Sansevieria downsii Chahin.

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Photo: Ton Rulkens
Montepuez, Cabo Delgado province

Synonyms:	Sansevieria aff. gracilis N.E. Br. sensu Thiede
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial succulent with creeping stolons, often covered in old leaf sheaths. Leaves 6-14 per shoot in rosettes, recurved, spreading, 14-45 cm long, with a ovate base and cylindrical but channeled for up to 80% of the length, longitudinally grooved, mid-green with no or very faint transverse bands; apex spiny, withered. Flowers in spike-like inflorescence up to 120 cm long, much longer than the leaves; flowering part 40-70 cm long, mostly about twice as long as the peduncle. Flowers in 3-10-flowered clusters, usually set 1-2 cm apart, opening in the evening; perianth cream, pearly grey or purplish-green, 20-24 mm long; tube c. 10 mm long, lobes c. 12 mm long. Fruit c. 8 mm in diameter.
Notes:	This species has only recently been recorded from northern Mozambique for the first time.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	On termite mounds in dry woodland and scrub.
Altitude range:	600 - 1500 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Only known from northern parts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Mozambique distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:	Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 31 July 2016
Literature:	La Croix, I. (2010). Dracaenaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Page 26.

Flora of Malawi: Sansevieria downsii
Flora of Zambia: Sansevieria downsii

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Sansevieria downsii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Sansevieria downsii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Sansevieria downsii
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iNaturalist: Sansevieria downsii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Sansevieria downsii
JSTOR Plant Science: Sansevieria downsii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Sansevieria downsii
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Wikipedia: Sansevieria downsii