Aglaonema

Scientific name

Aglaonema Schott

Common names

Chinese evergreen

Family

Araceae

Similar genera

Dieffenbachia, Piptospatha, Spathiphyllum

Native distribution

tropical and subtropical southeastern Asia, from northeastern India across southern China and Indonesia through New Guinea

Species cultivated

(plus numerous cultivated varieties and hybrids)

Aglaonema “Silver Queen” is the most widely cultivated

Adventive distribution

Aglaonema commutatum Schott and A. pictum (Roxb.) Kunth are introduced into the United States

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

evergreen herb

Brief description

Stem erect, typically compact; sometimes creeping. Petiolepetiole:
(n) the stalk of a leaf
length similar to leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
; sheath elongate, membraneous and clasping stem. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, typically thick; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
lanceolate to ellipticelliptical:
(adj) in the form of an ellipse (oval)
or ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
acuteacute:
(adj) tapering to a sharp, pointed apex with more or less straight sides; broader than acuminate; forming an angle of less than 90 degrees
, base attenuateattenuate:
(adj) narrowing gradually to a point
to rounded; 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
; sometimes variegated. CataphyllsCataphyll:
(n) a reduced, small leaf resembling a scale
subtend inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
, spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
and spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
; peduncles erect, deflexeddeflexed:
(adj) bent abruptly downward
in fruit; spathespathe:
(n) a large bract or bracts subtending and often enclosing an inflorescence
not differentiated into tube and bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
, erect, ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
, green to whitish; spadixspadix:
(n) a spike of small flowers borne on a thick, fleshy axis
erect, cylindric to clavateclavate:
(adj) club-shaped; gradually widening toward the apex
. Berry ellipsoid, outer layer green, turning yellow then red.

Natural habitat

typically regions with well accessible water; damp, shady, forested areas or near streams

Additional comments

A genus of about 20 species plus numerous varieties and hybrids. Aglaonema “Silver Queen” is the most widely grown hybridhybrid:
(n) a specimen produced by the sexual reproduction of two plants of different species or subspecies
. This species is adaptable in very wet areas and temporary flooding, but is not considered truly aquatic.