When someone mentioned that the common name of this plant is the 'Mother-In-Law Tongue' locally known in Malay as 'Lidah Mak Mentua'(what's else, the direct translation), it really made me lost for words. These questions 'Why such a name for a beautiful plant?', 'Why Tongue?', 'Why of all persons, mother-in-law was chosen?' was playing over & over thru my mind...Aarrghh, why torturing myself for such questions, the plant is really beautiful and unique and have a presence of its own. Eversince I came to this country, I have successfully nurtured 2 pots of this plant and even propagated some and given them to friends.
From the views of some locals and friends that I have encountered, all gave a unique belief of the plant...if one's to place a pot of the Sansevieria Trifasciata , either one of the type ie. green foliage or the variegated foliage at the side of the entrance of their house, it can actually wad-off evil spirits from entering the house. It's just a belief and it's up to each individual to decide. As for me, I just love the twisted, cross-banding leaves of the plant which makes a beautiful, unique houseplant either indoors or outdoors.
Sansevieria Trifasciata as it is known botanically is one of the favourite houseplant locally because it can tolerate from irregular watering and low light level. The plant is also often used as an air filter because of its tendency to absorb certain poisonous substances.
The leaves of the plant grows vertically, twisted and cross-banding and can reach up to the height of 3 feet (approx. 1 metre). The plant also produces small frangrance white blooms which is very rare, rested on a long stem. Propagation is by means of stem cutting or to be precise, leaf cutting and by dividing the creeping rhizome in a well-drained medium.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mother-In-Law Tongue ??
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3 comments:
i've seen a few variations..some fat, some thin and variegated ones as well. saw them @ the nursery in tanah jambu where i get my orchids from. i was told it's the rage here now.
I used to have the fat, short ones back home but the problem is 'kodok' ie. toads like to rest inside the rosette of the leaves..he..he..he & water tend to accumulate there too..Btw, you know why they call it 'Mother-in-law tongue'?, it still puzzles me :)
Nursery di Tanah Jambu? I've seen one at Salambigar, the one at the Hajah house..really full of various varieties orchids, really beautiful. Heard, she actually have a nursery somewhere in Kampong Masin or Lumapas. Kalau ke sana lagi, calling2 lah, boleh kita jumpa.
the nursery is just next to the surau. i think yg kat salambigar tu mostly hybrids. nanti lah i calling2 next time...lol..
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