''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of almost 200

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to the

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

regions of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

.Atlas of Living Australia, ''Chlorophytum''
/ref> They grow to 10–60 cm tall, with a rosette of long, slender

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

15–75 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad and thick, fleshy tuberous roots. The

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s are small, usually white, produced on sparse

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s up to 120 cm long; in some species the plants also reproduce vegetatively by means of plantlets, tiny plants that take root on touching the ground. ''

Chlorophytum comosum ''Chlorophytum comosum'', usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, ribbon plant (a name it shares with '' Dracaena sanderiana''), and hen and chickens is a species of evergreen pere ...

'', the common Spider Plant, a native of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, is a very popular

houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

especially in its

variegated Variegation is the appearance of differently coloured zones in the leaves and sometimes the stems and fruit of plants. Species with variegated individuals are sometimes found in the understory of tropical rainforests, and this habitat is the s ...

form 'Vittatum'. It is commonly grown in hanging pots suspended by ropes or wires in bright sunlight. ''

Chlorophytum borivilianum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are na ...

'' is a native of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

and it is used and grown as a medicinal plant. Image:SpiderplantFlower.JPG, Flower of ''C. comosum'' Image:2007-06-24Chlorophytum comosum03.jpg, Fleshy tuberous roots of ''C. comosum''

Species, subspecies, and varieties

The

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (usually abbreviated to WCSP) is an "international collaborative programme that provides the latest peer reviewed and published opinions on the accepted scientific names and synonyms of selected plan ...

recognized 191 species :Search for "Chlorophytum", * ''

Chlorophytum acutum ''Chlorophytum acutum'' is a plant native to South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along ...

'' (C.H.Wright) Nordal * ''

Chlorophytum affine ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are na ...

'' Baker ** ''Chlorophytum affine'' var. ''affine'' ** ''Chlorophytum affine'' var. ''curviscapum'' (Poelln.) Hanid * ''

Chlorophytum africanum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' (Baker) Baker * ''

Chlorophytum alismifolium ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen Perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the Agavoideae, century plant subfamily within the Asparagac ...

Chlorophytum arundinaceum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen Perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the Agavoideae, century plant subfamily within the Asparagac ...

'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum aureum'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum basitrichum'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum baturense'' K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum benuense'' Engl. & K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum bharuchae'' Ansari, Sundararagh. & Hemadri * '' Chlorophytum bifolium'' Dammer * '' Chlorophytum blepharophyllum'' Schweinf. ex Baker ** ''Chlorophytum blepharophyllum'' subsp. ''blepharophyllum'' ** ''Chlorophytum blepharophyllum'' subsp. ''pendulum'' Hoell & Nordal ** ''Chlorophytum blepharophyllum'' subsp. ''rubropygmaeum'' Bjorå & Nordal * ''

'' Santapau & R.R.Fern. * '' Chlorophytum bowkeri'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum brachystachyum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum bracteatum'' Hua * '' Chlorophytum brevipedunculatum'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum breviscapum'' Dalzell * '' Chlorophytum bulbinifolium'' Hoell & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum burundiense'' Meerts * '' Chlorophytum calyptrocarpum'' (Baker) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum cameronii'' (Baker) Kativu ** ''Chlorophytum cameronii'' var. ''cameronii'' ** ''Chlorophytum cameronii'' var. ''grantii'' (Baker) Nordal ** ''Chlorophytum cameronii'' var. ''purpuratum'' (Rendle) Govaerts * '' Chlorophytum camporum'' Engl. & K.Krause * ''

Chlorophytum capense ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' (L.) Voss * '' Chlorophytum caudatibracteatum'' Engl. & K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum caulescens'' (Baker) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum chelindaense'' Kativu & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum chevalieri'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum chinense'' Bureau & Franch. * '' Chlorophytum chloranthum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum clarae'' Bjorå & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum collinum'' (Poelln.) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum colubrinum'' (Baker) Engl. * ''

'' (Thunb.) Jacques * '' Chlorophytum cooperi'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum cordifolium'' De Wild. * '' Chlorophytum crassinerve'' (Baker) Oberm. * '' Chlorophytum crispum'' (Thunb.) Baker * '' Chlorophytum cyperaceum'' (Kies) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum dalzielii'' (Hutch. ex Hepper) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum debile'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum decaryanum'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum decipiens'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum densiflorum'' Engl. * ''

Chlorophytum dianellifolium ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen Perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the Agavoideae, century plant subfamily within the Asparagac ...

'' (Baker) H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum distichum'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum dolichocarpum'' Tamura * '' Chlorophytum ducis-aprutii'' Chiov. * '' Chlorophytum fasciculatum'' (Baker) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum filifolium'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum filipendulum'' Baker ** ''Chlorophytum filipendulum'' subsp. ''filipendulum'' ** ''Chlorophytum filipendulum'' subsp. ''amaniense'' (Engl.) Nordal & A.D.Poulsen * '' Chlorophytum fischeri'' (Baker) Baker * '' Chlorophytum gallabatense'' Schweinf. ex Baker * '' Chlorophytum galpinii'' (Baker) Kativu ** ''Chlorophytum galpinii'' var. ''galpinii'' ** ''Chlorophytum galpinii'' var. ''matabelense'' (Baker) Kativu ** ''Chlorophytum galpinii'' var. ''norlindhii'' (Weim.) Kativu * ''

Chlorophytum geayanum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum geophilum'' Peter ex Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum glaucoides'' Blatt. * '' Chlorophytum glaucum'' Dalzell * '' Chlorophytum goetzei'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum gothanense'' Malpure & S.R.Yadav * '' Chlorophytum gracile'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum graminifolium'' (Willd.) Kunth * '' Chlorophytum graniticola'' Kativu * '' Chlorophytum graniticum'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum graptophyllum'' (Baker) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum haygarthii'' J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans * '' Chlorophytum herrmannii'' Nordal & Sebsebe * '' Chlorophytum heynei'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum hiranense'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum hirsutum'' A.D.Poulsen & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum holstii'' Engl. * ''

Chlorophytum humbertianum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen Perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the Agavoideae, century plant subfamily within the Asparagac ...

'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum humifusum'' Cufod. * '' Chlorophytum hypoxiforme'' (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum hysteranthum'' Kativu * '' Chlorophytum immaculatum'' (Hepper) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum inconspicuum'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum indicum'' (Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Dress * ''

Chlorophytum inornatum ''Chlorophytum inornatum'' is a flowering plant species in the genus ''Chlorophytum''. It is the type species of its genus. It is related to the commonly known plant Chlorophytum also referred to as a "spider plant". 3-(4'-Methoxybenzyl)-7,8-met ...

'' Ker Gawl. * '' Chlorophytum intermedium'' Craib * '' Chlorophytum kolhapurense'' Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav * '' Chlorophytum krauseanum'' (Dinter) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum krookianum'' Zahlbr. * '' Chlorophytum lancifolium'' Welw. ex Baker ** ''Chlorophytum lancifolium'' subsp. ''lancifolium'' ** ''Chlorophytum lancifolium'' subsp. ''cordatum'' (Engl.) A.D.Poulsen & Nordal ** ''Chlorophytum lancifolium'' subsp. ''togoense'' (Engl.) A.D.Poulsen & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum latifolium'' Engl. & K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum laxum'' R.Br. * ''

Chlorophytum leptoneurum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are na ...

'' (C.H.Wright) Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum lewisae'' Oberm. * '' Chlorophytum limosum'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum littorale'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum longifolium'' Schweinf. ex Baker * '' Chlorophytum longiscapum'' Dammer * '' Chlorophytum longissimum'' Ridl. * ''

Chlorophytum macrophyllum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' (A.Rich.) Asch. * '' Chlorophytum macrorrhizum'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum macrosporum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum madagascariense'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum malabaricum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum malayense'' Ridl. * '' Chlorophytum micranthum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum minor'' Kativu * '' Chlorophytum modestum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum monophyllum'' Oberm. * '' Chlorophytum namaquense'' Schltr. ex Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum namorokense'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum nepalense'' (Lindl.) Baker * '' Chlorophytum nervatum'' (C.H.Wright) Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum nervosum'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum nidulans'' (Baker) Brenan * '' Chlorophytum nimmonii'' Dalzell * '' Chlorophytum nubicum'' (Baker) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum nyasae'' (Rendle) Kativu * ''

Chlorophytum nzii ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' A.Chev. ex Hepper * '' Chlorophytum occultum'' A.D.Poulsen & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum orchidastrum'' Lindl. * '' Chlorophytum parkeri'' (Baker) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum parvulum'' Chiov. * '' Chlorophytum paucinervatum'' (Poelln.) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum pauciphyllum'' Oberm. * '' Chlorophytum pauper'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum pendulum'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum peralbum'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum perfoliatum'' Kativu * '' Chlorophytum petraeum'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum petrophilum'' K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum pilosissimum'' Engl. & K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum polystachys'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum pseudocaule'' Tesfaye & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum pterocarpum'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum puberulum'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum pubiflorum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum pusillum'' Schweinf. ex Baker * '' Chlorophytum pygmaeum'' (Weim.) Kativu ** ''Chlorophytum pygmaeum'' subsp. ''pygmaeum'' ** ''Chlorophytum pygmaeum'' subsp. ''rhodesianum'' (Rendle) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum radula'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum ramosissimum'' Nordal & Thulin * '' Chlorophytum rangei'' (Engl. & K.Krause) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum recurvifolium'' (Baker) C.Archer & Kativu * '' Chlorophytum reflexibracteatum'' Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum rhizopendulum'' Bjorå & Hemp * '' Chlorophytum rigidum'' Kunth * '' Chlorophytum ruahense'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum rubribracteatum'' (De Wild.) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum rutenbergianum'' Vatke * '' Chlorophytum saundersiae'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum scabrum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum senegalense'' (Baker) Hepper * '' Chlorophytum serpens'' Sebsebe & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum silvaticum'' Dammer * '' Chlorophytum simplex'' Craib * '' Chlorophytum sofiense'' (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum somaliense'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum sparsiflorum'' Baker ** ''Chlorophytum sparsiflorum'' var. ''sparsiflorum'' ** ''Chlorophytum sparsiflorum'' var. ''bipindense'' (Engl. & K.Krause) Bjorå & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum sphacelatum'' (Baker) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum staudtii'' Nordal * '' Chlorophytum stenopetalum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum stolzii'' (K.Krause) Weim. * '' Chlorophytum subligulatum'' H.Perrier * '' Chlorophytum subpetiolatum'' (Baker) Kativu * ''

Chlorophytum suffruticosum ''Chlorophytum'' (,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 common name spider plant), is a genus of almost 200 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. The plants are nat ...

'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum superpositum'' (Baker) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum sylvestre'' Bardot-Vaucoulon * '' Chlorophytum tenerrimum'' Peter ex Poelln. * '' Chlorophytum tetraphyllum'' (L.f.) Baker * '' Chlorophytum transvaalense'' (Baker) Kativu * '' Chlorophytum trichophlebium'' (Baker) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum triflorum'' (Aiton) Kunth * '' Chlorophytum tripedale'' (Baker) H.Perrier *'' Chlorophytum tuberosum'' (Roxb.) Baker * '' Chlorophytum unyikense'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum velutinum'' Kativu * '' Chlorophytum vestitum'' Baker * '' Chlorophytum viridescens'' Engl. * '' Chlorophytum viscosum'' Kunth * '' Chlorophytum waibelii'' K.Krause * '' Chlorophytum warneckei'' (Engl.) Marais & Reilly * '' Chlorophytum zambiense'' Bjorå & Nordal * '' Chlorophytum zavattarii'' (Cufod.) Nordal * '' Chlorophytum zingiberastrum'' Nordal & A.D.Poulsen

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1771926 Asparagaceae genera Agavoideae