sansevieria

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

noun

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.

Origin of sansevieria

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

Example sentences from the Web for sansevieria

British Dictionary definitions for sansevieria

sansevieria
/ (ˌsænsɪˈvɪərɪə) /

noun

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)

Word Origin for sansevieria

New Latin, named after Raimondo di Sangro (1710–71), Italian scholar and prince of San Severo