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Sanseviera (Named after Raimond de)

(named after Raimond de Sansgrio, Prince of Sanseviero, 1710-1776). Bowstring Hemp. SYNS. Acyntha, Salmia. ORD. Haemodoraceae. Nine species are enumerated by Mr. Baker as belonging to this genus; they are stove, herbaceous perennials, with short, thick, sometimes stoloniferous rhizomes, natives of tropical and South Africa and the East Indies. Flowers mediocre or long, racemose; perianth tube sometimes very long, scarcely enlarged at apex, the lobes narrow, equal, and slightly spreading; stamens six; pedicels articulated at apex; scape simple, tall. Leaves rosulate, thick, cartilaginous, fibrous within, often elongated, nearly flat or terete. The four best-known species are described below. They are interesting plants, thriving in sandy loam. Propagation may be effected by suckers. When dormant, the plants should be sparingly watered.

S. cylindrica (cylindrical). fl., perianth whitish, 1in. to 1 1/4in. long, the segments equalling the very slender tube; anthers at length exserted; raceme 2ft. to 2 1/2ft. long, 2 1/2in. to 3in. thick when expanded; scape nearly 1ft. high, firm. August. l. arcuate, cylindrical, 3ft. to 4ft. long 1in. thick, rigid, coriaceous. South tropical Africa, 1856. (B. M. 5093.) S. guineensis (Guinea). fl., perianth whitish, tinged with greenish-brown, 2in. long, the segments equalling the tube; raceme simple, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. broad when expanded; scape 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, glaucous, purplish-green, with three or four deltoid bracts. September. l. sub-erect, oblanceolate, cartilaginous, 3ft. to 4ft. high, 2 1/2in. to 5in. broad above the middle, whitish or obscurely reddish on the margins, white-spotted, cuspidate. Guinea, 1690. (B. M. 1179.) S. glauca, S. laetevirens, and S. polyphylla, are mere forms of this species.

S. longiflora (long-flowered). fl., perianth greenish-white, 3 1/2in. to 4in. long, at length drooping, the segments one-third the length of the tube; raceme dense, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 8in. to 9in. thick; scape 1ft. or more long. July. l. sub-erect, oblanceolate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. to 4in. broad, white-spotted, distinctly red-margined, cartilaginous, but not thick. Tropical Western Africa, 1824. (B. M. 2634.) S. zeylanica (Cingalese). fl., perianth greenish-white, 1 1/4in. to 1 1/2in. long, the segments equalling the tube; raceme 1ft. or more long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. thick; scape 1ft. or more high. September. l. falcate, 1ft. to 2ft. or more long, ensiform, sub-terete, 3/4in. to 1in. broad at base, deeply channelled, obscure green with white markings, the margins scarious and distinctly red-lined. East Indies, 1731. (B. R. 160.) S. ensifolia, S. grandicuspis, S. pumila, and S. stenophylla, are mere garden forms of this species.