Sansevieria pearsonii

Sansevieria pearsonii, commonly referred to as the elephant’s toothpick, in Afrikaans as gemsbokhoring (gemsbok or oryx horn), is an erect, fibrous xerophyte. It grows three to eight leaves per tuft, erect and rigid from ground level where they overlap. The leaf arrangement is initially two-ranked or fan-shaped, sometimes becoming rosette-like. Each leaf is cylindrical and longitudinally grooved or ribbed, tapering to a spine-like tip.

Many botanical names divulge key features of the species they represent, if the Latin or Greek is translated. Others honour people remembered for their contributions, in which case the dictionaries won’t help.

This plant’s genus is named for Pietro Sanseverino, Prince of Bisignano who grew some member(s) of the genus in his garden. The specific name commemorates Henry Harold Welch Pearson, founder and first director of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

An earlier name of the plant, S. desertii relates to its arid habitat. The genus is commonly referred to as mother-in-law’s tongue; this one being the spiky mother-in-law’s tongue (Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).