| Protologue: |
Sansevieria Online 9(1): 34 (2021). |
| Subgenus: |
Capitulatus |
| Group: |
Sansevieria braunii |
| Etymology: |
Named for a unique odour of vanilla emanating from the flowers. |
| Distribution: |
Only known from one coastal locality near Lindi, Tanzania, but it clearly could be more widespread in southeastern Tanzania and northern coastal Mozambique. |
| Brief Description: |
This species has 1 - 2 leaves arising from a rhizome. The leaves are mostly flat and dark green with pale mottling and banding. In addition, the protologue describes blackish dashing on the lower side of the smooth leaves. The inflorescence is subcapitate with a height of 30-60 cm and 2 - 4 flowers per cluster. The inflorescence is described as subcapitate but it seems at this juncture more appropriate to place this into subgenus Capitulatus than either other subgenus (or erect a fourth one). |
| Similar Species: |
This species is closely related to Sansevieria kirkii, and it is difficult to tell the two species apart without flowers. The subcapitate form of the inflorescence is comparable to Sansevieria braunii, from western Tanzania, as well as species that occur well to the south and west (S. longiflora and S. longistyla). Sansevieria tonyae is much larger than S. vanillosa but has some shared characters. |
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Sansevieria vanillosa in habitat east of Lindi, Tanzania, with a dried inflorescence with a subcapitate form.
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Sansevieria vanillosa in habitat east of Lindi, Tanzania, showing a vegetative resemblance to Sansevieria kirkii.
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Two young rosettes of Sansevieria vanillosa, each with only one leaf, showing a highly patterned form next to a nearly uniform dark green form.
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