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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Snake Plant
| image = Sansevieria_trifasciata_flowers.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Sansevieria trifasciata'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Ruscaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Sansevieria]]''
| species = '''''S. trifasciata'''''
| binomial = ''Sansevieria trifasciata''
| binomial_authority = Prain.
}}
'''''Sansevieria trifasciata''''' is a species of ''[[Sansevieria]]'', native to tropical west [[Africa]] from [[Nigeria]] east to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. It is commonly called the '''snake plant''', because of the shape of its [[leaf|leaves]], or '''mother-in-law's tongue''' because of their sharpness.
It is an [[evergreen]] [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping [[rhizome]], which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually range between 70–90 [[centimetre|cm]] in length and 5–6 cm in width.
===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:snake_plant.jpg|thumb|left|A variegated cultivar of ''Sansevieria trifasciata'']]
Like some other members of its genus, ''S. trifasciata'' yields bowstring hemp, a strong [[plant fiber]] once used to make [[archery|bowstrings]].
It is now used predominantly as an [[ornamental plant]], outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a [[houseplant]] in cooler [[climate]]s. It is popular as a houseplant as 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. Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been selected, many of them for [[variegation|variegated]] foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins. Popular cultivars include 'Compacta', 'Goldiana', 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Silbersee', and 'Silver Hahnii'.
It can be propagated cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. The first method has the disadvantage that the variegation is likely to be lost. It is also often used as an [[List of air filtering plants|air filtering plant]] because it has a tendency to absorb certain [[poison]]ous substances.
''S. trifasciata'' is currently considered a weed in Australia.
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Sansevieria trifasciata and Ficus pumila 'Variegata' 2448px.jpg
Image:Sansevieria trifasciata Closeup 2448px.jpg
</gallery>
== External links ==
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?33072 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Sansevieria trifasciata'']
{{Commons|Sansevieria trifasciata}}
[[Category:Ruscaceae]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Snake Plant
| image = Sansevieria_trifasciata_flowers.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Sansevieria trifasciata'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Ruscaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Sansevieria]]''
| species = '''''S. trifasciata'''''
| binomial = ''Sansevieria trifasciata''
| binomial_authority = Prain.
}}
'''''Sansevieria trifasciata''''' is a species of ''[[Sansevieria]]'', native to tropical west [[Africa]] from [[Nigeria]] east to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. It is commonly called the '''snake plant''', because of the shape of its [[leaf|leaves]], or '''mother-in-law's tongue''' because of their sharpness.
It is an [[evergreen]] [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]] forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping [[rhizome]], which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its stiff leaves grow vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually range between 70–90 [[centimetre|cm]] in length and 5–6 cm in width.
===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:snake_plant.jpg|thumb|left|A variegated cultivar of ''Sansevieria trifasciata'']]
Like some other members of its genus, ''S. trifasciata'' yields bowstring hemp, a strong [[plant fiber]] once used to make [[archery|bowstrings]].
It is now used predominantly as an [[ornamental plant]], outdoors in warmer climates, and indoors as a [[houseplant]] in cooler [[climate]]s. It is popular as a houseplant as 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. Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been selected, many of them for [[variegation|variegated]] foliage with yellow or silvery-white stripes on the leaf margins. Popular cultivars include 'Compacta', 'Goldiana', 'Hahnii', 'Laurentii', 'Silbersee', and 'Silver Hahnii'.
It can be propagated cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. The first method has the disadvantage that the variegation is likely to be lost. It is also often used as an [[List of air filtering plants|air filtering plant]] because it has a tendency to absorb certain [[poison]]ous substances.
''S. trifasciata'' is currently considered a weed in Australia.
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Sansevieria trifasciata and Ficus pumila 'Variegata' 2448px.jpg
Image:Sansevieria trifasciata Closeup 2448px.jpg
</gallery>
== External links ==
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?33072 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Sansevieria trifasciata'']
{{Commons|Sansevieria trifasciata}}
[[Category:Ruscaceae]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]