1. Sansevieria Petagna, Inst. Bot. 3: 643. 1787 (as Sanseverinia).
[name and orthography conserved]
Bowstring hemp, devil’s-tongue [for Raimond de Sangro, Prince of Sanseviero]
William J. Hess
Herbs, perennial, erect, from thick rhizomes. Leaves basal, erect; blade often variegated and mottled, elongate, thick, flat or cylindrical, rigid. Inflorescences paniculate, racemose, or spicate. Flowers bisexual; tepals basally connate into tube, white, yellowish white, pale pink, or greenish white, tips narrow; ovary superior. Fruits baccate. Seeds 1–3. x = 9, 19, 20, 21, 33.
Species 60 (1 in the flora): introduced; Africa, Sri Lanka.
Many species of Sansevieria are used as house and greenhouse plants. Some besides S. hyacinthoides have reportedly escaped in southern Florida but I have seen no specimens.
