84-SANSEVERIA CYLLINDRICA Bojer ex Hook.
Local names: Cylindrical snake plant, African spear or spear sansevieri
Family: Asparagaceae
Location: Botanical garden
Characters: Sanseveria angolensis has striped, elongate, smooth, greenish-gray subcylindrical leaves. They are up to 3 cm (1 in) diameter and grow up to 2 m (7 ft) above soil. The spear sansevieria grows fan-shaped, with its stiff leaves growing from a basal rosette. The species is interesting in having subcylindrical instead of strap-shaped leaves caused by a failure to express genes which would cause the cylindrical bud to differentiate dorsoventrally or produce a distinctive and familiar top and bottom surface to the leaf blade. The 3 cm (1 in) greenish-white tubular flowers are tinged with pink.
General use: A fibre is obtained from the leaves. Not quite as strong as the fibre from S. Longiflora, but otherwise equal to that species. Cordage and rope made from this plant are of excellent quality - it is the strongest and best fitted for deep-sea sounding of any fibre known.