Family:
Asparagaceae Juss.
Genus:
Chlorophytum Ker Gawl.

Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques

This species is accepted, and its native range is W. Tropical Africa to Cameroon, Ethiopia to S. Africa. It is used as a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for food.

[CPLC]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 1480 - 1500 m.; Andes.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba

[FZ]

Flora Zambesiaca Anthericaceae by S. Kativu, G. Hoell, C.S. Bjorå & I. Nordal

Morphology General Habit
Plants 15–70 cm high.
Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes
Rhizome small, often indistinct.
Morphology Roots
Roots narrow to slightly swollen, often with elongated tubers.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves in basal rosette, pseudopetiolate, lanceolate, acute, glabrous, 8–40 × 0.5–4 cm, margins minutely scabrid.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncles 1–4 per plant, terete, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence usually unbranched or with only 1–2 branches, sometimes represented by sterile bracts, or ± paniculate; outer floral bracts oblanceolate, glabrous, inner ones narrower, small, shortly cilate on margins, to 10 mm long; rachis often scabrid.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels articulated above middle, lower ones 2–4 per node, 4–5 mm long in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth white; tepals 5–7 mm long, 3-veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens as long or slightly longer than perianth; filaments smooth, dilated above middle, longer than anthers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile, with c.4 ovules per locule; style as long as stamens.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsules deeply lobed, often bearing perianth remains, 3–5(9) × 4–5 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds saucer-shaped, slightly folded, 1.5–2 mm across.
Distribution
A widespread and variable species complex found across sub-Saharan Africa.
Ecology
Usually growing in shade, generally in evergreen forests or woodlands; 50–1800 m.
Conservation
Conservation notes: Widespread taxon; not threatened.

[UPFC]
Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 1480–1500 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bogotá DC.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

[FTEA]

Anthericaceae, Nordal (University of Oslo), Shakkie Kativu (University of Zimbabwe) & Axel D. Poulsen (University of Copenhagen). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1997

Morphology General Habit
A variable complex of plants with ± lax leaves and peduncles, sometimes drying blackish.
Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes
Rhizome short, vertical or sometimes horizontal with elongated internodes; roots ± spongy, often with spindle-shaped tubers.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves rosulate, petiolate or not, lanceolate to strap-shaped, usually glabrous, 10–60(–100) cm. long, 1–3(–4) cm. wide, sometimes with scabrid margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles
Peduncles often more than one to a plant, 5–20(–50) cm. long, erect to ± drooping, glabrous to scabrid, with a few sterile bracts just below the inflorescence.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 10–50(–75 cm.), usually simple, sometimes ± paniculate; rhachis sometimes somewhat scabrid, internode elongation varies considerably giving dense to extremely lax inflorescences; floral bracts 5–20 mm., acute to acuminate.
Vegetative Multiplication
Small plantlets often produced from the bracts of the inflorescence (pseudovivipary).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels articulated in upper half, 4–10 mm. long, slightly reflexed during anthesis, erect in fruit, 2–4-nate at the lower nodes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth slightly urceolate, whitish, often keeled greenish outside and apically; tepals patent to somewhat reflexed at anthesis, 4–7 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, 3-veined, with scabrid margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens exserted; filaments fusiform, dilated above the middle, scabrid to papillose, 3–5 mm. long, longer than the 1–2.5 mm. long, versatile anthers.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style straight, as long as the stamens.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule triquetrous to deltate, emarginate, usually somewhat broader than long, 4–9 mm. long, 5–9(–11) mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds saucer-shaped, slightly folded, 2–3 mm. in diameter.
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 (or persists when the forest disappears); sea-level to 2450 m.
Distribution
K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 a widespread complex species of rain-forest areas of Africa south of the Sahara, from West, Central and East Africa including Ethiopia, southwards to the Cape.

[UNAL]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
cinta, cintilla, lazo de amor, madre moderna

[UPFC]
Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Social
Social uses.

Native to:

Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Ecuador, Gabon, Juan Fernández Is., Korea, Marianas, Mauritius, Nauru, New South Wales, New Zealand North, Norfolk Is., Réunion, Seychelles, St.Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Tunisia, Western Australia

English
Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Jan 1, 2000 Last, J.T. [s.n.], Mozambique K000256936 Unknown type material Yes
Jan 1, 1992 Kirk [s.n.], Tanzania K000256905 holotype Yes
Jan 1, 1992 Swynnerton, C.F.M. [318], Mozambique K000256934 Unknown type material Yes
Jan 1, 1992 Swynnerton, C.F.M. [318], Mozambique K000256935 Unknown type material Yes
Hepper, F.N. [5180], Tanzania 34330.000 No
Monteiro [s.n.], Mozambique K000256933 holotype Yes
Burchell [3650], South Africa K000256979 Unknown type material Yes
Wild, H. [3839], Zimbabwe Chlorophytum gazense 5439.000 No
Drummond, R.B. [3052], Tanzania Chlorophytum inopinum 4431.000 No
Polhill, R. [2322], Tanzania Chlorophytum kirkii 29370.000 No
Drummond, R.B. [4335], Kenya Chlorophytum limurense 5440.000 No

First published in J. Soc. Imp. Centr. Hort. 8: 345 (1862)

Accepted by

  • Bosser, J. & al. (eds.) (1978). Flore des Mascareignes 177-188 IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Cameron, E.K. (2021). Updated vascular flora and vegitation of the Noises islands, Hauraki Gulf Journal, Auckland Botanical Society 76: 51-81.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Danton, P. & Perrier, C. (2004). Liste de la Flore vasculaire de l'île Robinson Crusoe archipel Juan Fernández, Chili Journal de Botanique Société de Botanique de France 24: 67-78.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Demissew, S. & Nordal, I. (2010). Aloes and other Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea, ed, 2: 1-351. Shama Books, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1987). A Geographical Checklist of the Micronesian Monocotyledonae Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 20: 19-129.
  • George, A.S. (ed.) (1987). Flora of Australia 45: 1-521. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14.: i-vi, 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. (2009). Alien plants and their impact on Tristan da Cunha 2: 1-307. Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).
  • Jørgensen, P.M. & León-Yánes, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador: 1-1181. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Lee, W.T. (1996). Lineamenta Florae Koreae: 1-1688. Soul T'ukpyolsi: Ak'ademi Sojok.
  • Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds.) (2004). A Checklist of Zimbabwean Vascular Plants: 1-148. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET), Pretoria.
  • Meerts, P. & Bjorå, C.S. (2012). Synopsis of the genus Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi) Plant ecology and evolution 145: 373-409.
  • Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1 Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Robertson, S.A. (1989). Flowering Plants of Seychelles: 1-327. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34: 1-199.
  • Timberlake, J.R. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2008). Flora Zambesiaca 13(1): 1-140. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • von Raab-Straube, E. & Raus, T. (eds.) (2018). Euro+Med-Checklist Notulae, 9 Willdenowia 48: 195-220.

Literature

Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Flora Zambesiaca

  • in F.C. 6: 400 (1897).
  • in J. Soc. Imp. Centr. Hort. 8: 345 (1862).
  • ―Baker in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 15: 329 (1876);
  • ―Kativu in Kirkia 15: 57 (1994).
  • ―Nordal, Kativu & Poulsen in F.T.E.A., Anthericaceae: 55 (1997).
  • ―Obermeyer in Bothalia 7: 698 (1962).

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Bosser, J. & al. (eds.) (1978). Flore des Mascareignes 177-188 IRD Éditions, MSIRI, RBG-Kew, Paris.
  • Cameron, E.K. (2021). Updated vascular flora and vegitation of the Noises islands, Hauraki Gulf Journal, Auckland Botanical Society 76: 51-81.
  • Danton, P. & Perrier, C. (2004). Liste de la Flore vasculaire de l'île Robinson Crusoe archipel Juan Fernández, Chili Journal de Botanique Société de Botanique de France 24: 67-78.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1987). A Geographical Checklist of the Micronesian Monocotyledonae Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 20: 19-129.
  • George, A.S. (ed.) (1987). Flora of Australia 45: 1-521. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. (2009). Alien plants and their impact on Tristan da Cunha 2: 1-307. Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).
  • Jørgensen, P.M. & León-Yánes, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador: 1-1181. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
  • Lambdon, P. (2012). Flowering plants & ferns of St Helena: 1-624. Pisces publications for St Helena nature conservation group.
  • Lee, W.T. (1996). Lineamenta Florae Koreae: 1-1688. Soul T'ukpyolsi: Ak'ademi Sojok.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Orchard, A.E. (ed.) (1994). Oceanic Islands 1 Flora of Australia 49: 1-681. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Robertson, S.A. (1989). Flowering Plants of Seychelles: 1-327. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Sosef, M.S.M. & al. (eds.) (2010). Flore du Gabon 41: 1-75. Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
  • Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mt. Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34: 1-199.
  • Thaman, R.R., Fosberg, F.R., Manner, H.I. & Hassall, D.C. (1994). The Flora of Nauru Atoll Research Bulletin 392: 1-223.
  • Timberlake, J.R. & Martins, E.S. (eds.) (2008). Flora Zambesiaca 13(1): 1-140. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • von Raab-Straube, E. & Raus, T. (eds.) (2018). Euro+Med-Checklist Notulae, 9 Willdenowia 48: 195-220.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Agnew, A.D.Q. & Agnew, S., Upland Kenya Wild Flowers, ed. 2: 318 (1994).
  • Baker in Fl. Cap. 6: 400 (1897).
  • Baker in Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 15: 329 (1876)
  • J.M. Watt & Breyer-Brandwyk, Medic. & Pois. Pl. S. Afr.: 13 (1932)
  • J.M. Wood, Natal Pl. 3: 279 (1902).
  • Jacq. in Journ. Soc. Imp. Centr. Hort. 8: 345 (1862).
  • Nordal & Thulin in Nordic Journ. Bot. 13: 262 (1993).
  • Nordal in Fl. Ethiopia 6: 102 (1997).
  • Oberm. in Bothalia 7: 698 (1962).

Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R., & Celis, M. (eds.). (2020). Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia. v1.1. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Dataset/Checklist. https://doi.org/10.15472/7avdhn
  • Diazgranados et al. (2021). Catalogue of plants of Colombia. Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia project. In prep.
  • Diazgranados, M., Allkin, B., Black N., Cámara-Leret, R., Canteiro C., Carretero J., Eastwood R., Hargreaves S., Hudson A., Milliken W., Nesbitt, M., Ondo, I., Patmore, K., Pironon, S., Turner, R., Ulian, T. (2020). World Checklist of Useful Plant Species. Produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity.
  • FPI (2021). Food Plants International. https://fms.cmsvr.com/fmi/webd/Food_Plants_World?homeurl=https://foodplantsinternational.com/plants/
  • GBIF.org (2021). GBIF species matching tool. https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup
  • GRIN (2021). Germplasm Resources Information Network from the United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.ars-grin.gov/
  • Medicinal Plant Names Services (MPNS) v.10 (2021); http://mpns.kew.org/

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    Flora of Tropical East Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Living Collection Database

    Common Names from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Living Collection https://www.kew.org/

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    Copyright applied to individual images

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    ColPlantA database
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0