Chlorophytum

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asparagaceae
Subfamilia: Agavoideae
Genus: Chlorophytum
Species: C. acutum – C. affine – C. africanum – C. alismifolium – C. alpinum – C. altum – C. amplexicaule – C. anceps – C. andongense – C. angulicaule – C. angustiracemosum – C. angustissimum – C. ankarense – C. appendiculatum – C. applanatum – C. arcuatoramosum – C. aridum – C. arundinaceum – C. aureum – C. basitrichum – C. baturense – C. belgaumense – C. benuense – C. bharuchae – C. bifolium – C. blepharophyllum – C. borivilianum – C. bowkeri – C. brachystachyum – C. bracteatum – C. brevipedunculatum – C. breviscapum – C. bulbinifolium – C. burundiense – C. calyptrocarpum – C. cameronii – C. camporum – C. capense – C. caudatibracteatum – C. caulescens – C. chelindaense – C. chevalieri – C. chinense – C. chloranthum – C. clarae – C. collinum – C. colubrinum – C. comosum – C. cooperi – C. cordifolium – C. crassinerve – C. crispum – C. cyperaceum – C. dalzielii – C. debile – C. decaryanum – C. decipiens – C. densiflorum – C. dianellifolium – C. distichum – C. dolichocarpum – C. ducis-aprutii – C. fasciculatum – C. filifolium – C. filipendulum – C. fischeri – C. gallabatense – C. galpinii – C. geayanum – C. geophilum – C. glaucoides – C. glaucum – C. goetzei – C. gothanense – C. gracile – C. graminifolium – C. graniticola – C. graniticum – C. graptophyllum – C. haygarthii – C. herrmannii – C. heynei – C. hiranense – C. hirsutum – C. holstii – C. humbertianum – C. humifusum – C. hypoxiforme – C. hysteranthum – C. immaculatum – C. inconspicuum – C. indicum – C. inornatum – C. intermedium – C. kolhapurense – C. krauseanum – C. krookianum – C. lancifolium – C. latifolium – C. laxum – C. leptoneurum – C. lewisae – C. limosum – C. littorale – C. longifolium – C. longiscapum – C. longissimum – C. macrophyllum – C. macrorrhizum – C. macrosporum – C. madagascariense – C. malabaricum – C. malayense – C. micranthum – C. minor – C. modestum – C. monophyllum – C. namaquense – C. namorokense – C. nepalense – C. nervatum – C. nervosum – C. nidulans – C. nimmonii – C. nubicum – C. nyasae – C. nzii – C. occultum – C. orchidastrum – C. palghatense – C. parkeri – C. parvulum – C. paucinervatum – C. pauciphyllum – C. pauper – C. pendulum – C. peralbum – C. perfoliatum – C. petraeum – C. petrophilum – C. pilosicarinatum – C. polystachys – C. pseudocaule – C. pterocarpum – C. puberulum – C. pubiflorum – C. pusillum – C. pygmaeum – C. radula – C. ramosissimum – C. rangei – C. recurvifolium – C. reflexibracteatum – C. rhizopendulum – C. rigidum – C. ruahense – C. rubribracteatum – C. rutenbergianum – C. saundersiae – C. scabrum – C. senegalense – C. serpens – C. sharmae – C. silvaticum – C. simplex – C. sofiense – C. somaliense – C. sparsiflorum – C. sphacelatum – C. sphagnicola – C. staudtii – C. stenopetalum – C. stolzii – C. subligulatum – C. subpetiolatum – C. suffruticosum – C. superpositum – C. sylvestre – C. tenerrimum – C. tetraphyllum – C. transvaalense – C. trichophlebium – C. triflorum – C. tripedale – C. tuberosum – C. unyikense – C. velutinum – C. vestitum – C. viridescens – C. viscosum – C. waibelii – C. warneckei – C. zambiense – C. zavattarii – C. zingiberastrum
Name

Chlorophytum Ker Gawl. (1807)

Type species: C. inornatum Ker Gawl.

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Acrospira Welw. ex Baker, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 255. 1878.
Asphodelopsis Steud. ex Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 15: 321. 1876.
Dasystachys Baker, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 1: 255. 1878, nom. illeg. non Oerst. (1859).
Debesia Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 708. 1891.
Hartwegia Nees, Nova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 15(2): 378. 1831.
Hollia Heynh., Alph. Aufz. Gew.: 303. 1846.
Schidospermum Griseb. in W.Lechler, Berberid. Amer. Austral.: 56. 1857.
Verdickia De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., IV, 1: 7. 1902.

References

Ker Gawler, J.B. in Gawler, K. & Bellenden, J., 1807. Curtis's Botanical Magazine 27: t. 1071.
Meerts, P. & Bjorå, C.S. 2012. Synopsis of the genus Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi). Plant Ecology and Evolution, 145: pp. 373-409.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2012. Chlorophytum in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2012 Dec. 30. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2012. Chlorophytum. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 30 Dec. 2012.
International Plant Names Index. 2012. Chlorophytum. Published online. Accessed: 30. Dec. 2012. Reference page.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2019. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Taxon: Chlorophytum. .

Vernacular names
العربية: غيلان
български: Хлорофитум, Зелена лилия
čeština: zelenec
English: Spider Plants, Spider Lilies
español: Dasystachys, Hartwegia, Verdickia, Schidospermum, Hollia, Acrospira, Asphodelopsis, Debesia
suomi: Rönsyliljat
magyar: Csokrosinda, zöldike
italiano: Falangio o Nastrino, Falangio, Nastrina, Nastrino
日本語: オリヅルラン属
қазақша: Хлорофитум
lietuvių: Chlorofitas
Nederlands: Zebragras
polski: Zielistka, Zielistek, Chlorofitum
русский: Хлорофитум
slovenčina: zelenec
svenska: Ameplliljesläktet, Ampelliljesläktet
Türkçe: Kurdele
українська: Хлорофітум
中文（简体）: 吊兰属
中文（繁體）: 吊蘭屬
中文: 吊兰属, 吊蘭屬

Chlorophytum (/ˌklɒrəˈfaɪtəm, ˌklɔː-, -roʊ-/,[3][4]), sometimes colloquially referred to as the spider plants, is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family.[5] The plants are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia, and Asia.[2][6][7][8]

Depending on species, most Chlorophytum mature at about 10–60 cm (3"-12") in height, growing out from a central rosette of long, slender leaves of around 15–75 cm (5"-29") in length. The plants tend to have thick, fleshy, tuberous roots, about 0.5-2 cm (0.17"-0.75") thick. The flowers are small and usually white, produced on sparse panicles up to 120 cm (47") long.

In certain species, such as C. comosum (the ubiquitous 'spider plant'), the plants are known to reproduce vegetatively by producing plantlets—baby plants connected by an "umbilical" stem, sprouting from the side of the main mother-plant. On the ground, or in a wild setting, this vegetative growth habit enables vast swathes of the plant to colonize a single area, as the plantlets develop small roots to eventually anchor into the soil and spread the mass further. In a home or garden setting, these plants are often grown in hanging pots, on plant stands, high shelves or other elevated surfaces.

As the plant develops and throws off babies, or "pups", these may be optionally removed and propagated, either in a vessel of water for a time or directly planted into new substrate. Conversely, if the pups are allowed to remain connected to the mother plant and hang naturally, the appearance vaguely mimics spiders hanging by their silken thread—thus giving the plant the common moniker of "spider-plant". The plantlets will develop aerial roots when left attached to the mother plant, as a means of absorbing ambient humidity until they make contact with an organic substrate, or the ground.[3]

Chlorophytum borivilianum is a native of India, where it is grown for use as a medicinal plant.

Flower of C. comosum
Flower of C. comosum
Fleshy tuberous roots of C. comosum
Fleshy tuberous roots of C. comosum

Species, subspecies, and varieties

The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognized 191 species as of January 2013:[2]

Chlorophytum acutum (C.H.Wright) Nordal
Chlorophytum affine Baker
Chlorophytum affine var. affine
Chlorophytum affine var. curviscapum (Poelln.) Hanid
Chlorophytum africanum (Baker) Baker
Chlorophytum alismifolium Baker
Chlorophytum alpinum Benth. ex Baker
Chlorophytum altum Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum amplexicaule Baker
Chlorophytum anceps (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum andongense Baker
Chlorophytum angulicaule (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum angustiracemosum Poelln.
Chlorophytum angustissimum (Poelln.) Nordal
Chlorophytum ankarense H.Perrier
Chlorophytum appendiculatum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum applanatum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum arcuatoramosum R.B.Drumm.
Chlorophytum aridum Oberm.
Chlorophytum arundinaceum Baker
Chlorophytum aureum Engl.
Chlorophytum basitrichum Poelln.
Chlorophytum baturense K.Krause
Chlorophytum benuense Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum bharuchae Ansari, Sundararagh. & Hemadri
Chlorophytum bifolium Dammer
Chlorophytum blepharophyllum Schweinf. ex Baker
Chlorophytum blepharophyllum subsp. blepharophyllum
Chlorophytum blepharophyllum subsp. pendulum Hoell & Nordal
Chlorophytum blepharophyllum subsp. rubropygmaeum Bjorå & Nordal
Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & R.R.Fern.
Chlorophytum bowkeri Baker
Chlorophytum brachystachyum Baker
Chlorophytum bracteatum Hua
Chlorophytum brevipedunculatum Poelln.
Chlorophytum breviscapum Dalzell
Chlorophytum bulbinifolium Hoell & Nordal
Chlorophytum burundiense Meerts
Chlorophytum calyptrocarpum (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum cameronii (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum cameronii var. cameronii
Chlorophytum cameronii var. grantii (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum cameronii var. purpuratum (Rendle) Govaerts
Chlorophytum camporum Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum capense (L.) Voss
Chlorophytum caudatibracteatum Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum caulescens (Baker) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum chelindaense Kativu & Nordal
Chlorophytum chevalieri Poelln.
Chlorophytum chinense Bureau & Franch.
Chlorophytum chloranthum Baker
Chlorophytum clarae Bjorå & Nordal
Chlorophytum collinum (Poelln.) Nordal
Chlorophytum colubrinum (Baker) Engl.
Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques
Chlorophytum cooperi (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum cordifolium De Wild.
Chlorophytum crassinerve (Baker) Oberm.
Chlorophytum crispum (Thunb.) Baker
Chlorophytum cyperaceum (Kies) Nordal
Chlorophytum dalzielii (Hutch. ex Hepper) Nordal
Chlorophytum debile Baker
Chlorophytum decaryanum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum decipiens Baker
Chlorophytum densiflorum Engl.
Chlorophytum dianellifolium (Baker) H.Perrier
Chlorophytum distichum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum dolichocarpum Tamura
Chlorophytum ducis-aprutii Chiov.
Chlorophytum fasciculatum (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum filifolium Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum filipendulum Baker
Chlorophytum filipendulum subsp. filipendulum
Chlorophytum filipendulum subsp. amaniense (Engl.) Nordal & A.D.Poulsen
Chlorophytum fischeri (Baker) Baker
Chlorophytum gallabatense Schweinf. ex Baker
Chlorophytum galpinii (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum galpinii var. galpinii
Chlorophytum galpinii var. matabelense (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum galpinii var. norlindhii (Weim.) Kativu
Chlorophytum geayanum (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum geophilum Peter ex Poelln.
Chlorophytum glaucoides Blatt.
Chlorophytum glaucum Dalzell
Chlorophytum goetzei Engl.
Chlorophytum gothanense Malpure & S.R.Yadav
Chlorophytum gracile Baker
Chlorophytum graminifolium (Willd.) Kunth
Chlorophytum graniticola Kativu
Chlorophytum graniticum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum graptophyllum (Baker) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum haygarthii J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans
Chlorophytum herrmannii Nordal & Sebsebe
Chlorophytum heynei Baker
Chlorophytum hiranense Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum hirsutum A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
Chlorophytum holstii Engl.
Chlorophytum humbertianum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum humifusum Cufod.
Chlorophytum hypoxiforme (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum hysteranthum Kativu
Chlorophytum immaculatum (Hepper) Nordal
Chlorophytum inconspicuum (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum indicum (Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Dress
Chlorophytum inornatum Ker Gawl.
Chlorophytum intermedium Craib
Chlorophytum kolhapurense Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav
Chlorophytum krauseanum (Dinter) Kativu
Chlorophytum krookianum Zahlbr.
Chlorophytum lancifolium Welw. ex Baker
Chlorophytum lancifolium subsp. lancifolium
Chlorophytum lancifolium subsp. cordatum (Engl.) A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
Chlorophytum lancifolium subsp. togoense (Engl.) A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
Chlorophytum latifolium Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum laxum R.Br.
Chlorophytum leptoneurum (C.H.Wright) Poelln.
Chlorophytum lewisae Oberm.
Chlorophytum limosum (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum littorale Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum longifolium Schweinf. ex Baker
Chlorophytum longiscapum Dammer
Chlorophytum longissimum Ridl.
Chlorophytum macrophyllum (A.Rich.) Asch.
Chlorophytum macrorrhizum Poelln.
Chlorophytum macrosporum Baker
Chlorophytum madagascariense Baker
Chlorophytum malabaricum Baker
Chlorophytum malayense Ridl.
Chlorophytum micranthum Baker
Chlorophytum minor Kativu
Chlorophytum modestum Baker
Chlorophytum monophyllum Oberm.
Chlorophytum namaquense Schltr. ex Poelln.
Chlorophytum namorokense H.Perrier
Chlorophytum nepalense (Lindl.) Baker
Chlorophytum nervatum (C.H.Wright) Poelln.
Chlorophytum nervosum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum nidulans (Baker) Brenan
Chlorophytum nimmonii Dalzell
Chlorophytum nubicum (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum nyasae (Rendle) Kativu
Chlorophytum nzii A.Chev. ex Hepper
Chlorophytum occultum A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
Chlorophytum orchidastrum Lindl.
Chlorophytum parkeri (Baker) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum parvulum Chiov.
Chlorophytum paucinervatum (Poelln.) Nordal
Chlorophytum pauciphyllum Oberm.
Chlorophytum pauper Poelln.
Chlorophytum pendulum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum peralbum Poelln.
Chlorophytum perfoliatum Kativu
Chlorophytum petraeum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum petrophilum K.Krause
Chlorophytum pilosissimum Engl. & K.Krause
Chlorophytum polystachys Baker
Chlorophytum pseudocaule Tesfaye & Nordal
Chlorophytum pterocarpum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum puberulum Engl.
Chlorophytum pubiflorum Baker
Chlorophytum pusillum Schweinf. ex Baker
Chlorophytum pygmaeum (Weim.) Kativu
Chlorophytum pygmaeum subsp. pygmaeum
Chlorophytum pygmaeum subsp. rhodesianum (Rendle) Kativu
Chlorophytum radula (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum ramosissimum Nordal & Thulin
Chlorophytum rangei (Engl. & K.Krause) Nordal
Chlorophytum recurvifolium (Baker) C.Archer & Kativu
Chlorophytum reflexibracteatum Poelln.
Chlorophytum rhizopendulum Bjorå & Hemp
Chlorophytum rigidum Kunth
Chlorophytum ruahense Engl.
Chlorophytum rubribracteatum (De Wild.) Kativu
Chlorophytum rutenbergianum Vatke
Chlorophytum saundersiae (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum scabrum Baker
Chlorophytum senegalense (Baker) Hepper
Chlorophytum serpens Sebsebe & Nordal
Chlorophytum silvaticum Dammer
Chlorophytum simplex Craib
Chlorophytum sofiense (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum somaliense Baker
Chlorophytum sparsiflorum Baker
Chlorophytum sparsiflorum var. sparsiflorum
Chlorophytum sparsiflorum var. bipindense (Engl. & K.Krause) Bjorå & Nordal
Chlorophytum sphacelatum (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum staudtii Nordal
Chlorophytum stenopetalum Baker
Chlorophytum stolzii (K.Krause) Weim.
Chlorophytum subligulatum H.Perrier
Chlorophytum subpetiolatum (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum suffruticosum Baker
Chlorophytum superpositum (Baker) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum sylvestre Bardot-Vaucoulon
Chlorophytum tenerrimum Peter ex Poelln.
Chlorophytum tetraphyllum (L.f.) Baker
Chlorophytum transvaalense (Baker) Kativu
Chlorophytum trichophlebium (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum triflorum (Aiton) Kunth
Chlorophytum tripedale (Baker) H.Perrier
Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker
Chlorophytum unyikense Engl.
Chlorophytum velutinum Kativu
Chlorophytum vestitum Baker
Chlorophytum viridescens Engl.
Chlorophytum viscosum Kunth
Chlorophytum waibelii K.Krause
Chlorophytum warneckei (Engl.) Marais & Reilly
Chlorophytum zambiense Bjorå & Nordal
Chlorophytum zavattarii (Cufod.) Nordal
Chlorophytum zingiberastrum Nordal & A.D.Poulsen

References

Ker Gawler, John Bellenden 1807. Botanical Magazine 27: plate 1071 + 2 subsequent text pages description in Latin, commentary in English; full-page color illustration of Chlorophytum inornatum
Search for "Chlorophytum", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2013-01-07
Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
"Chlorophytum". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
Stevens, P.F. (2001–2012), Angiosperm Phylogeny Website: Asparagales: Agavoideae
Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 205 吊兰属 diao lan shu Chlorophytum Ker Gawler, Bot. Mag. 27: t. 1071. 1807.
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Red List of South African Plants, search for Chlorophytum
Atlas of Living Australia, Chlorophytum