Sansevieria carnea Andrews, Bot. Repos. 6: t. 361. 1804; Reineckea carnea var. rubra H. Léveillé; R. ovata Z. Y. Zhu; R. yunnanensis W. W. Smith; S. sessiliflora Ker Gawler.

Rhizome terete, elongate, 2--4 mm thick, slender. Leaves 3--8, linear, narrowly oblanceolate, or lanceolate, 10--40 × 0.5--3.5 cm, glabrous, apex acuminate. Scape 5--15 cm. Spike 2--6.5 cm; bracts ovate-deltoid, 5--7 mm. Flowers fragrant, sometimes male flowers borne distally on spike. Perianth pink or pale rose, 0.8--1.3 cm; tube 4--6 mm; lobes reflexed, oblong, 5--7 mm, slightly fleshy. Filaments with free part 3--4 mm; anthers suboblong, 2--2.5 mm, emarginate at both ends. Ovary narrowly ovoid, ca. 3 mm. Style 7--10 mm. Berry red at maturity, 6--10 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. Jul--Nov. 2 n = 38*.

Dense forests, shady and moist slopes, hillsides along valleys; 100--3200 m. Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan].