Chlorophytum comosum
Encyclopedia
Chlorophytum comosum, often called the spider plant, is a herbaceous plant
. It is native to tropical and southern Africa
, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including western Australia
. Variegated forms in particular are used as house plants.
perennial, growing to about 60 centimetres (24 in) high. It has fleshy, tuberous roots, about 5–10 cm (2–3.9 in) long. The long narrow leaves reach a length of 20–45 cm (7.9–17.7 in) and are around 6–25 mm (0.236220472440945–0.984251968503937 in) wide.
Flowers are produced in a long branched inflorescence
, which can reach a length of up to 75 centimetres (30 in) and eventually bends downwards. Flowers initially occur in clusters of 1–6 at intervals along the stem (scape
) of the inflorescence. Each cluster is at the base of a bract
, which ranges from 2–8 cm (0.78740157480315–3.1 in) in length, becoming smaller towards the end of the inflorescence. Most of the flowers which are produced initially die off, so that the inflorescences are relatively sparsely flowered.
Individual flowers are greenish-white, borne on stalks (pedicel
s) some 4–8 mm (0.15748031496063–0.31496062992126 in) long. Each flower has six three-veined tepals which are 6–9 mm (0.236220472440945–0.354330708661417 in) long, slightly hooded or boat-shaped at their tips. The stamen
s consist of a pollen
-producing anther about 3.5 millimetre (0.137795275590551 in) long with a filament about the same length or slightly longer. The central style is 3–8 mm (0.118110236220472–0.31496062992126 in) long. Seeds are produced in a capsule 3–8 mm (0.118110236220472–0.31496062992126 in) long on stalks (pedicels) which lengthen to up to 12 millimetre (0.47244094488189 in).
The inflorescences carry plantlets at the tips of their branches. The stems (scapes) of the inflorescence are called "stolons" in some sources, but this term is more correctly used for stems which do not bear flowers, and have roots at the nodes
.
. The species, with all-green leaves, forms only a small proportion of plants sold. More common are two variegated cultivars:
Spider plants are easy to grow, being able to thrive in a wide range of conditions. They will tolerate temperatures down to 35 °F (1.7 °C), but grow best at temperatures between 65 °F (18.3 °C) and 90 °F (32.2 °C). Plants can be damaged by high fluoride or boron levels.
Spider plants have also been shown to reduce indoor air pollution.
as Anthericum comosum in the 1794 volume of Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, Thunberg's work on the plants of South Africa. It was subsequently moved to a number of different genera, including Phalangium, Caesia
, Hartwegia Nees and Hollia, before receiving its current placement in Chlorophytum by Jacques in 1862.
The species has been confused with Chlorophytum capense (L.) Voss by some authors, but this is a different species.
Herbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
. It is native to tropical and southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including western Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Variegated forms in particular are used as house plants.
Description
Chlorophytum comosum is a herbaceousHerbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial, growing to about 60 centimetres (24 in) high. It has fleshy, tuberous roots, about 5–10 cm (2–3.9 in) long. The long narrow leaves reach a length of 20–45 cm (7.9–17.7 in) and are around 6–25 mm (0.236220472440945–0.984251968503937 in) wide.
Flowers are produced in a long branched inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, which can reach a length of up to 75 centimetres (30 in) and eventually bends downwards. Flowers initially occur in clusters of 1–6 at intervals along the stem (scape
Scape (botany)
In botany, scapes are leafless flowering stems that rise from the ground. Scapes can have a single flower or many flowers, depending on the species....
) of the inflorescence. Each cluster is at the base of a bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
, which ranges from 2–8 cm (0.78740157480315–3.1 in) in length, becoming smaller towards the end of the inflorescence. Most of the flowers which are produced initially die off, so that the inflorescences are relatively sparsely flowered.
Individual flowers are greenish-white, borne on stalks (pedicel
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
s) some 4–8 mm (0.15748031496063–0.31496062992126 in) long. Each flower has six three-veined tepals which are 6–9 mm (0.236220472440945–0.354330708661417 in) long, slightly hooded or boat-shaped at their tips. The stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s consist of a pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
-producing anther about 3.5 millimetre (0.137795275590551 in) long with a filament about the same length or slightly longer. The central style is 3–8 mm (0.118110236220472–0.31496062992126 in) long. Seeds are produced in a capsule 3–8 mm (0.118110236220472–0.31496062992126 in) long on stalks (pedicels) which lengthen to up to 12 millimetre (0.47244094488189 in).
The inflorescences carry plantlets at the tips of their branches. The stems (scapes) of the inflorescence are called "stolons" in some sources, but this term is more correctly used for stems which do not bear flowers, and have roots at the nodes
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
.
Cultivation
Chlorophytum comosum is a popular houseplantHouseplant
A houseplant is a plant that is grown indoors in places such as residences and offices. Houseplants are commonly grown for decorative purposes, positive psychological effects, or health reasons such as indoor air purification...
. The species, with all-green leaves, forms only a small proportion of plants sold. More common are two variegated cultivars:
- C. comosum 'Vittatum' has mid-green leaves with a broad central white stripe. It is often sold in hanging baskets to display the plantlets. The stolons are white.
- C.comosum 'Variegatum' has darker green leaves with white margins. It is generally smaller than the previous cultivar. The stolons are green.
Spider plants are easy to grow, being able to thrive in a wide range of conditions. They will tolerate temperatures down to 35 °F (1.7 °C), but grow best at temperatures between 65 °F (18.3 °C) and 90 °F (32.2 °C). Plants can be damaged by high fluoride or boron levels.
Spider plants have also been shown to reduce indoor air pollution.
Botanical history
Chlorophytum comosum was first formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter ThunbergCarl Peter Thunberg
Carl Peter Thunberg aka Carl Pehr Thunberg aka Carl Per Thunberg was a Swedish naturalist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus. He has been called "the father of South African botany" and the "Japanese Linnaeus"....
as Anthericum comosum in the 1794 volume of Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, Thunberg's work on the plants of South Africa. It was subsequently moved to a number of different genera, including Phalangium, Caesia
Caesia
Caesia is a genus of herbs in the family Hemerocallidaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea and Southern Africa. The mostly 3-lobed seed capsules contain rounded black seeds.Species include*Caesia alpina Hook.f. - Alpine Grass-Lily...
, Hartwegia Nees and Hollia, before receiving its current placement in Chlorophytum by Jacques in 1862.
The species has been confused with Chlorophytum capense (L.) Voss by some authors, but this is a different species.