple raceme, erect, dense, many-flowered, up to 0,45 m high; peduncle short, firm. Flowers irregularly clus­tered on small, raised areas, subtended by small bracts, opening towards evening, delicately scented. Perianth ± 30-40 mm long, lobes + 20 mm long, cream or pale mauve. Stamens exserted; filaments thin; anthers versatile, yellow. Fruit shortly stipitate, globular, orange or yellow; seeds globose, + 8 mm in diameter, epidermis thick. Figure 2.
Habitat
Hooker (1903) reported that Mr H.L. Hall of Nelspruit had informed him that the natives of this region used the fibres of the species (identified at the time as S. grandis Hook, f.) for ropes, etc. The fibre was apparently strongest when collected in summer, but not as good during the dry winter months.
Use
1. Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce in The Botanical Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles Report for 1913, 3: 423 (1914); Wij-nands: 109 (1973); Wrjnands: 138 (1983). Icono-type: t. 33 in C. Commelin, Praeludia botanica 84, t. 23 (1703).
Range
Widespread in the eastern parts of southern Africa into tropical east Africa, along the coast and further inland; growing in dry karoo, bushveld or savanna, in well drained sandy or rocky soil. Map 3.

Date Updated: 19 August 2007

Herbarium
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Compton Herbarium, Cape Town (SAM)
Collection
Flora of Southern Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of South Africa, (2003) Author: Dr J.P. Roux
Names
Sansevieria hyacinthoides [family DRACAENACEAE]
Common names
Aloe hyacinthoides L.: 321 (1753). Aletris hyacinthoides (L.) L.: 456 (1762). Aloe hyacinthoides var. guineensis L.: 321 (1753) (type variety). Aletris hyacinthoides var. guineensis (L.) L.: 456 (1762). Aletris guineensis (L.) Jacq.: 36 (1770). S. guineensis (L.) Willd.: 159 (1799); Kunth: 16 (1850); Bak.: 547 (1875); Bak.: 5 (1896). S. thyrsiflora Petagna: 643 (1787), nom. illegit. based on type of A. hyacinthoides. S. thyrsiflora (Petagna) Thunb.: 65 (1794); Thunb.: 329 (1823); Bak.: 547 (1875); Bak.: 5 (1896). S. angustiflora Lindb.: 130, t. 5 (1875). Iconotype: Lindb. in Acta Societatis scientiarum fennicae 10: 130, t. 5 (1875): no specimen preserved. S. grandis Hook, f.: t. 7877 (1903). Iconotype: t. 7877 in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (1903), drawn from specimen sent to Kew from Cuba, but probably not indigenous there, not preserved ? S. grandis var. zuluensis N.E. Br.: 251 (1915). Type: Natal, Zululand, at Somkele, Wylie in NH 12010 (NH, hole).
Information
Acaulescent, rhizomatous perennials forming large colonies. Rhizome and roots typical. Leaves rosulate, ± 2-8, lanceolate to broadly linear, up to ± 600 x 40-80 mm, flat to somewhat in­curved, with irregular, paler horizontal areas, margin entire with a thin, red and pale, mem­branous edge. Inflorescence a simple raceme, erect, dense, many-flowered, up to 0,45 m high; peduncle short, firm. Flowers irregularly clus­tered on small, raised areas, subtended by small bracts, opening towards evening, delicately scented. Perianth ± 30-40 mm long, lobes + 20 mm long, cream or pale mauve. Stamens exserted; filaments thin; anthers versatile, yellow. Fruit shortly stipitate, globular, orange or yellow; seeds globose, + 8 mm in diameter, epidermis thick. Figure 2.
Habitat
Hooker (1903) reported that Mr H.L. Hall of Nelspruit had informed him that the natives of this region used the fibres of the species (identified at the time as S. grandis Hook, f.) for ropes, etc. The fibre was apparently strongest when collected in summer, but not as good during the dry winter months.
Use
1. Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce in The Botanical Society and Exchange Club of the British Isles Report for 1913, 3: 423 (1914); Wij-nands: 109 (1973); Wrjnands: 138 (1983). Icono-type: t. 33 in C. Commelin, Praeludia botanica 84, t. 23 (1703).
Range
Widespread in the eastern parts of southern Africa into tropical east Africa, along the coast and further inland; growing in dry karoo, bushveld or savanna, in well drained sandy or rocky soil. Map 3.
Sansevieria hyacinthoides [family DRACAENACEAE]
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