Spathiphyllum

Scientific name

Spathiphyllum Schott

Common names

peace lily, snow flower, white sails, spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
flower, spath

Family

Araceae

Similar genera

Chlorophytum, Hymenocallis, Lagenandra, Peliosanthes

Native distribution

tropical Mexico through Central and South America, less frequently in Southeast Asia

Species cultivated

Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel

The following may also be offered; they are typically used to produce hybrids and varieties

Spathiphyllum cannifolium (Dryand. ex Sims) Schott

S. floribundum (Linden & André) N.E.Br.

S. friedrichsthalii Schott

S. grandifolium Engl.

S. patini (R.Hogg) N.E.Br.

Adventive distribution

Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel is introduced into Puerto Rico.

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

terrestrial, amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
to rarely seasonally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
herb; may be hemiepiphytic or epilithic

Brief description

Small to medium aroid. Rhizomes short, erect to creeping; stems compact, glabrousglabrous:
(adj) without hairs or scales
. Leaves in a loose basalbasal:
(adj) at or pertaining to the base, or point of attachment
rosette; petioles erect, subequal or longer than bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
, sheathing, commonly winged below; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
oblong to ellipticelliptic:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
, or lanceolatelanceolate:
(adj) lance-shaped; widest point below the middle, tapering to the apex
; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
cuspidate to long-acuminate; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
to ± undulateundulate:
(adj) (of, e.g., a margin) with a wavy surface; wavy in the vertical (up and down) plane
; venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
pinnatepinnate:
(adj) in the form of a feather; of, e.g., leaflets, lobes, or veins: arranged in two rows along an axis
, curving toward apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
a solitary, axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
spathe and spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
, ascending or erect; pedunclepeduncle:
(n) the stalk of a flower cluster or inflorescence
subequal or longer than petiolepetiole:
(n) the stalk of a leaf
; spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
cucullatecucullate:
(adj) hooded or hood-shaped
, ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
to ellipticelliptic:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
or oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
, apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
cuspidate to long-acuminate, ± decurrentdecurrent:
(adj) extending downward, beyond the point of insertion
on pedunclepeduncle:
(n) the stalk of a flower cluster or inflorescence
, white, turning green in fruit; spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
or usually stipitatestipitate:
(adj) borne on a stipe or stalk
, erect, cylilndrical, shorter than spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
, cream color, usually fragrant. Berry conicalconical:
(adj) perfectly cone-shaped
to ovoidovoid:
(adj) egg-shaped in three dimensions
, apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
rounded or conically attenuateattenuate:
(adj) narrowing gradually to a point
, green, 1-8-seeds per locule; seeds oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
, ellipsoid to ovoidovoid:
(adj) egg-shaped in three dimensions
, slightly curved and ± reniformreniform:
(adj) kidney-shaped
.

Natural habitat

lowland primary forests, along streams, in open swampy areas, partially or periodically flooded forests

Additional comments

Spathiphyllum species are not true aquatics. S. wallisii is often used in aquaria and is often called S. tasson.