Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous perennial with upright growth habit. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Large, alternate leaves are oblong with entire leaf margin (smooth, not toothed or lobed) and acute leaf apex (tapering to a point). Leaves are mostly light green border with dark green, irregular spots that mostly occur near the leaf margin, but also sparsely scattered throughout the leaf blade. Leaf petiole is long and white. |
| Flowers | Flowers consist of a greenish spathe and white spadix. |
| Cultivation | This easy-to-grow, drought tolerant cultivar grows well in shallow containers with well-drained soil. It is usually resistant to pests, but sometimes attacked by scale insects, mealy bugs, and red spider mites. |
| Etymology | The genus "Aglaonema" is derived from the Greek words that mean bright ("aglos") and thread ("nema"). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Aglaonema spp. absorb toxic formaldehyde in the air, thus purifying the air. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Stems, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Flowerbed / Border, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Occasional Misting |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Storage Organ, Division |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Silver / Grey, Green - Light Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Rhizome) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Green - Light Green, White |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 321 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1617 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
