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Chlorophytum comosum

life science Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The spider plant, known scientifically as *Chlorophytum comosum*, is a resilient evergreen perennial.

Chlorophytum comosum Ampel
Chlorophytum comosum Ampel

It belongs to the family Asparagaceae. This plant is famous for its spider-like appearance. Because of this, it has many common names. People call it spider ivy, the airplane plant, or the ribbon plant. Some even call it "hen and chicks." It is a popular houseplant because it is very easy to grow.

Chlorophytum comosum 01
Chlorophytum comosum 01

It is native to tropical and Southern Africa. However, it has become naturalized in places like Bangladesh and Western Australia.

The plant has a very specific way of growing and reproducing. It features long, narrow leaves that can reach significant lengths.

2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04
2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04

Beneath the soil, the plant develops fleshy, tuberous roots. To reproduce, it produces a long, branched structure called an inflorescence. This stem, or scape, can grow very long. It eventually bends downward to reach the earth. The flowers are greenish-white and grow in small clusters of one to six.

2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03
2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03

Most of these flowers eventually die off. This leaves the inflorescence looking sparsely flowered. The flowers have six tepals, which are petal-like parts. These tepals are often shaped like little boats.

One of the most amazing parts of the spider plant is how it makes new plants. The inflorescences do not just carry flowers. They also carry vegetative plantlets at the tips of their branches.

SpiderPlantPlantlets
SpiderPlantPlantlets

These small plantlets are often called "spiderettes" or "pups." As the long stems droop and touch the soil, the plantlets develop adventitious roots. This means they can grow new roots directly from the stem to start a new individual. You can propagate them by potting these pups directly into soil or pumice. You can also cut the running stems to start new plants.

Botanists have studied the classification of this plant for centuries. The Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg first described it in 1794. He originally named it *Anthericum comosum*. Since then, the plant has moved through many different genera. It was once called *Phalangium*, *Caesia*, *Hartwegia*, and *Hollia*. In 1862, it was placed in the genus *Chlorophytum* by Jacques.

Scientists have sometimes confused it with *Chlorophytum capense*, but they are different species. Modern studies use DNA to understand how these plants evolved.

There are three distinct varieties of *Chlorophytum comosum*. The first is the variety *comosum*, which has narrow, strap-shaped leaves. It is typically found near forest margins. The second variety is *bipindense*. This version has broader leaves with stripes on the underside. Its inflorescences are two to three times longer than its leaves. The third variety is *sparsiflorum*. It also has broad leaves, but they narrow at the base. It usually lacks the stripes found on the other varieties.

Chlorophytum comosum 01
Chlorophytum comosum 01

These two forest varieties were once thought to be separate species. However, botanists Axel Dalberg Poulsen and Inger Nordal reclassified them as varieties in 2005.

Many people grow specific cultivars for their beauty. Variegated forms are the most popular in homes. For example, the 'Vittatum' cultivar has mid-green leaves with a wide white stripe in the center. The 'Variegatum' cultivar has darker green leaves with white edges.

Chlorophytum comosum Ampel
Chlorophytum comosum Ampel

Both of these have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. While they are hardy, they can be sensitive to certain things. High levels of fluoride or boron in tap water can cause "burnt tips" on the leaves. The plant grows best in temperatures between 15°C and 25°C.

Spider plants are also noted for their safety and potential benefits. They are non-toxic to both humans and pets, making them very safe for households. Some reports suggest the tuberous roots are edible.

2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04
2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04

A famous NASA Clean Air Study suggested these plants can remove toxins from the air. They were shown to reduce formaldehyde and xylene in laboratory settings. However, researchers noted that in a real home, you would need many plants to match that effect. To neutralize the formaldehyde in a typical energy-efficient house, you might need about 70 plants.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03.jpg
2006-12-09Chlorophytum07-03.jpg
File:2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04.jpg
2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum04.jpg
File:Chlorophytum comosum 01.jpg
Chlorophytum comosum 01.jpg
File:Chlorophytum comosum Ampel.jpg
Chlorophytum comosum Ampel.jpg
File:SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg
SpiderPlantPlantlets.jpg
File:Семя хлорофитума хохлатого под микроскопом.jpg
Семя хлорофитума хохлатого под микроскопом.jpg
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