Aglaonema
Read about Aglaonema in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Aglaonema (Greek, bright thread). Araceae. Greenhouse herbs grown for foliage and habit. Low plants with an erect st. and basal shoots: Ivs. with a long sheathed petiole, the blade usually oblong or oblong-lanceolate, with a thick costa and few lateral nerves: peduncles in clusters, shorter than the petiole: spathe straight, convolute below, open above; spadix sessile or stalked.—About 15 species, of Trop. Asia and Afr., allied to Arum, Alocasia and Dieffenbachia, and requiring essentially the same treatment as those genera. These plants are evergreen, often beautifully variegated. Aglaonemas may be divided, or cuttings may be taken from plants that become too tall and weak. In either case the cuttings and divisions should be put into the sand-bed previous to potting, to develop new roots. All of the kinds will succeed in fibrous loam enriched with rotted manure, with the addition of a moderate quantity of leaf-mold, sand, and some crushed charcoal. A. commutatum, Schott. Lvs. oblong-lanceolate, obtuse at the bane, the apex long-acuminate, intense green, marked with spots of a paler green and of white. E. Indies.--A. Roeblinii, Hort., is "a fine decorative plant, with thick, leathery foliage" (Manda).—A. versicolor, Hort. Lvs. obliquely oblong, about 4 in. long by half as wide, rounded at the base, the apex acute, irregularly marked with patches of dark velvety green inter- persed with paler green and milky blotches. E. Indies. Aglaonema pictum, Kunth. Dwarf: Ivs. somewhat unequilateral, oblong or elliptic, ovate (4-7 in. long and 2-3 in. wide), very dark green, blotched with white, the central markings usually extending the whole length of the midrib: spathe white or whitish, 1-1 1/2 in. long. Sumatra.
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 Aglaonema commutatum | ||||||||||||
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Aglaonema is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to the tropical swamps and rainforests of southeastern Asia from Bangladesh east to the Philippines and north to southern China. No common name is widely used, though they are sometimes called "Chinese evergreen".
They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 20-150 cm in height. The leaves are alternate on the stems, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, dark to medium green, 10-45 cm long and 4-16 cm broad, depending on the species. The flowers are relatively inconspicuous, white or greenish-white spathes that can give way to red berries.
Cultivation and uses
They are popular houseplants and ornamental plants for offices and shopping malls because they are among the easiest houseplants to grow. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including plants with variegated leaves. They tolerate a wide range of light, as well as neglect, and are relatively resistant to pests.
Chinese evergreens are very tolerant plants that do well in a variety of settings. Several species are available, some with dark green leaves and others that are variegated. Aglaonema flourish for years.
They prefer indirect light and partial shade. They do best in shadow-less light, such as a north window. They prefer heavy soil, which should be kept moist but not soggy. They do not tolerate the cold; they should not be exposed to temperatures below 10°C (50°F), with optimal growing conditions between 20°C (68°F) and 30°C (86°F). High air humidity is also important. They are easy to propagate from cuttings, which will root in a glass of water, or from divisions.
Selected species
- Aglaonema brevispathum
- Aglaonema commutatum
- Aglaonema costatum
- Aglaonema crispum
- Aglaonema hookerianum
- Aglaonema modestum
- Aglaonema nebulosum
- Aglaonema nitidum
- Aglaonema pictum
- Aglaonema rotundum
- Aglaonema siamense
- Aglaonema simplex
Trivia
In the Luc Besson movie Léon, the plant that Léon Montana owns and carries with himself whenever he moves to a new place, is an Aglaonema.
