Spathiphyllum wallisii

Spathiphyllum wallisii, commonly known as peace lily,[1][2] white sails,[3] or spathe flower,[4] is a very popular indoor house plant of the family Araceae.[3] The genus name means "spathe-leaf", and the specific epithet is named after Gustav Wallis, the German plant collector. It was first described in 1877.

Spathiphyllum wallisii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Genus: Spathiphyllum
Species:
S. wallisii
Binomial name
Spathiphyllum wallisii

Description

edit

It is a herbaceous perennial which produces flowers in the typical aroid structure: a densely crowded inflorescence called a spadix is subtended by one large bract called a spathe (occasionally two spathes are produced, with the upper spathe smaller). The spadix is generally cream or ivory when young, and turns green with age;[5] the spathe is generally white or white with green nerves distally from the margin, turning green with age. Leaves are basal, glossy and somewhat deeply veined, ovate and acuminate. The petioles are long and the leaves arch gracefully. The plant produces offsets at the base and in time becomes a dense clump.

Spathiphyllum wallisii is one of approximately 40 species in a genus of tropical evergreens. It was discovered in the late 19th century growing wild in Colombia. A number of cultivars, many of hybrid origin, are commercially available, such as the larger hybrids "Mauna Loa", named after the Hawaiian volcano, and the even larger “Sensation", which are both popular indoor plants. "Domino" is a finely variegated variety of intermediate size. Its wide natural range includes parts of Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and northern South America.[6]

 
Spathiphyllum wallisii, full plant

References

edit
  1. ^ "Spathiphyllum wallisii". Gardener's World. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Donna (12 March 2022). "Houseplants: how to buy them – and keep them alive". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Ellis, Sonya Patel (15 March 2022). The Modern Gardener: A Practical Guide to Houseplants, Herbs & Container Gardening. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-6672-0007-1. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. ^ Dehgan, Bijan (1 January 2023). Garden Plants Taxonomy: Volume 1: Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms (Monocots). Springer Nature. p. 223. ISBN 978-3-031-11561-5. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. ^ Bercu, R; Făgăraş, M (March 2010). "Anatomical Aspects of the Ornamental Plant Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel". Scientific Study & Research – Biology. 18: 13–17. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
edit