Sansevieria pinguicula
| Walking sansevieria | |
|---|---|
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| S. pinguicula in flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Sansevieria |
| Species: | S. pinguicula |
| Binomial name | |
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Sansevieria pinguicula Bally, 1943 |
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Sansevieria pinguicula, also known as the walking sansevieria, is a xerophytic CAM succulent native to the Bura area of Kenya, near Garissa. The species was described by Peter René Oscar Bally in 1943.
The name is derived from the Latin pinguis, meaning "fat", attributed to the shape of the leaves.
Sansevieria pinguicula is a short, erect plant resembling a dwarf agave. It is best known for its growing habit: Unlike most Sansevieria which grow from an underground rhizome, this species produces aerial stolons which terminate in new plantlets. These then produce stilt-like roots that extend downward to the ground, resulting in a plant that appears to be walking away from its parent.
The blue-green leaves of S. pinguicula are covered in a thick waxy cuticle, and contain the deepest stomata of any Sansevieria species. The leaves are arranged in a rosette and lunate in cross section. The leaves can be 12–30 cm in length, 2.8-3.5 cm thick, and are tipped with a single sharp spine. A wide channel runs the full length of each leaf and has reddish-brown margins edged with tough, papery white cuticle The underside of each leaf is smooth when water is plentiful but develops deep longitudinal grooves in drier conditions as the plant draws upon the water stored in its leaves, allowing it to survive in one of the most arid regions of Kenya.
The defining characteristic of S. pinguicula are its thick stilt-like roots. Each rosette produces several of these roots, which can elevate the plant several inches off the ground and are covered in a thick brown cuticle. Fine roots are produced underground and are responsible for nutrient and moisture absorption. During the dry season, the fine roots will die, and the plant will enter dormancy. However, the thick succulent roots survive and the plant will resume growth once the wet season arrives and the roots regrow.
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Wikipedia