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Spathiphyllum

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Spathiphyllum
Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Monsteroideae
Tribe: Spathiphylleae
Genus: Spathiphyllum
Schott
Map of the natural distribution
Synonyms[1]
  • Hydnostachyon Liebm.
  • Massowia K.Koch
  • Spathiphyllopsis Teijsm. & Binn.
  • Amomophyllum Engl.
  • Leucochlamys Poepp. ex Engl.

Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 47 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. Certain species of Spathiphyllum are commonly known as spath or peace lilies.

They are evergreen herbaceous perennial plants with large leaves 12–65 cm long and 3–25 cm broad. The flowers are produced in a spadix, surrounded by a 10–30 cm long, white, yellowish, or greenish spathe. The plant does not need large amounts of light or water to survive. They are most often grown as houseplants, however they are able to withstand the elements well enough to thrive when planted outdoors in situations that are hot and humid.[2]

Etymology

Schott's description of the genus refers to Spatha foliaris persistens,[3] where spatha is a spathe, and foliaris is an adjective modifying spathe, meaning relating to a leaf, and persistens means continuing or persisting. Phyllum also means a leaf.[4] The more common name of peace lily derives from the plants symbolism for peace, purity, and healing, and has also been associated with the white flag, which is a signal for truce.

Selected species

Species include:[5]

Cultivated hybrids include:[6]

Cultivation and uses

Several species are popular indoor houseplants. It lives best in shade and needs little sunlight to thrive, and is watered approximately once a week. The soil is best left moist but only needs watering if the soil is dry. The NASA Clean Air Study found that Spathiphyllum cleans certain gaseous environmental contaminants, including benzene and formaldehyde.[7][8] However, subsequent tests have shown this cleaning effect is far too small to be practical.[9]

The cultivar 'Mauna Loa' has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10]

Toxicity

Although it is called a "lily", the peace lily is not a true lily from the family Liliaceae. True lilies are highly toxic (poisonous) to cats and dogs,[11][12] but the peace lily, spathiphyllum is only mildly toxic to humans and other animals when ingested.[13][14] Like many Araceae it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause skin irritation, a burning sensation in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, and nausea,[15] but it does not contain the toxins found in true lilies, which could cause acute kidney failure in cats and some other animals.[16]

  • The 7th track on Mother Earth's Plantasia, an early electronic album that was composed for plants to listen to, is "Swingin' Spathiphyllums".
  • Simon Pegg's character PC Nicholas Angel in the movie Hot Fuzz has a peace lily that appears in several scenes and is referred to throughout the film. Angel's dedication to caring for the peace lily serves to symbolize his highly structured lifestyle and by-the-book approach to policing, which he abandons when he shatters the plant over the head of Michael "Lurch" Armstrong.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Apps.kew.org. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  2. ^ "Is a peace lily an indoor or outdoor plant? - Gardening Host". 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  3. ^ Heinrich Wilhelm Schott and Stephan Endlicher (1832). Meletemata botanica. C. Gerold, made available online by The Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ^ Stearn, W. T. (1992). Botanical Latin: History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary, Fourth edition. David and Charles.
  5. ^ "Search results — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org.
  6. ^ Edward F. Gilman (1999). "Spathiphyllum x 'Clevelandii', Fact Sheet FPS-555" (PDF). University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service.
  7. ^ Anne Raver (February 13, 1994). "Need an Air Freshener? Try Plants". New York Times.
  8. ^ Wolverton, B.C. (1996). Eco-Friendly Houseplants. George Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 23–25, 32–33, 58–59. ISBN 978-0-14-026243-8.
  9. ^ "Which houseplants should you buy to purify air? None of them". National Geographic. November 17, 2019.
  10. ^ "Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa'". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  11. ^ Fitzgerald, Kevin T. (2010). "Lily toxicity in the cat". Topics in Companion Animal Medicine. 25 (4): 213–217. doi:10.1053/j.tcam.2010.09.006. PMID 21147474.
  12. ^ "Peace Lily". Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  13. ^ "University of California - Toxic Plants (list)". Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  14. ^ "23 Common Flowers That Are Poisonous For Your Pet". www.entirelypets.com.
  15. ^ "Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants - Peace Lily". Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  16. ^ "Peace Lily Are Toxic To Pets". Pet Poison Helpline.
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