Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Uses
2. SANSEVIERIA Thunb.
DRACAENA SANSEVIERIA 283
Evergreen perennial plants with thick and creeping
cylindrical rhizomes. Leaves sessile, in clusters or 2
opposite ranks, erect or spreading, fleshy or thick and
leathery, flat, channeled, half-cylindrical, cylindrical or
laterally compressed, rigid, firm or flexible, often full
of fiber. Inflorescence a raceme or panicle, simple or
branched. Flo wers solitary or 2 or more in a cluster, on
pedicels that are jointed near the middle or at apex, the
upper part of which is falling off with the flower. The
flowers are often fragrant, and remain open only one day
or night. Perianth with a distinct tube and 6 narrow lobes
that are usually rolled back or spreading. Stamens 6, with
slender thread-like filaments and versatile anthers. Ovary
trilocular, with one ovule in each locule; styles slender,
thread­like, about as long as the stamens. Fruit a berry,
containing 1–3 stony seeds.
The genus includes about 50 species naturally
occurring in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World,
mostly in Africa. It is represented by 6 species in the
Flora area and probably one or more introduced species
cultivated in gardens and as pot plants.
In many parts of Africa, the string is used for bows; hence
the common name for the genus as ‘Bowstring Hemp’.
A number of species are cultivated in various parts of
the tropics for their valuable high quality fibers in terms
of elasticity and strength. Among the known species in
Ethiopia, S. ehrenbergii is harvested in large quantities
followed by S. forskaoliana. Goats have been observed
to browse on young leaves, while baboons, kudu and
rhinoceros have been observed eating the older leaves.
Species of this genus are used as in­door and outdoor
ornamental plants both in the tropics and the
temperate regions throughout the world, as they are
easily propagated from cuttings. Usually the rhizomes
are cut into pieces and planted. However, leaves which
are planted whole or cut into small pieces also develop
roots readily under moist conditions. Plants can also be
grown from suckers or seeds.