''Dracaena sanderiana'' is a species of
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 ...
in the family
Asparagaceae, native to
Central Africa
Central Africa is a subregion of the African continent comprising various countries according to different definitions. Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo ...
.
It was named after the German–English gardener
Henry Frederick Conrad Sander
Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander; 4 March 1847 in Bremen – 23 December 1920 in Bruges) was a German-born orchidologist and nurseryman who settled in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England and is noted for his monthly ...
(1847–1920). The plant is commonly marketed as "lucky bamboo".
Names
Common names include Sander's dracaena, ribbon dracaena, lucky bamboo, curly bamboo, Chinese water bamboo, Goddess of Mercy's plant, Belgian evergreen.
It is also called ribbon plant, although the same common name is sometimes used for ''
Chlorophytum comosum'' (also known as the ''spider plant''). While the word ''bamboo'' occurs in several of this plant's common names, ''D. sanderiana'' is of an entirely different taxonomic
order from true
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...
s – though it is worth noting that this plant and true bamboos both fall under the monocot
clade. Despite several of its common names that suggest it is from China or Belgium, it is a native African species. ''Dracaena sanderiana'' is often confused with ''
Dracaena braunii'', a plant from coastal West Africa with flowers 5 times shorter than those of ''D. sanderiana''.
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Description
A 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 wid ...
herb reaching a height of , the plant has slightly twisted leaves of grey-green colour, with a length of which is up to . The stem is fleshy, which distinguishes it from bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...
. It requires bright, ventilated areas. It tolerates dry air and does not require constant spraying. A very tenacious plant, it is rather difficult to destroy it.
Cultivation
''Dracaena sanderiana'' and its related varieties are popular houseplants. It is a suitable plant in a confined space, and the most suitable place is a scattered light or semi-shade site because direct sunlight causes yellowing and burning of leaves. Ideal temperature ranges from . It requires average warmth, good illumination, regular watering with dry periods in between. If planted in the ground, it loses its bamboo-like look and it would fill with a leaf-like shape like other dragon trees.
It is multiplied by cutting a part of the stem just above the eye. Cuttings can be made year round.
Gallery
File:Donghai Island - P1580772 - lucky bamboo.JPG, A field of lucky bamboo in Donghai Island, Guangdong
File:Lucky bamboo spiral houseplant.jpg, Lucky bamboo spiral houseplant
File:LuckyBambooNewRoots.jpg, Newly propagated lucky bamboo cutting with roots forming
File:Dracaena sanderiana1.jpg, Plant with multiple, woven stems.
File:Lucky Bamboo Hearts.jpg, With heart-shaped stems.
File:A trio of plantae "Dracaena Sanderiana".jpg, A trio of ''Dracaena sanderiana''
See also
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References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q27686509
sanderiana
Flora of Cameroon
House plants
Low light plants