African bowstring hemp

Scientific Name :

Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce

Synonym(s) :

Acyntha guineensis (L.) Medik.

Local/Common name(s) :

African bowstring hemp

Family :

Asparagaceae

Habit :

Herb

Flowering/Fruiting Time :

Habitat :

Grows in Human Altered environments (yards, gardens, abandoned fields).

Endemic :

No

Status (IUCN) :

Distribution :

Widespread in the eastern parts of southern Africa into tropical east Africa.

Nativity :

Exotic

Uses :

Medicine, Fibre, Paper

Description (Morphology) :

African bowstring hemp is a stemless evergreen perennial plant, producing succulent, erect, rigid leaves 15 – 85cm or more long and 25 – 80mm wide from a freely-spreading, rhizomatous rootstock. The leaves can be up to 1.2 metres long. The flowering stem grows 45 – 75cm or more tall.