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Sansevieria is a genus of evergreen, rhizomatous perennials in the family Agavaceae, comprising about 70 species. It is commonly known as mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn's tongue, and snake plant. Sansevieria is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Afro-Eurasia. It is named after Raimondo di Sangro (1710–1771), prince of San Severo in Italy.
Sansevieria species are xerophytic herbaceous to shrubby succulent perennial plants. They are grown for their rosette of stiff, evergreen strap-shaped leaves. Sansevieria can grow to 20 cm to 3 m tall, usually forming dense clumps from a spreading rhizome or stolons. Tall growing plants have stiff, erect, and lance-shaped leaves, while the smaller forms grow in rosette. Greenish-white flowers are produced on a simple or branched raceme of 40-90 cm long. The fruit is a red or orange berry.
In Africa, the leaves are used for fibre production. The sap of Sansevieria ehrenbergii is used as an antiseptic, while the leaves are used as bandages in traditional first aid.
Several species of Sansevieria are popular houseplants in temperate regions, with Sansevieria trifasciata the most widely sold.
Sansevieria is believed to act as good air purifiers by removing toxins (such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene) from the air.
Sansevieria can tolerate sun and shade and is easy to grow in most soil conditions. Do not over-watering as it can harm the plant. Propagation is by division and leaf cuttings in summer.
