| Protologue: |
Kew Bulletin 59: 617 (2004). |
| Etymology: |
The epithet refers to the long style, part of the female organ of the flowers. |
| Subgenus: |
Sansevieria |
| Group: |
Sansevieria braunii |
| Distribution: |
Malawi, only known from one locality along the shoreline of Lake Malawi. |
| Brief Description: |
This acaulescent and rhizomatous broad-leaf species has 1-3 lanceolate leaves per cluster. The slightly roughened leaves are 33 cm long by 7 cm wide tapering to a soft but pointed tip. The leaves have a folded base but are otherwise flat and have a dark bluish-green background mottled with light bluish-green markings. The margin is red. The inflorescence is 48-58 cm tall and subcapitate with 1 - 3 flowers per cluster. The flowers reportedly have a faint smell of vanilla. |
| Similar Species: |
This species is rare in cultivation and only known from one locality on the western shore of Lake Malawi. It bears similarity to forms of Sansevieria braunii and S. vanillosa, which also have subcapitate inflorescences and a vanilla smell when flowering. Otherwise, it has a similar shape and coloration to members of the Sansevieria elliptica group. |
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Sansevieria longistyla at Semba Bay, Malawi.
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Sansevieria longistyla at Semba Bay, Malawi.
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Sansevieria longistyla on sandy substrate at Semba Bay, Malawi.
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Sansevieria longistyla in forest shade at Semba Bay, Malawi.
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