Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 95:295-298. 1982. SANSEVIERIA IN FLORIDA-PAST AND PRESENT1 Richard W. Henley R. Dodge (5) mentioned he found Sansevieria zeylanica University of Florida, IFAS, growing in several localities in southern Florida. Leaf sam Ornamental Horticultural Department, ples collected from Boca Chica Key measured approximately Stationed at Agricultural Research Center, 6 ft in length. Dodge prepared a more extensive report on Route 3, Box 580, Apopka, FL 32703 leaf fibers in the United States, published by USDA in 1893 (6) in which he mentioned the fiber of 5. guineensis, listed in Hortus Third (2) as S. hyacinthoides (L.) Druce., African Abstract. The genus Sansevieria has special significance bowstring hemp. It was sufficiently strong for hawsers and in Florida horticulture, where it has been grown as an experi cables and fine enough to be used by jewelers to string mental fiber crop, as an ornamental for interior use and, to a pearls. He further stated that the fiber was too valuable to lesser extent, landscaping outside. Introduction of Sansevieria be used as cordage because manila, sisal and common hemp to Florida is estimated to have occurred between 1765 and were sufficiently abundant and strong. He also indicated that 1820. By the 1890s there was limited testing of a few species the term bowstring hemp was also applied to S. zeylanica of Sansevieria in South Florida, primarily by private interests, (now S. trifasciata) and S. latifolia Bojer. Dodge mentioned for quality and yield of cordage fiber. During World War II, that fiber yield per acre was large because of the rank growth U. S. Department of Agriculture and University of Florida and leaf density in established clumps. Hope was expressed researchers joined efforts in a project based at Boynton and for actual fiber yield data from a plantation of sansevieria fndfantown to study the practicality of growing sansevierias recently set out by Dr. J. V. Harris. in South Florida for fiber production. The tropical foliage Sansevieria was first mentioned in the proceedings of plant industry in South Florida started in 1922 with a nursery this Society in 1912 by Charles Simpson (15) in a short devoted to field production of primarily Sansevieria trifasciata reference to the agressive nature of one species. He states: (Prain.) 'Laurentii' bare-root plants for export to Europe. "Sansevieria zeylanica, a striking variegated plant, takes Major and minor ornamental species and cultivars of absolute possession of the soil, to the exclusion of almost Sansevieria are described and their usage discussed. Several everything else, wherever planted." It is probably S. tri sansevierias, not generally in commerce, which have orna fasciata 'Laurentii' which is described in the quotation. mental crop potential are mentioned. Several attempts were made from 1910 to 1940 to culti Sansevieria, a member of the Agavaceae (agave family), vate sansevieria in Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas contains approximately 60 species indigenous to Africa, the and the British West Indies (12). These efforts were not islands near the African coast, Arabia, Ceylon, Burma and very successful. A number of years prior to World War II experts recognized that the more common cordage fibers, India. The genus was named by Carl Pehr Thunberg in such as abaca, sisal and henequin were imported from the 1794 after the early naturalist, Raimond de Sangro, Prince Philippines, East Indies, the Latin Americas and Africa and, of Sansevierio, born in Naples in 1710. in the event of a national emergency, foreign supplies, In 1915 Brown (4) prepared a detailed monograph in especially those from the eastern hemisphere, might be cut which he described 54 Sansevieria species based on plants off. Because of this potential situation, it was concluded that and records maintained at the Royal Botanic Gardens at sansevieria was one of a few hard cordage fiber plants suit Kew, England. Although there is considerable uncertainty able for large scale mechanized production in South Florida. regarding nomenclature of Sansevieria, Brown's work is still During World War II researchers from USDA and the Uni widely respected. Hortus Third (2) describes 11 species of versity of Florida Everglades Experiment Station worked Sansevieria and several cultivars. together to develop practical methods of growing, handling, Sansevieria has an interesting history as it has been harvesting and fiber extraction of sansevieria. The initial utilized by many cultures and transported to many parts of project was based at Boynton, Florida and, in 1950, plant the world by early emigrants and tradesmen. It was highly valued by primitive people, particularly in parts of Africa, ings were extended to Indiantown. Emphasis of this pro gram included both evaluation of existing species and for its strong, soft fibers. The fibers were commonly used to cultivars of Sansevieria and genetic improvement efforts make bowstrings, hence the common name, bowstring hemp. through breeding. Following the war, the production of The fiber has also been used for coarse fabrics, baskets, fish synthetic fibers such as rayon, nylon and others eliminated nets and other handicraft items. the need and economic feasibility of commercial production Sansevieria is better known to modern cultures as an ornamental plant, grown outside in the tropics and semi- of sansevieria for its fiber. tropics, and in a variety of containers for interior use Gangstad, Joyner and Seale (7) summarized the agro throughout the world. Some of the common names given to nomic characteristics of several Sansevieria species tested at certain of the ornamental types include snake plant and Boynton. The cylindrical leaf species (S. Ehrenbergii G. Schweins, and S. cylindrica Bojer) were found unsatis mother-in-law's tongue. It has been estimated that Sansevieria was introduced to factory for commercial production because of their difficulty Florida during a period of Spanish colonization between of propagation, slow growth rate and low acre yield of fiber. 1765 and 1820. It is suspected that missionaries, arriving The coriaceous leaf species (S. liberica Gerome & Labroy with or closely following early settlers, were frequently in and S. longiflora Sims) looked promising for annual harvest terested in plants and introduced a variety of horticultural ing because of their ability to produce leaves rapidly when and agronomic plants, including Sansevieria. started from rhizomes, but had relatively short leaves and low cold tolerance. The narrow or petiolar leaf species (S. thyrsiflora, now S. hyacinthoides, S. trifasciata 'Laurentii' Fiber Investigations and S. trifasciata) were most promising for fiber production In an 1891 USDA report on fiber investigations, Charles because they could be propagated easily from leaf cuttings and had high fiber yield per acre. Because of its satisfactory cold tolerance, fiber content and good leaf length, S. trc- iFlorida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. \TMK Proc, Fla. State Hort. Soc. 95: 1982. 295 fasciata was considered to have the greatest potential for species and cultivars currently grown commercially by Flor fiber production in South Florida. It was determined that ida nurserymen. the annual yield of dry fiber from S. trifasciata was 2,491 lb. Sansevieria cylindrica, the spear sansevieria, with its per acre, annually, from 3-yr-old plantings. long, tapered leaves which are nearly round in cross section, are medium green with dark green crossbanding. Each Commercial Nursery Development rosette attached to a very thick rhizome has 3 to 4 leaves, each 2.5 to 4.5 ft in length. Leaves in estabilshed clumps A few species of Sansevieria are used effectively as land have straight, erect leaves while young plants from leaf scape ground covers or accent plants in the southern part of cuttings tend to produce leaves which reflex outward and the state which corresponds roughly to USDA plant hardi down. The spear sansevieria has limited ornamental value. ness zone 10b (1). Within that area very little cold damage Sansevieria parva N. E. Br. the Kenya hyacinth, is a rela to S. trifasciata cultivars is expected, particularly if it is tively fine-textured species with dark, slender, cross banded, protected from wind. A few successful landscape plantings slightly reflexed leaves, 8 to 10 inches in length. Attached to are occasionally seen in Central Florida though more winter long slender rhizomes, rosettes are composed of 6 to 12 injury accompanies these plantings. Selections of S. tri leaves. As S. parva becomes established in containers, it fasciata are usually preferred for landscaping because of develops rhizomes which frequently emerge from the soil, their clean, attractive foliage, selection of heights ranging protrude over the container edge and cascade downward, from 6 inches to approximately 4 ft, and variety of foliage producing a number of suspended plantlets and creating an colors including very dark green, dark green with gray cross- effect similar to the spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum banding, dark green plus yellow or white in variegated pat (Thumb.) Jacques. The inflorescence of S. parva is rather terns, or silvery green leaves. Sansevieria trifasciata has very large and showier than most Sansevieria species. Sansevieria densely spaced leaves which help compete with weeds in the parva deserves wider usage and may be considered as a landscape. candidate for large hanging baskets if the owner does not In addition to the landscape applications, sansevieria is mind waiting for the trailing rhizomes to develop. Contain a very attractive and durable foliage plant for interiors. ers planted with small plantlets may require a year or more Most historical accounts of the development of the foliage to develop the cascading habit. plant industry in Florida overlook the importance of Sansevieria trifasciata, common sansevieria, also called sansevieria. The frequently told story indicates that produc snake plant and mother-in-law's tongue, is the species from tion of Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott 'Bos- which most of the popular ornamental Sansevieria orig toniensis' and related types began in the Orlando area in inated.