Chlorophytum

Chlorophytum
Chlorophytum
Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
clade: Angiosperms
clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Chlorophytum
Ker Gawl.
Species

About 200-220, including:
Chlorophytum amaniense
Chlorophytum arundinaceum
Chlorophytum bichetii
Chlorophytum borivilianum
Chlorophytum capense
Chlorophytum comosum
Chlorophytum heynei
Chlorophytum hoffmannii
Chlorophytum inornatum
Chlorophytum macrophyllum
Chlorophytum nepalense
Chlorophytum orchidastrum
Chlorophytum tuberosum

Chlorophytum (pronounced /ˌklɒrɵˈfaɪtəm/)[1] is a genus of about 200-220 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae,[2] native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.

They grow to 10–60 cm tall, with a rosette of long, slender leaves 15–75 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad, growing from a thick, fleshy rhizome. The flowers are small, usually white, produced on sparse panicles up to 120 cm long; in some species the panicle also bears plantlets, which take root on touching the ground.

Chlorophytum comosum, also called the Spider Plant, a native of South Africa, is a very popular houseplant in its variegated form 'Variegatum'.

Chlorophytum borivilianum is a native of India, used and grown as a medicinal plant.

  • Flower of C. comosum

  • Fleshy rhizomes of C. comosum

References

  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ^ Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards), Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Agavoideae, http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/orders/asparagalesweb.htm#Agavaceae 


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