Clorophytum comosum (Spider Plant)

San Francisco Plant (Codiaeum variegatum) Etymology - Chlorophytum derives from the Greek words chloros meaning yellow-green, and phyton meaning plant. The specific epithet comosum refers to the leaves, from the Greek word kome, a tuft of hairs, relating to the leaves arranges in a rosette. (5) Botany Chlorophytum comosum is tufted grass-like perennial herb growing to a height of 60 centimeters. Leaves are narrow-linear, blunt at the tip, up to 2 cm wide, recurved, glossy, solid green. The variegated form may be pale green with white longitudinal stripes. Flowering racemes are long, pendulous. Flowers are white, up to 20 centimeters. Fruit is a 3-angled capsule with 3 to 5 black, flat and shiny seeds. Distribution - Recently introduced to the Philippines. - Suited for use as ground-cover. - Propagated by division of rhizomes and from plantlets. - Native to South Africa, where it is effective in steep embankments to combat soil erosion. (5) Constituents • Study isolated three new spirostanol pentaglycosides and four known saponins. • Major phytochemicals from the plants are steroidal saponins, proteins and carbohydrates. • Root tubers have yielded three sapogenins (gitogenin, hecogenin and tigogenin) and saponins (gitonin and desgalactotigonin). (6) • Nutrition analysis showed the ash value at 10.38% , fat 2%, protein 4.6%, phytic acid 4.7 mg/g, phenolic compounds 1.4 mg/g, fat value 2%, iron 1.89 mg/g, zinc 0.76 mg/g, sodium 4 mg/g, potassium 4.3 mg/g. (12) Properties • Studies have suggest antitumor, antiproliferative, indoor air-purifying, phytoremediative, burn wound healing properties. Parts utilized Roots Uses Edibility • Roots are reportedly edible.