Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques

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.

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.

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.

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