| Protologue: |
Flora Somala. Vol. 2 Modena 419-423 (1932). |
| New Combination: |
L'Agricultura Coloniale Instituto Agricola Coloniale Italiano, Fiherense 26 (11): 549 (1932). |
| Subgenus: |
Sansevieria |
| Group: |
Sansevieria elliptica |
| Etymology: |
This species is named for the elliptical shape of its leaves. |
| Distribution: |
Somalia and Kenya east of the Rift Valley. |
| Brief Description: |
This acaulescent species can spread widely with rhizomes, putting up 1 - 3 erect or slightly spreading and (or) recurved leaves in a cluster. The leaves are elliptical or oblong-elliptical in shape and 16-30 cm long by 9-14 cm wide with a thickness of 0.4-0.5 cm in the middle. The upper surface is slightly rough and distinctly guttered with an acute tip and somewhat undulating margins that are purple-brown with a narrow white edge; the lower surface is distinctly roughened. Depending upon the amount of light the plants receive, both surfaces are light-dark green with irregular transverse bands of pale grey-green blotches. The inflorescence is unbranched and 20-35 cm high with 3 - 5 flowers per cluster. |
| Similar Species: |
The Sansevieria elliptica complex comprises a number of broad-leaf species from East Africa, notably Sansevieria rugosifolia, S. nebrownii, and S. forestii, and could be extended to the entire continent to include Sansevieria specksii from Benin, S. forskaoliana from the Sudan and Yemen, and some plants currently included in S. hyacinthoides in southern Africa. |
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Sansevieria elliptica east of Voi, Kenya.
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Sansevieria elliptica flowering in cultivation.
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Sansevieria elliptica 'Horwood' (Horwood 424), collected at an undisclosed location in either northeastern Kenya or southern Somalia.
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