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Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb.
| Family Name: | Asparagaceae |
| Synonyms: | Sansevieria trifasciata Prain |
| Common Name: | Mother-in-law's Tongue, African Bowstring-Hemp, Snake Plant, Spear Plant, Bowstring-Hemp, 虎尾兰 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Succulent Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Nigeria to Tropical Africa |
|---|
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Rooftops, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Coastal |
| Thematic Landscaping | Rockery / Desert Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Easy to Grow, Drought Tolerant, Shallow Media, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Leaf Cutting, Storage Organ, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green, Silver / Grey, Yellow / Golden |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Acaulescent |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome), Aboveground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, Green, White |
|---|---|
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Period | Rarely |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1127 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2420 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
