虎尾兰，又名虎皮兰、锦兰，为龙舌兰科、虎尾兰属植物，变种有金边虎尾兰、银脉虎尾兰。地下茎无枝，叶簇生，下部筒形，中上部扁平，剑叶刚直立，株高 50 厘米至 70 厘米，叶宽 3 厘米至 5 厘米，叶全缘，表面乳白、淡黄、深绿相间，呈横带斑纹。金边虎尾兰叶缘金黄色，宽 1 厘米至 1.6 厘米。银脉虎尾兰，表面具纵向银白色条纹。家庭盆栽管理得好，全株叶片高 1.2 米以上。花从根茎单生抽出，总状花序，花淡白、浅绿色， 3 朵至 5 朵一束，着生在花序轴上。
虎尾兰是一种能净化室内环境的草本观叶植物。来自美国宇航局的科学家们的研究发现，虎尾兰在吸收二氧化碳的同时放出氧气使室内空气中的负离子浓度增加。负离子是空气中一种带负电荷的气体离子，有人把负离子称为“空气维生素”，并认为它像食物的维生素一样，对人体及其他生物的生命活动有着十分重要的影响，有的甚至认为空气负离子与长寿有关，称它为“长寿素。负离子可使大脑皮层功能及脑力活动加强，精神振奋，工作效益提高，能使睡眠质量得到改善，使脑组织的氧化过程力度加强，使脑组织获得更多的氧。负离子还能够显著扩张血管，解除动脉血管痉挛，达到降低血压的目的，负离子对于改善心脏功能和改善心肌营养也大有好处，有利于高血压和心脑血管疾患病人的病情恢复，它能使血液变慢、延长凝血时间，能使血中含氧量增加，有利于血氧输送、吸收和利用。同时负离子还可以提高人的肺活量。经实验，在玻璃面罩中吸入空气负离子30分钟，可使肺部吸收氧气量增加2％，而排出二氧化碳量可增加14.5％。当室内有电视机或电脑启动的时候，负氧离子会迅速减少，而金边虎尾兰的肉质茎上的气孔白天关闭，夜间打开，在吸收二氧化碳的同时，刚好可以释放出大量负离子，使室内空气中的负离子浓度增加。因此在家居公寓，写字楼等场所里，金边虎尾兰已经逐渐成为人们首选的环保植物。同时它还能吸收大量的铀等放射性核素，清除甲醛，三氯乙烯、硫比氢、苯、苯酚、氟化氢和乙醚，重金属微粒等。因此在15平方米的居室，栽2－3盆虎尾兰就可保持空气清新，就可吸收室内80%以上的有害气体。所以虎尾兰是人们现代生活中一种必不可少的环保室内植物。
短穗虎尾兰：为矮生种，株高约10—20厘米，为金边虎尾兰的突变种，叶片短而宽，回旋重叠生长。
葱叶虎尾兰：亦称柱叶虎尾兰。叶呈圆筒形，整叶上下粗细差不多，端稍尖细，叶面有纵走的浅凹沟状，每叶独立生长。
一般一个10平方米的房间种植一株虎尾兰就可以净化80％的有毒气体，所以很适合新装修的家庭种植。
Plant Profile
S. cylindrica has striped, round leaves that are smooth and a green-gray color. A single leaf is about 3 cm (1 in) thick and grows to a height between 1 m (3 ft) and 2 m (7 ft).[1] The Spear Sansevieria grows fan-shaped, with its stiff leaves growing from a basal rosette. The species is interesting in having rounded instead of strap-shaped leaves caused by a failure to express genes which would cause the cylindrical bud to differentiate dorsoventrally or produce a distinctive and familiar top and bottom surface to the leaf blade. The plant blooms once a year in the spring or mid-summer , producing 3 cm (1 in) greenish-white tubular flowers tinged with pink. The species is drought-tolerant and in captivity needs water only about once every other week during the breeding season . The species was described by Wenceslas Bojer in 1837. Sansevieria cylindrica received its name from a competition in a Dutch national newspaper. It is popular as an ornamental plant as it is easy to culture and take care of in a home.
If you are looking for a unique plant to transform your home and garden, you can try this beautiful and stunning species: Sansevieria cylindrica “Skyline.” Without having to sacrifice beauty, this succulent is versatile enough to thrive indoors or outdoors with low maintenance. This species is from Angola and belongs to the Dracaenaceae family, or dragon tree family. There are about 120 species described in the genus, the majority of which are mainly distributed in Central Africa and Southeast Asia.
Deriving its name from a competition in a Dutch national newspaper, Sansevieria cylindrica has green-grey leaves, which are striped and smooth, exuding a combination of modernity and simplicity. For a novice or a plant expert, this trendy succulent stands out as a wonderful conversation piece in your landscape. Each leaf is about 1.2 inches thick and can reach a height between 2 to 5 feet.
Typically, the Sansevieria cylindrica also known as “Spear Sansevieria,” is used as an ornamental plant for its unique and exotic looking features. It grows as a fan shaped succulent; the stiff leaves grow upright from a basal rosette. What differentiates the Sansevieria cylindrica from other varieties is the cylindrial nature of the leaf, caused by a suppression of dorsi-ventral symmetry. The "precursor tip" produced during the developing stages of the leaf enlarges without breaking radial symmetry (Cal’s Plant of the Week, Cal Lemke. University of Okalahoma Department of Botany and
Microbiology. 9 October 1998.
http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week160.shtml)
Being versatile and low-maintenance, the Sansevieria cylindrica only needs watering about once or twice a month during the warmer climates, and less frequently indoors as a houseplant. It thrives best with little water and at room temperature. A general rule of thumb is that succulents require less water than many traditional houseplants that you find at garden centers and grocery stores. If in doubt whether the soil is dry, refrain from watering. The best way to determine whether the Sansevieria cylindrica needs water is to provide moisture when the top 1/2 inch of soil feels dry to the finger. The soil should be thoroughly moist at each watering, and allowed to dry before water is added again. Some gardeners use moisture meters to determine how dry or wet the compost is. When using a moisture meter, be sure to water when the meter indicates the plant is dry. One of the most important considerations in watering a Sansevieria cylindrica is to never let the container stand in water. Moreover, to preserve its beautiful green-grey stems and fan shape structure, you must protect the Sansevieria cylindrica from temperatures that are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
To propagate this plant, first divide the rhizomes, which are thick rootstalks, by cutting them into about 3 to 4 inch sections. Prior to planting these sections in soil, allow the offsets to dry for about 1-2 days. Then replant each section in a well-drainage mixture that contains potting mix, pumice, and coarse sand. Allow the offsets to settle in the soil before watering.
The distinctive qualities of the Sansevieria cylindrica make it a dramatic plant with its perfect sculptural shape and size. Adding to its unique beauty, the plant blooms greenish-white tubular flowers about once a year. Although Sansevierias are not predominantly grown for their flowers, they have a lovely fragrance. With its striking appearance and low-maintenance culture, the Sansevieria cylindrica is the perfect solution to creating a beautiful atmosphere for your home garden.
