| Protologue: |
Sansevieria 37: 6–11 (2018). |
| Subgenus: |
Sansevieria |
| Group |
Sansevieria elliptica |
| Etymology: |
Named for Juan Chahinian, an Argentinian engineer who lived in the USA. He followed Horst Pfennig to popularize the genus Sansevieria with the Sansevieria Journal and two books on Sansevieria published between the late 1980s and early 2000s. |
| Distribution: |
This species was originally collected from a locality on the limestone plateau west of Eyl, Somalia. The exact locality is unknown but the type plant is from Ernst Specks, German horticulturalist (Specks 14026). |
| Brief Description: |
This slow-growing acaulescent species spreads by rhizomes. The immature leaves are ovate to oblanceolate, generally 1 - 2 arising from the rhizomes, ascending or nearly prostrate. The mature leaves generally are 2 - 4 in number, oblanceolate, ascending to spreading, broad and stiff with dark green patterning over a gray-green background. They are 25-35 cm long and 6-7 cm wide, with a shallow central channel bearing longitudinal lines that are more prominent towards the base and a blunt, white tip. The upper side of the leaf is smooth and the lower side is very rough. The simple inflorescence is about a foot tall with 2 flowers per cluster. |
| Similar Species: |
This is the smallest member of the Sansevieria elliptica group. As such, it could be confused with juvenile plants of other members of this group with roughened leaf surfaces, including S. elliptica, S. rugosifolia, S. forestii, and possibly S. forskaoliana. |
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Sansevieria chahinianii, showing juvenile leaves in cultivation.
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Sansevieria chahinianii in cultivation.
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Sansevieria chahinianii flowering in cultivation.
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