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Re: S.sp.'Masai'

Dear Carolyn,

The answer to that one is a bit tricky.

Sansevieria massae (Chiovenda) Cufodontis originally described from Jimma,
Ethiopia is considered a synonym of Sansevieria nilotica Baker by Teketay
(1995). That species has strap shaped leaves without a petiole and green
margins like Sans.trifasciata. It has absolutely nothing to do with the
plant grown under the name "Sans.massai".

The plant in cultivation as "Sans.massai" looks to be the same as John
Gamesby's mystery plant he got as "Sans.aubrytiana".
http://web.onyxnet.co.uk/John.Gamesby-AZTEKIUM/snake.html
It isn't Sans.aubrytiana Carriere either.

It is a giant form in the Sans.subspicata/concinna complex of Mozambique
that appears to be fairly close to the original Sans.dawei Stapf from
Uganda. There is a photo of it in Chahinian (1992) [page 9, figure 3]. This
complex is only one with red margined petiolate leaves. They are also
unusual in the genus by all being hexaploid.

For a posting of the original description of Sans.dawei Stapf in the
Sansevieras archives, see:
http://www.mallorn.com/lists/highlight.cgi?bits=3&search=dawei&URL=sansevier
ias/dec98/msg00023.html

The question remains: Does anyone know the origin of this plant? It appears
that Stu Cramer is the person who named the plant Sans.massai.

Brown, N.E. (1915) Sansevieria. A Monograph of All Known Species. Kew
Bulletin 1915 (5): 185-261, 23 figs., 2 pl.

Chahinian, B.J, (1992) SANSEVIERIA CASE REOPENED. Sansevieria Journ. 1 (1):
7-9, 3 figs.

Teketay, D. (1995) The genus Sansevieria Thunb. in Ethiopia. a contribution
to the Flora of Ethiopia. The Sansevieria Journal 4 (2): 43-58, 4 figs.

Cereusly Steve

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
•Subject: S.sp.'Masai'
•From: Unruh
•Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 11:38:07 -0700
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, all,

Does anyone have any info on S.sp.'Masai,' described in mailings as a
robust grower, grown by Ed Eby and/or named by Stu Cramer?  I got one as
a raffle gift, and it's growing out the drainage holes...  Somewhat
petiolate flat leaves approx 12" long (I have the feeling there will be
much larger ones in the future), edged in red, slightly glaucous with
obvious cross banding of darker green.  It appears that it may
eventually have above-ground stolons with prop roots.

Thanks much,
Carolyn
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