sansevieria

American  

[san-suh-vee-eer-ee-uh, -suh-veer-ee-uh] / ˌsæn sə viˈɪər i ə, -səˈvɪər i ə /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Sansevieria, of the agave family, grown as a houseplant for its stiff, sword-shaped leaves and white or yellow flowers.

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sansevieria British  

/ ˌsænsɪˈvɪərɪə /

noun

1. any herbaceous perennial plant of the liliaceous genus Sansevieria, of Old World tropical regions. Some are cultivated as house plants for their erect bayonet-like fleshy leaves of variegated green (mother-in-law's tongue); others yield useful fibre (bowstring hemp)

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Etymology

Origin of sansevieria

1795–1805; < New Latin; named after San Seviero, principality of Raimondo di Sangro (1710–71), learned Neapolitan; see -ia