Dracaena angolensis
| Dracaena angolensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Dracaena |
| Species: | D. angolensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dracaena angolensis | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
| |
Dracaena angolensis (synonym Sansevieria cylindrica),[1] commonly known as African spear or the spear sansevieria,[3] is a succulent plant native to Angola in Southern Africa. For years, it was placed within the genus Sansevieria (snake-plants), a specific name which is still used synonymously by some; in the 21st century, Sansevieria became part of Dracaena (dragon-trees), after improved testing methods, physical comparisons, and other analyses found sufficient commonalities between the two genera to warrant subsumption.
The genus Dracaena is a part of the Asparagaceae (asparagus family)—i.e., they are closely aligned with and related to such groups as the Asparagus, Agave, Beaucarnea (ponytail "palms"), Chlorophytum (spider-plants), Camassia, Dasylirion (sotols), Hesperaloe (Texan or red yuccas) and Yucca (Joshua trees).
Description
Dracaena angolensis has striped, elongate, smooth, greenish-gray subcylindrical leaves. They are up to 3 cm (1 in) diameter and grow up to 2 m (7 ft) above soil.[4] The spear sansevieria grows fan-shaped, with its stiff leaves growing from a basal rosette.
The species is interesting in having subcylindrical 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.[4][5] The 3 cm (1 in) greenish-white tubular flowers are tinged with pink.[5]
Cultivation
The species is drought-tolerant and in cultivation requires water only about once every other week during the growing season.[5] The species can be watered once a month during the winter months. The species was described by Wenceslas Bojer in 1837. Dracaena angolensis (under the synonym Sansevieria cylindrica) received its common name from a competition in a Dutch national newspaper.[4] It is popular as an ornamental plant[4] as it is easy to culture and take care of in a home if given bright sunlight and other required resources.[5] In Brazil, where it is known as lança de São Jorge ("St. George's spear"), it is grown outside houses to ward off evil that might harm the home.[6] The plant plays an important part in the Afro-Brazilian syncretic religion Umbanda,[6] representing the orisha Ogum,[7] as Ogum is syncretized with St. George.
Gallery of varieties and cultivars
Kind known as "var. patula"
Cultivar 'Boncel'
References
- ^ a b c "Dracaena angolensis (Welw. ex Carrière) Byng & Christenh". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ "Sansevieria angolensis Welw". The International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
- ^ Alfred Byrd Graf. Exotic House Plants Illustrated: All the Best in Indoor Plants. Roehrs Company, 1973. p. 171. ISBN 9780911266078
- ^ a b c d Thongthiraj, Rahpee. "Get Inspired with Sansevierias: The Perfect Solution for Your Home Garden". California Cactus Center. Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d Lemke, Cal (2002-01-25). "Sanseviera cylindrica". Plant of the Week. University of Oklahoma Department of Biology and Microbiology. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ^ a b Aline Melo. "Espada de São Jorge, lança de São Jorge ou Espada de Santa Bárbara?" Casa e Jardim. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2024. (in Portuguese) "No Brasil, popularizou-se o uso de três espécies: a Sansevieria zeylanica, autêntica espada-de-são-jorge, verde e rajada; a Sansevieria trifasciata, com bordas amareladas da raiz às pontas, que ficou conhecida como espada-de-santa-bárbara; e a Sansevieria cylindrica, a lança-de-são-jorge, com aspecto pontudo e folhagens fechadas em formato cilíndrico."
- ^ Heloísa Von Ah. "3 tipos de Espada-de-São-Jorge: conheça as principais diferenças." WeMystic. Date not given. Retrieved 10 February 2024. (in Portuguese)