Chlorophytum comosum

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Chlorophytum comosum
'Vittatum' cultivar
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Chlorophytum
Species:
C. comosum
Binomial name
Chlorophytum comosum
Synonyms
  • Anthericum comosum Thunb.
  • Hartwegia comosa (Thunb.) Nees

Chlorophytum comosum, usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, airplane plant,[2] ribbon plant (a name it shares with Dracaena sanderiana),[3] and hen and chickens,[4] is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Asparagaceae. It is native to tropical and Southern Africa but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including Western Australia and Bangladesh.[5][6] Chlorophytum comosum is easy to grow as a houseplant because of its resilience, but it can be sensitive to the fluoride in tap water, which commonly gives it "burnt tips". Variegated forms are the most popular.

Description

Chlorophytum comosum grows to about 60 cm (24 in) tall, although as a hanging plant it can descend many feet. It has fleshy, tuberous roots, each about 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long. The long narrow leaves reach a length of 20–45 cm (8–18 in) and are around 6–25 millimetres (0.2–1.0 in) wide.[7]

Flower of 'Vittatum'

Flowers are produced in a long, branched inflorescence, which can reach a length of up to 75 cm (30 in) and eventually bends downward to meet the earth. 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 (0.8–3.1 in) in length, becoming smaller toward the end of the inflorescence. Most of the flowers that are produced initially die off, so that relatively, the inflorescences are sparsely flowered.[7]

Individual flowers are greenish-white, borne on stalks (pedicels) some 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Each flower has six triply veined tepals that are 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and slightly hooded or boat-shaped at their tips. The stamens consist of a pollen-producing anther about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long with a filament of similar length or slightly longer. The central style is 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. Seeds are produced in a capsule, 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, on stalks (pedicels) that lengthen to up to 12 mm (0.5 in).[7]

The inflorescences carry not only flowers but also vegetative plantlets at the tips of their branches, which eventually droop and touch the soil, developing adventitious roots. The stems (scapes) of the inflorescence are called "stolons" in some sources, but this term is more correctly used for stems that do not bear flowers and have roots at the nodes.[8]

Taxonomy

The first formal description of Chlorophytum comosum was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg as Anthericum comosum in the 1794 volume of Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, Thunberg's work on the plants of South Africa.[9][10] The species 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.[5]

The species has been confused with Chlorophytum capense (L.) Voss by some authors, but this is a different species.[1]

Intra-specific variation

Fleshy roots of pot-grown plant

There are three described varieties of the species: the autonym C. comosum var. comosum has strap-shaped narrow leaves and is found along forest margins; C. comosum var. bipindense has broader, petiolate leaves with stripes on the underside and the inflorescences are 2–3 times the length of the leaves; and C. comosum var. sparsiflorum also has broader leaves that narrow to the base, and usually lacks a petiole and the striping on the underside of the leaf and the inflorescences are up to two times the length of the leaves. The latter two are rainforest-dwelling taxa that had been described earlier as separate species, but botanists Axel Dalberg Poulsen and Inger Nordal reduced the taxa to varieties of C. comosum in 2005.[11]

Delimitation of species boundaries within the genus Chlorophytum is reported to be difficult, possibly because of several evolutionary radiations into forest environments that led to morphological aspects that are too similar to reliably distinguish separate species. The evidence given to support this is the widespread distribution of most taxa in the genus and poor seed dispersal, leading to the conclusion of deeper evolutionary divergence among the taxa.

'Variegatum'

The three described varieties in C. comosum could be an example of this convergent evolution of leaf shape among the forest-dwelling varieties from species of disparate origin, leading to the species C. comosum being polyphyletic, instead of the traditional view of morphological divergence among the varieties within the species with the assumption of a common origin (monophyly). The widespread C. comosum var. comosum has slender, near linear leaves that lack a petiole similar to plants found in cultivation and is only found growing at the margins of the rainforest. The two other varieties, C. comosum var. sparsiflorum and C. comosum var. bipindense, possess petioles and have broader leaves necessary for collecting more light in the shady Guineo-Congolean rainforest. A study published in 2005 used 16 morphological characters and was unable to delimit species boundaries among these three taxa, so they were relegated to varietal status.[11] A follow-up study published in 2008 provided preliminary evidence from phylogenetic analysis of plastid and nuclear DNA sequences that established samples from disparate collections sites identified as C. comosum were polyphyletic.[12]

Distribution

Chlorophytum comosum has a widespread native distribution in Africa, being native to six of the ten World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions regions of Africa (West Tropical Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, East Tropical Africa, South Tropical Africa, and Southern Africa).[5]

Cultivation

'Variegatum' in a hanging basket showing the plantlets

Chlorophytum comosum is a popular houseplant. The species with all-green leaves forms only a small proportion of plants sold. More common are two variegated cultivars:[3]

  • C. comosum 'Vittatum' has mid-green leaves with a broad central white stripe. It is often sold in hanging baskets to display the plantlets.[3] The long stems are white. There is also a "curly" version with this type of striping and compact size.[13]
  • C. comosum 'Variegatum' has darker green leaves with white margins. It is generally smaller than the previous cultivar. The long stems are green.[14]

Both cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit[15][16] (confirmed 2017).[17] In 2021, 17 other cultivars were listed, including 'Bonnie', 'Green Bonnie' and 'Hawaiian'.[18]

Propagation

A picture of a spider plant's plantlets and budding flowers.
Plantlets and budding flowers
Microscope image of a seed.
Plant seed taken on a microscope

Propagating Chlorophytum comosum commonly occurs through potting the plantlets, informally referred to as 'spiderettes',[19] or 'pups',[20] directly into potting soil, or pumice, attached to the main plant or cutting the running stems and then potting them.

Spider plants are easy to grow, being able to thrive in a wide range of conditions. They will tolerate temperatures down to 2 °C (35 °F), but grow best at temperatures between 18 °C (65 °F) and 32 °C (90 °F). Plants can be damaged by high fluoride or boron levels.[3]

Spider plants are non-toxic to humans and pets,[21] and are considered edible.[13]

Air purification

The NASA Clean Air Study suggested that air plants were effective at removing common household air toxins formaldehyde and xylene; however, these results are not applicable to typical buildings, where outdoor-to-indoor air exchange already removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a rate that could only be matched by the placement of 10–1000 plants/m2 of a building's floor space.[22]

The results also failed to replicate in future studies, with a 2014 review stating that:[23]

While the plant's ability to take up VOCs is well documented in laboratory studies, the effect of plants on indoor air in complex environments like offices requires further investigations to clarify the full capacity of plants in real-life settings.

In the laboratory settings uses in the Clean Air Study, spider plants were shown to reduce formaldehyde pollution, and approximately 70 plants would neutralize the formaldehyde released by materials in a representative (c. 167 m2 [1,800 sq ft]) energy-efficient house, assuming each plant occupies a 3.8 L (0.84 imp gal; 1.0 US gal) pot.[24] [25]

Edibility

The tuberous roots are reportedly edible (whether raw or cooked unstated) although mild laxative effects are claimed by the Nguni people of its native South Africa.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Chlorophytum comosum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Airplane Plant or Spider Plant". txmg.org. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Poole, R.T.; Chase, A.R. & Osborne, L.S. (1991), Spider Plant Production Guide (CFREC-Apopka Foliage Plant Research Note RH-91-33), Central Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, retrieved 2011-09-26
  4. ^ Ernst van Jaarsveld (November 2012). "Chlorophytum comosum". PlantZAfrica.com. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 26 September 2011, search for "Chlorophytum comosum"
  6. ^ Howell, J.T., P.H. Raven & P. Rubtzoff. 1958. Flora of San Francisco. Wasmann J. Biology 16:1-155.
  7. ^ a b c McCune, S. & Hardin, D. W. (1994), "Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques", PlantNET - The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia: The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, retrieved 27 September 2011
  8. ^ Hickey, M.; King, C. (2001). The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge University Press.
  9. ^ "Anthericum comosum Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 1: 63 (1794)". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  10. ^ Thunberg, Carl Peter. 1794. Prodromus Plantarum Capensium. p. 63.
  11. ^ a b Poulsen, AD, and I Nordal. 2005. A phenetic analysis and revision of Guineo-Congolean rainforest taxa of Chlorophytum (Anthericaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 148: 1-20.
  12. ^ Bjorå, CS, A Hemp, G Hoell, and I Nordal. 2008. A taxonomic and ecological analysis of two forest Chlorophytum taxa (Anthericaceae) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 274: 243-253.
  13. ^ a b "Spider Plant Care: Growing Chlorophytum Comosum". plantcaretoday.com. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Spider Plant Growing Long Stem". indoormint.com. 26 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum' (v) | variegated spider ivy/RHS Gardening".
  16. ^ "Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum' (v) | spider ivy 'Vittatum'/RHS Gardening".
  17. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 18. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  18. ^ Morris, Mercy (2021). "Arachnophilia". The Plant Review. 3 (1): 22–27.
  19. ^ "StackPath". www.gardeningknowhow.com. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  20. ^ Almanac, Old Farmer's. "Spider Plants". Old Farmer's Almanac. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  21. ^ "Spider Plant". American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  22. ^ Cummings, Bryan E.; Waring, Michael S. (March 2020). "Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies". Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. 30 (2): 253–261. doi:10.1038/s41370-019-0175-9. PMID 31695112. S2CID 207911697.
  23. ^ Dela Cruz, M; Christensen, JH; Thomsen, JD; Müller, R (2014). "Can ornamental potted plants remove volatile organic compounds from indoor air? – a review" (PDF). Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 21 (24): 13909–13928. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-3240-x. PMID 25056742. S2CID 207272189. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  24. ^ Wolverton, B. C.; McDonald, Rebecca C.; Watkins, E. A. (1984). "Foliage plants for removing indoor air pollutants from energy-efficient homes" (PDF). Economic Botany. 38 (2): 224–228. doi:10.1007/BF02858837. hdl:2060/19860066312. S2CID 41933312. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 27, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Stuartxchange Philippine Alternative Medicine http://www.stuartxchange.org/SpiderPlant.html#:~:text=Roots%20are%20reportedly%20edible.&text=No%20reported%20folkloric%20use%20in%20the%20Philippines.&text=In%20Chinese%20traditional%20medicine%2C%20used,treating%20bronchitis%2C%20fractures%20and%20burns. Retrieved at 11.09 on Saturday 10/8/24.
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