Aglaonema

Aglaonema is a genus of flowering plants in the arum family, Araceae. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea.[1][2] They are known commonly as Chinese evergreens.[3]

Aglaonema
Aglaonema commutatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Aglaonemateae
Genus: Aglaonema
Schott

Description

These are evergreen perennial herbs with stems growing erect or decumbent and creeping. Stems that grow along the ground may root at the nodes. There is generally a crown of wide leaf blades which in wild species are often variegated with silver and green coloration. The inflorescence bears unisexual flowers in a spadix, with a short zone of female flowers near the base and a wider zone of male flowers nearer the tip. The fruit is a fleshy berry that ripens red. The fruit is a thin layer covering one large seed.[2]

Plants of the genus are native to humid, shady tropical forest habitat.[3]

Cultivation and uses
Aglaonema costatum

Aglaonema have been grown as luck-bringing ornamental plants in Asia for centuries.[3] They were introduced to the West in 1885,[3] when they were first brought to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[4] They have been cultivated, hybridized, and bred into a wide array of cultivars. They live in low-light conditions and are popular houseplants.[3]

This mainly tropical genus is known for its intolerance of cold temperatures. Chilling injury can begin at 15 °C (59 °F).[5] The injury manifests in dark, greasy-looking patches on the foliage.[5]

Cultivars have been selected for their shape and size, and especially for the color and pattern of the leaves. Many have white or cream-colored stems. Some have also been developed to tolerate colder temperatures.[3] The most common cultivar is 'Silver Queen',[3] which has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6][7]

Most propagation of Aglaonema is done with cuttings and by dividing the basal shoots. Care of the houseplant involves protecting it from cold temperatures and excessive sunlight and removing any inflorescences that develop, which can prolong the life of the plant. It requires moist soil, and while some cultivars require a small amount of fertilizer, plants are easily injured when oversupplemented.[3] Aglaonema are prone to false mites (Brevipalpus californicus). They may also acquire populations of nematodes, such as root-knot nematodes and Pratylenchus species, which cause root lesions.[8] Pathogens include the fungus Myrothecium roridum and bacteria such as Pseudomonas cichorii, Erwinia chrysanthemi, and Xanthomonas campestris, which can all cause leaf spot. Colletotrichum fungi can cause anthracnose.[9]

The NASA Clean Air Study determined that the species modestum of this plant genus was effective at removing common household air toxins formaldehyde and benzene.

Aglaonema plants are poisonous due to calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested they cause irritation of the mucous membranes, and the juice can cause skin irritation and painful rash.[10]

Diversity

Species include:[1]

  1. Aglaonema brevispathum - Indochina
  2. Aglaonema chermsiriwattanae - Thailand
  3. Aglaonema cochinchense Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia
  4. Aglaonema commutatum - Philippines, Sulawesi; naturalized in West Indies
  5. Aglaonema cordifolium - Mindanao
  6. Aglaonema costatum – Fox's aglaonema, spotted evergreen - Pulau Langkawi, Indochina
  7. Aglaonema densinervium - Philippines, Sulawesi
  8. Aglaonema flemingianum - Terengganu
  9. Aglaonema hookerianum - Darjiling, Assam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar
  10. Aglaonema marantifolium - Maluku, New Guinea
  11. Aglaonema modestum – Japanese-leaf - Bangladesh, Indochina, southern China
  12. Aglaonema nebulosum - Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra
  13. Aglaonema nitidum - Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Indochina
  14. Aglaonema ovatum - Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
  15. Aglaonema philippinense - Philippines, Sulawesi
  16. Aglaonema pictum - Nias, Sumatra
  17. Aglaonema pumilum - Myanmar, Thailand
  18. Aglaonema roebelinii - Luzon
  19. Aglaonema rotundum - Sumatra
  20. Aglaonema simplex – Malayan-sword - Yunnan, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
  21. Aglaonema tricolor - Philippines
  22. Aglaonema vittatum - Sumatra, Lingga Islands

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Aglaonema. Flora of China.
  3. Chen, J., et al. Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Aglaonema. ENH957. Environmental Horticulture. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 2003.
  4. Chen, J., et al. (2004). Genetic relationships of Aglaonema species and cultivars inferred from AFLP markers. Annals of Botany 93(2), 157-66.
  5. Chen, J., et al. Chilling Injury in Tropical Foliage Plants: II. Aglaonema. ENH843. Environmental Horticulture. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 2001.
  6. "RHS Plant Selector Aglaonema 'Silver Queen' AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  7. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. November 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. Conover, C. A., et al. Aglaonema Production Guide for Commercial Growers. Archived June 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Foliage Digest. Mid-Florida Research & Education Center. University of Florida IFAS.
  9. Moorman, G. W. Aglaonema Diseases. Penn State Extension. The Pennsylvania State University. 2013.
  10. Toxic Plants. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. Agriculture and Natural Resources. University of California.
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