''Dracaena trifasciata'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae (), known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, '' Asparagus officinalis''. This family includes both ...

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp, among other names. Until 2017, it was known under the

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

''Sansevieria trifasciata''. This plant is often kept as a

houseplant A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

due to its non-demanding maintenance; they can survive with very little water and sun.

Description

It is an

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

perennial plant In horticulture, the term perennial (''wikt:per-#Prefix, per-'' + ''wikt:-ennial#Suffix, -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annual plant, annuals and biennial plant, biennials. It has thus been d ...

forming dense strands, spreading by way of its creeping

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

, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal

rosette Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to: Flower shaped designs * Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation * Rosette (design), a small flower design *hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms: ** R ...

. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually range from long and wide, though it can reach heights above in optimal conditions. The

specific epithet In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...

''trifasciata'' means "with three bundles". The plant exchanges

oxygen Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...

and

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

using the

crassulacean acid metabolism Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. ...

process, which allows them to withstand

drought A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, ...

. The microscopic pores on the plant's leaves, called the

stomata In botany, a stoma (: stomata, from Greek ''στόμα'', "mouth"), also called a stomate (: stomates), is a pore found in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that controls the rate of gas exchange between the internal air spa ...

and used to exchange gases, are opened only at night to prevent water from escaping via

evaporation Evaporation is a type of vaporization that occurs on the Interface (chemistry), surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase. A high concentration of the evaporating substance in the surrounding gas significantly slows down evapora ...

in the hot sun. To get this plant to go into bloom outside of its natural environment is difficult. Replicating its natural environment is possible. Its flowers vary from greenish white to cream-colored — some are fragrant at night, others not at all — and have a sticky texture. ''Dracaena trifasciata'' is commonly called " mother-in-law's tongue", "

Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...

's sword" or "snake plant", because of the shape and sharp margins of its

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

that resemble snakes. It is also known as the "viper's bowstring hemp", because it is one of the sources for

plant fiber Fiber crops are field crops grown for their fibers, which are traditionally used to make paper, cloth, or rope. Fiber crops are characterized by having a large concentration of cellulose, which is what gives them their strength. The fibers ma ...

s used to make

bowstring A bowstring joins the two ends of the bow stave and launches the arrow. Desirable properties include light weight, strength, resistance to abrasion, and resistance to water. Mass has most effect at the center of the string; of extra mass in th ...

Cultivation and uses

Like other members of its genus, ''D. trifasciata'' yields bowstring hemp, a strong

once used to make

s. It is now used predominantly as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

, outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a

in cooler climates. It is popular as a houseplant because it is tolerant of low light levels and irregular watering; during winter, it needs only one watering every couple of months. It will rot easily if overwatered. It is commonly recommended to beginners interested in cultivating houseplants for its easy care. The

NASA Clean Air Study The NASA Clean Air Study was a project led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) in 1989, to research ways to clean the air in sealed environments su ...

found ''D. trifasciata'' has the potential to filter indoor air, removing four of the five main toxins involved in the effects of

sick building syndrome Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which people develop symptoms of illness or become infected with chronic disease from the building in which they work or reside. In scientific literature, SBS is also known as building-related illn ...

. However, its rate of filtration is too slow for practical indoor use. It can be propagated by cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. The first method has the disadvantage that the

variegation '' Cryptocarya williwilliana'' showing leaf venation and variegated leaves Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the foliage, flowers, and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants, granting a speckled, striped, or patch ...

will be lost. ''D. trifasciata'' is considered by some authorities a potential weed in Australia. It is widely used as an ornamental in the tropics outdoors in pots and garden beds, and in temperate areas as an indoor plant. The plant contains

saponin Saponins (Latin ''sapon'', 'soap' + ''-in'', 'one of') are bitter-tasting, usually toxic plant-derived secondary metabolites. They are organic chemicals that become foamy when agitated in water and have high molecular weight. They are present ...

s which are mildly

toxic Toxicity is the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a subst ...

to dogs and cats and can lead to gastrointestinal upset if consumed. In South Africa, it is used to treat ear infections.

Varieties and cultivars

Numerous

cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...

s have been developed, many of them for

variegated '' Cryptocarya williwilliana'' showing leaf venation and variegated leaves Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the foliage, flowers, and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants, granting a speckled, striped, or patch ...

foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins. Popular cultivars include 'Compacta', 'Goldiana', 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Silbersee', and 'Silver Hahnii'. 'Hahnii' was discovered in 1939 by William W. Smith Jr. in the Crescent Nursery Company,

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

. The 1941 patent was assigned to Sylvan Frank Hahn of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The variety ''D. trifasciata'' var. ''laurentii'', together with the

s 'Bantel's Sensation' and 'Golden Hahni' have gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

. Non-variegated forms of ''D. trifasciata'' are often incorrectly sold as '' Sansevieria zeylanica'', which is a different species that is rarely cultivated.

Cultural significance

In its native range in Africa, ''Dracaena trifasciata'' specimens with yellow stripes on the leaf margins are associated with

Ọya Ọya ( Yorùbá: ''Ọya'', also known as Oyá or Oiá; Yàńsàn-án or Yansã; and Iansá, Iansã, or Iansan in Latin America) is an Orisha of winds, lightning, and violent storms. As a river deity she is also regarded as a deity of children, ...

, the female

orisha Orishas (singular: orisha) are divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba religion of West Africa and several religions of the African diaspora that derive from it, such as Haitian Vaudou, Cuban Santería and Brazilian Candomblé. The p ...

of storms. In Nigeria, the plant is commonly linked with Ògún, the orisha of war, and is used in rituals to remove the evil eye. In Brazil, where it is known as ''espada de São Jorge'' (" Saint George's sword"),Aline Melo
"Espada de São Jorge, lança de São Jorge ou Espada de Santa Bárbara?"
''Casa e Jardim.'' 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2024. ''"No Brasil, popularizou-se o uso de três espécies: a '' Sansevieria zeylanica'', autêntica espada-de-são-jorge, verde e rajada; a ''Sansevieria trifasciata'', com bordas amareladas da raiz às pontas, que ficou conhecida como espada-de-santa-bárbara; e a '' Sansevieria cylindrica'', a lança-de-são-jorge, com aspecto pontudo e folhagens fechadas em formato cilíndrico."'' it is grown outside houses to ward off evil that might harm the home (as is ''

Dracaena angolensis ''Dracaena angolensis'' (synonym ''Sansevieria cylindrica''), commonly known as African spear or the spear sansevieria, is a succulent plant native to Angola in Southern Africa. For years, it was placed within the genus '' Sansevieria'' (snake-p ...

'', Saint George's spear). The plant plays an important part in the Afro-Brazilian syncretic religion

Umbanda Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catho ...

, also representing the orisha

Ogum Ogun or Ogoun ( Yoruba: Ògún, Edo: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a Yoruba Orisha that is adopted in several African religions. Ògún is a warrior and a powerful spirit ...

(Ògún),Heloísa Von Ah
"3 tipos de Espada-de-São-Jorge: conheça as principais diferenças."
WeMystic. Date not given. Retrieved 10 February 2024. as Ogum is syncretized with

. Some yellow-edged varieties of ''D. trifasciata'' are called ''espada de Santa-Bárbara'' ("Sword of

Saint Barbara Saint Barbara (; ; ; ), known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an Early Christianity, early Christian Greek saint and martyr. There is no reference to her in the authentic early Christian writings nor in the origin ...

") and are associated with Iansã, the Umbanda name for Ọya, Saint Barbara's syncretic orisha pair. These types are grown to protect against inclement weather. This plant is visible on the porch in American

Grant Wood Grant DeVolson Wood (February 13, 1891February 12, 1942) was an American artist and representative of Regionalism (art), Regionalism, best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest. He is particularly well known for ''America ...

's 1930 painting, ''

American Gothic ''American Gothic'' is a 1930 oil on beaverwood painting by the American Regionalist artist Grant Wood. Depicting a Midwestern farmer and his wife or daughter standing in front of their Carpenter Gothic style home, ''American Gothic'' is one ...

''.

Gallery

File:Bird's Nest Sansevieria2013.JPG, ''Dracaena trifasciata'' 'Hahnii', a dwarfed cultivar File:Sansevieria trifasciata 1.jpg, In cultivation File:Georgeflowr1.jpg, Flowering File:Fully opened flower cluster.jpg, Fully developed and blooming inflorescence File:Dracaena trifasciata thehplants.jpg, ''Dracaena trifasciata''

References

External links

* {{Authority control trifasciata Flora of West Tropical Africa Garden plants of Africa House plants Low light plants