Dracaena angolensis (synonymSansevieria cylindrica),[1]commonly known as African spear or the spear sansevieria,[3] is a succulentplant native to Angola in Southern Africa. For years, it was placed within the genusSansevieria (snake-plants), a specific name which is still used synonymously by some; in the 21st century, Sansevieria became part of Dracaena (dragon-trees), after improved testing methods, physical comparisons, and other analyses found sufficient commonalities between the two genera to warrant subsumption.
Dracaena angolensis has striped, elongate, smooth, greenish-gray subcylindrical leaves. They are up to 3cm (1in) diameter and grow up to 2m (7ft) above soil.[4] The spear sansevieria grows fan-shaped, with its stiff leaves growing from a basal rosette.
The species is interesting in having subcylindrical instead of strap-shaped leaves caused by a failure to express genes which would cause the cylindrical bud to differentiate dorsoventrally or produce a distinctive and familiar top and bottom surface to the leaf blade.[4][5] The 3cm (1in) greenish-white tubular flowers are tinged with pink.[5]
Cultivation
The species is drought-tolerant and in cultivation requires water only about once every other week during the growing season.[5] The species can be watered once a month during the winter months. The species was described by Wenceslas Bojer in 1837. Dracaena angolensis (under the synonym Sansevieria cylindrica) received its common name from a competition in a Dutch national newspaper.[4] It is popular as an ornamental plant[4] as it is easy to culture and take care of in a home if given bright sunlight and other required resources.[5] In Brazil, where it is known as lança de São Jorge ("St. George's spear"), it is grown outside houses to ward off evil that might harm the home.[6] The plant plays an important part in the Afro-Brazilian syncretic religion Umbanda,[6] representing the orishaOgum,[7] as Ogum is syncretized with St. George.
1 2 3 4 Lemke, Cal (2002-01-25). "Sanseviera cylindrica". Plant of the Week. University of Oklahoma Department of Biology and Microbiology. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
1 2 Aline Melo. "Espada de São Jorge, lança de São Jorge ou Espada de Santa Bárbara?"Casa e Jardim. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2024. (in Portuguese)"No Brasil, popularizou-se o uso de três espécies: a Sansevieria zeylanica, autêntica espada-de-são-jorge, verde e rajada; a Sansevieria trifasciata, com bordas amareladas da raiz às pontas, que ficou conhecida como espada-de-santa-bárbara; e a Sansevieria cylindrica, a lança-de-são-jorge, com aspecto pontudo e folhagens fechadas em formato cilíndrico."
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