Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb.
Vernacular name: Snake Plant, Mother-in-law’s Tongue
Species Name: Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb. (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata Prain)
Family: Asparagaceae
Habit: Evergreen perennial succulent herb.
Stem: Underground, creeping rhizome; aerial stem very short or absent, producing basal clusters of erect leaves.
Leaf: Basal, erect, linear-lanceolate to sword-shaped, 30–120 × 3–10 cm, thick, fleshy, leathery, entire, dark green with characteristic transverse grey-green bands and often yellow margins in cultivars.
Flowering: Mainly spring–summer; irregular under cultivation.
Flowers: Small, greenish-white to creamy-white, fragrant, borne in erect racemes; perianth tubular with 6 narrow recurved lobes; stamens 6; ovary superior, tricarpellary.
Fruit: Globose orange-red berry, containing 1–3 seeds, rarely produced in cultivated plants.
Uses:
- Leaf and rhizome extracts are used in traditional medicines to soothe cold, cough and sore throats.
- Tropical applications of paste and poultices helps to treat minor cuts, insect bites and boils to reduce swelling.
- Widely cultivated as an ornamental indoor and landscape plant because of its hardy, drought-tolerant nature. It is commonly used in pots, borders, and low-maintenance landscaping.
- The strong leaf fibres have traditionally been used for cordage and other fibre products.
- Feng Shui believes to bring luck, prosperity and ward off negative energy.
- Plant absorbs pollutants like xylene, benzene and formaldehyde from room air and purify air.
- It releases oxygen at night that improve quality of air for sleeping.
