Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce, Asparagaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 14 (Go to the risk assessment).

Other Latin names:  Sansevieria guineensis (L.) Willd.; Sansevieria thyrsiflora Thunb.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: African bowstring hemp, bowstring hemp, iguanatail

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Acaulescent perennials forming large colonies; rhizome subterranean, 1.2-2.5 cm thick. Leaves rosulate, 2-8, lanceolate to broadly linear, 60-85≈4-8 mm, flat to somewhat incurved, smooth to slightly rough, subulate tip 0.5 cm long, acute, hard but not horny, margin bright red, entire, 1 mm wide, with a pale membranous edge easily peeling off, with irregular, paler horizontal areas, conspicuous banding may fade with age; keeled towards the base, petiole 20-25 cm long; basal scaly leaves 2-3, 8-12≈4-6 cm, membranous, apex slightly obtuse, with distinct veins. Inflorescence an erect raceme, 65-70(-75) cm long, axis 0.4-0.6 cm wide; flowers 4-5(-7) per cluster, 2-2.5 cm apart, subtended by 0.4-0.5 cm long membranous bracteoles; pedicels 0.4-0.7(-0.9) cm long. Flower perianth (26-)30-40(-65) mm long; tube 14-20 mm long, lobes cream to pale mauve, 16-20 mm long; filaments ± 2 cm long, thin, anthers yellow, 0.3-0.4 cm long. Fruit orange or yellow, globose, shortly stipitate; seeds globose, ± 8 mm in diameter, the epidermis thick"  (Flora of Tropical East Africa online).

"Leaves 4-10 x 0.5-0.9 dm; blade with transverse white- or yellow-mottled bands, flat, glabrous, margins often yellow, entire, tufted. Inflorescences paniculate, surpassing leaves, 6 in diameter. Flowers: tepals greenish white to pale pink, 25-40 mm, limb lobes recurved, linear, 14-18 mm; filaments surpassing lobes; ovary 5 mm; style filiform, to 4 mm; stigma capitate. Berries red, globose, 8 mm in diameter"  (Flora of North America online).

Habitat/ecology:  In Florida (U.S.), "near old dwelling sites; 0-100 m"  (Flora of North America online).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa (GRIN).

Presence:

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Sansevieria hyacinthoides is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Sansevieria hyacinthoides as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Sansevieria hyacinthoides may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

U. S. Government. 2011. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (on-line resource).

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.