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Some confused Sansevieria names

Dear Norma,

What is an authority? I only consider myself a student of the genus
Sansevieria. One who is interested in studying the genus. Beware of anyone
who calls themselves an authority.

Sansevieria javanica hort. (of the horticultural trade) is not the same as
Sansevieria javanica Blume, Enum. Pl. Jav. 11 (1827). The latter name is
referrable to Dracaena (including Pleomele) but the plant in cultivation
under that name is actually a collection of Sansevieria subspicata Baker (a
species from Mozambique). I know N.E. Brown says Sans. subspicata comes
from South Africa but Delagoa Bay is actually in Mozambique.

Sansevieria chinensis Gentil is just a renaming of Sans. liberica Gerome &
Labroy based on cultivated plants grown in Brussels.

Sansevieria aubrytiana Carriere is a valid species not seen by N.E. Brown.
Sans. bracteata Baker appears to be a renaming of it.

The plant known as Sansevieria zeylanica "Trade Type" in cultivation is
actually Sans. grandicuspis Haworth according to Grigsby.

The idea of Sansevieria being synonymous with Dracaena is based on the idle
comments made by J.J. Bos (1984) DRACAENA IN WEST AFRICA (p.10). He studied
Dracaena but not Sansevieria and was basing his conclusion on superficial
similarities. The two genera differ significantly in the fruit, seeds and
pollen structure.

Cereusly, Steve
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