Spider plant4/30/2023 ![]() comosum a little later in the article, so keep reading! Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.Ĭ. I’ll delve into how the roots help to bolster C. These roots store both nutrients and water, and are the secret to this plant’s resilience. ![]() comosum lies under the soil, in this species’ fleshy, tuberous roots. While its grass-like, extremely fibrous foliage can be eaten, the real edible interest of C. The Nguni people, who live primarily in South Africa, use it medicinally, administering it to new mothers and young infants in particular.Īnd in addition to its traditional medicinal use, this species is also considered edible and can be consumed like a vegetable. The German writer and poet Goethe reportedly had a specimen of his own and shared its offsets with his friends.īut long before Europeans discovered it, local populations were likely using C. ![]() comosum has been enjoyed in the home – and shared – since at least the early 1800s. Swedish naturalist Carl Thunberg was the first European known to collect this species in the wild, and he gave it its scientific name in 1794.Īs for its common name, some sources suggest that its long, thin leaves are the inspiration behind the name “spider plant,” while at least one writer claims the nickname is inspired instead by the offsets, which resemble spiders rappelling down from a spiderweb.Ĭ. The meaning of this tropical species’ scientific name couldn’t be more literal – “ Chlorophytum” means “green plant” and comosum means “tufted” or “leafy.” viridescens are also commonly called “spider plants.” Other members of the same genus including C. The latter is also known as Liriope, and members of this genus bear a strong family resemblance to the subject of this article. comosum is taxonomically classified as a member of the asparagus family, and in addition to asparagus, its relatives include agave, hosta, sansevieria, yucca, and monkey grass. comosum is related to a common garden veggie – asparagus.Ĭ. With a glance at its grass-like growth habit, you would probably have a hard time guessing that C. This adaptability is what makes it such a resilient houseplant. In its native habitat, it has adapted to a diverse range of locations – growing on cliffs, in river valleys, and in flat thickets – as well as in a variety of different soil types and water conditions. comosum has flexibility built into its genetics. comosum is native to a wide swath of sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Cameroon and Ethiopia all the way down to South Africa. These productive houseplants are a familiar sight in our homes, but odds are you know little about where they actually come from. Spider ivy can grow and nourish multitudes of these babies without seeming worse for wear. comosum yet another name, “hens and chicks” or “hens and chickens” – not to be confused with the various succulent species that go by the same common name. This characteristic of producing babies that remain attached to the mother plant gives C. Long stalks grow in the midst of its leaves, on which it produces small, white, star-shaped flowers, as well as tiny offsets or “spiderettes,” as its vegetative babies are called. Its leaves are either all green, or variegated in either green and white, or sometimes green and yellow, depending on the cultivar. This tropical species is grass-like, with slender, arching leaves that grow in a rosette form. Bernard’s lily” but this common name is used for another member of the asparagus family, Anthericum liliago, as well. It’s known around the world by several other common names as well, including “airplane plant,” “ribbon plant,” and “spider ivy.” What Is a Spider Plant?Ĭhlorophytum comosum, more commonly known as “spider plant,” is an herbaceous tropical evergreen perennial enjoyed for its abundant foliage and ability to produce masses of plantlets. This is one of the easiest plants you can care for in your home – and learning how to give it proper care will set you on a good path toward growing more challenging indoor vegetation.Īnd just to make sure we’re all on the same page, this houseplant is not to be confused with cleome, the flowering annual that is sometimes known by the same common name. If you’re a newbie houseplant parent, you’ve made a good choice to start with.
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