Chlorophytum tuberosum

Botanical Description

Chlorophytum tuberosum is an evergreen perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces a basal cluster of grass-like leaves and flowering stems around 20 - 50 cm tall. The plant spreads at the roots to form clumps[ 372 Title Flowers of India Publication Author Website http://www.flowersofindia.net/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars. ]. This is one of several Chlorophytum species that are collectively known as ‘safed musli’ and are harvested in large quantities from the wild in India for their tubers, which are reputed to have a number of medicinal properties, particularly as a tonic. They are widely traded. This is one of the two main species harvested (the other is Chlorophytum borivilianum), though several other species are also used. The plant is also harvested for local use as a food and a medicine. is cultivated as an ornamental for its large, showy flowers. Chlorophytum tuberosum is a widespread species found in a number of habitats across tropical Africa and India. It is common and abundant where it is found. Subpopulations in India, however, are threatened by overharvesting of the tubers for medicinal purposes. A closely related species, Chlorophytum borivilianum, is now being cultivated to meet the demands from the Ayurvedic medicinal trade and some restrictions on trade in forest produce are in place, both of which may take the pressure off wild Chlorophytum tuberosum populations. Overharvesting in India is not likely to affect the survival of this species as a whole, although it will lead to a significant loss of genetic diversity. At present, any collecting in Africa is believed to be minimal. On a global scale, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].