Common Name:

General Information

Chlorophytum comosum is an evergreen perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces a clump of grass-like basal leaves and flowering stems that can be up to 35cm tall[]
The plant is sometimes used medicinally. It is very commonly grown as an outdoor ornamental and is also one of the most popular of house plants, and can be used as a ground cover. There are some named varieties[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern Africa - Sudan and Ethiopia, south to S. Africa; Western Africa - Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon

Habitat

Undergrowth in rain-forest and riverine forest on brown to black loamy clay, also in crevices in rocks along streams, sometimes epiphytic or penetrating into more open and drier areas; at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Chlorophytum species require a frost free climate, and can succeed from the subtropical zone to the tropics, in moist to humid climates[]. Although this species does not tolerate frost, it can be grown in areas with winter temperatures down to a few degrees below zero, where it will be killed to the ground but will usually quickly revive with the return of warmer temperatures. Plants prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,500mm, but can tolerate 500 - 3,000mm[].
Species in this genus seem to be adapted to a wide range of conditions in cultivation, though they are generally found in soils rich in organic matter and can succeed in full sun or in shade[, ]. This species grows best where the soil pH is within the range 5 - 7, but can tolerate 4.5 - 7.5[].
Very commonly grown as a house plant and also outdoors as an ornamental in subtropical and tropical climates, the plant has been known to become established in the wild and is considered to be invasive in some places[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is used for treating bronchitis, fractures and burns[].

A study isolated three new spirostanol pentaglycosides and four known saponins. The saponins were examined for inhibitory activity on tumor promoter-induced phospholipid metabolism of HeLa cells[].
The antiproliferative effects of a n-butanol extract from Chlorophytum comosum was tested in vitro against four human cell lines. Results showed the extract to have antiproliferative effects and apoptosis in human cell lines[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as a ground cover[].
According to a NASA study, when grown as a pot plant this species can absorb 96% of the carbon monoxide in a controlled environment within a 24-hour period, making it one of the most effective air purifiers in its research[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Division of rhizomes[].
Division of young plantlets that develop on the flowering stem[]

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