''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref>Hay, Alistair, Bogner, Josef, & Boyce, Peter Charles. 1994. ''Nephthytis'' Schott (Araceae) in Borneo: a new species and a new generic record for Malesia. Novon 4:365-368.
/ref> They are

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

plants growing from a

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are evergreen, light and dark green, 15–35 cm long, and are usually arrowhead-shaped, with three lobes. The leaf shape can vary depending on the age of the plant.

Cultivation

Some species are popular houseplants. If so, they must be kept away from any pets, as they are poisonous. When grown indoors as a decorative houseplant, it needs frequent watering to keep the soil moist. It prefers temperatures that are comfortable to humans, as with most plants. It functions well as a hanging or terrarium plant. The most common of its problems is

root rot Root rot is a condition in which anoxic conditions in the soil or potting media around the roots of a plant cause them to rot. This occurs due to excessive standing water around the roots. It is found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although ...

and can be avoided by providing adequate drainage. This can also be caused by allowing the plant to sit in water. As for other problems, scale insects can also affect it. If this happens, scrape them off and isolate the plant. For this kind of problem, pesticides and sprays do not always work as the shell of the insect protects it. If this becomes a severe problem, you will have to get rid of the plant. Also if this happens, make sure it is moved away from any other surrounding plants because the bugs could infect them as well. Other than that, this plant is very easy to take care of and thus, it is good for beginners. Propagation of ''Nephthytis'' is fairly easy as well. It can be propagated by layering and from cuttings. Certain ''Nephthytis'' species are poisonous to cats and dogs. Symptoms are oral irritation and vomiting.

''Syngonium podophyllum''

An unrelated American species, ''

Syngonium podophyllum ''Syngonium podophyllum'' is a species of aroid that is a popular houseplant. Common names include: arrowhead plant, arrowhead vine, arrowhead philodendron, goosefoot,nephthytis, African evergreen, and American evergreen. The species is native to ...

'', commonly grown as a houseplant, was originally confused with the similar-looking ''Nephthytis.'' It still retains ''Nephthytis'' as a common name, though it was given its own genus in 1879.

Species

Species recognized by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: # ''

Nephthytis afzelii ''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo. They are herbaceous plants growing from a rhizome. The leaves are evergreen, light and dark gre ...

'' Schott - West Africa from Congo-Brazzaville to Sierra Leone # ''

Nephthytis bintuluensis ''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo. They are herbaceous plants growing from a rhizome. The leaves are evergreen, light and dark gre ...

'' A.Hay, Bogner & P.C.Boyce - Sarawak # ''

Nephthytis hallaei ''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo. They are herbaceous plants growing from a rhizome. The leaves are evergreen, light and dark gre ...

'' Bogner - Gabon # ''

Nephthytis mayombensis ''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo. They are herbaceous plants growing from a rhizome. The leaf, leaves are evergreen, light and da ...

'' de Namur & Bogner - Congo-Brazzaville # ''

Nephthytis poissonii ''Nephthytis'' is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical western Africa, with one species in Borneo. They are herbaceous plants growing from a rhizome. The leaves are evergreen, light and dark gre ...

'' (Engl.) N.E.Br. - Congo-Brazzaville, Gulf of Guinea Islands, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria # ''

Nephthytis swainei ''Nephthytis swainei'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Cameroon Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of ...

'' Bogner - Ivory Coast, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Cameroon

References

External links

International Aroid Society search
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5223526 Aroideae Araceae genera House plants