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.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesAglaonema. Flora of China. They are known commonly as Chinese evergreens.Chen, J., et al. Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Aglaonema. ENH957. Environmental Horticulture. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 2003.
Description These are evergreen perennials 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.
Plants of the genus are native to humid, shady tropical forest habitat.
Cultivation and uses
Aglaonema have been grown as luck-bringing ornamental plants in Asia for centuries. They were introduced to the West in 1885, when they were first brought to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Chen, J., et al. (2004). Genetic relationships of Aglaonema species and cultivars inferred from AFLP markers. Annals of Botany 93(2), 157-66. They have been cultivated, hybridized, and bred into a wide array of cultivars. They live in low-light conditions and are popular houseplants.
This mainly tropical genus is known for its intolerance of cold temperatures. Chilling injury can begin at .Chen, J., et al. Chilling Injury in Tropical Foliage Plants: II. Aglaonema. ENH843. Environmental Horticulture. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 2001. The injury manifests in dark, greasy-looking patches on the foliage.
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. The most common cultivar is 'Silver Queen', which has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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. 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.Conover, C. A., et al. Aglaonema Production Guide for Commercial Growers. Foliage Digest. Mid-Florida Research & Education Center. University of Florida IFAS. 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.Moorman, G. W. Aglaonema Diseases. Penn State Extension. The Pennsylvania State University. 2013.
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.
Diversity Species include:
Aglaonema brevispathum – Indochina Aglaonema chermsiriwattanae – Thailand Aglaonema cochinchense – Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia Aglaonema commutatum – Philippines, Sulawesi; naturalized in West Indies Aglaonema cordifolium – Mindanao Aglaonema costatum – Fox's aglaonema, spotted evergreen – Pulau Langkawi, Indochina Aglaonema densinervium – Philippines, Sulawesi Aglaonema flemingianum – Terengganu Aglaonema hookerianum – Darjiling, Assam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar Aglaonema marantifolium – Maluku, New Guinea Aglaonema modestum – Japanese-leaf – Bangladesh, Indochina, southern China Aglaonema nebulosum – Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra Aglaonema nitidum – Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Indochina Aglaonema ovatum – Laos, Thailand, Vietnam Aglaonema philippinense – Philippines, Sulawesi Aglaonema pictum – Nias, Sumatra Aglaonema pumilum – Myanmar, Thailand Aglaonema roebelinii – Luzon Aglaonema rotundum – Sumatra Aglaonema simplex – Malayan-sword – Yunnan, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines Aglaonema tricolor – Philippines Aglaonema vittatum – Sumatra, Lingga Islands
References
External links
The Genus Aglaonema. aroid.org