Sansevieria trifasciata
Prain.
Asparagaceae
Sansevieria craigii auct.
Sansevieria jacquinii N.E.Br.
Sansevieria laurentii De Wild.
Sansevieria zeylanica laurentii (De Wild.) L.H.Bailey
Common Name: Mother-in-Law's Tongue
General Information
Mother-in-Law's tongue is an evergreen, succulent, perennial plant producing long, narrow, erect or slightly spreading sword-shaped leaves up to 75cm long from a rhizomatous rootstock.
The plant is cultivated for its fibre in several tropical countries, it is also harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is commonly grown as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical regions, and as a pot plant in many other areas of the world[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].
Known Hazards
The plant contains glycosides and saponins and is very toxic[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Botanical References
Range
Western Tropical Africa - Nigeria to Gabon, east to Zaire..
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Perennial |
| Height | 0.75 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny or partially shaded position[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
], and a pH between 6 and 7[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Bright sunlight can lead to bleaching of leaf colour[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. Established plants are drought tolerant[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used to treat ringworm and fungal diseases[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The leaf sap is applied directly on infected sores, cuts and grazes, it is also used to treat fungal and scabies infections[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
Other Uses
A fibre obtained from the leaves is used to make string, mats etc[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].
The leaf pulp is used for cosmetics[
].
Propagation
Seed -
Division.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
