Chlorophytum nepalense

Chlorophytum; a large genus of more than 200 species. Sitting serenely on many a window sill is a “Spider plant”, Chlorophytum comosum. Often variegated; almost always pot bound. The common name arises from the form of the plantlets which sprout randomly from the flower stem and hang by a thread suspended in the air about the mother plant.

Growing in the upper woodland garden is a hardy member of the genus, C. nepalense. This is one of the plants collected on the Edinburgh Nepal Expedition in October 2001. Found growing in Alnus forest crawling over moss covered wet rocks within the Langtang National Park of the central Himalayas.

Chlorophytum nepalense

The arching flower stem is sparsely furnished with flowers. Those that are fully open have six bright white petals touched at the tip with green enclosing closely set yellow anthers which exude much pollen.

Linear strap like leaves, mid green in colour. These are glossy above, matt beneath, with a deeply indented channel formed with the prominent mid rib.