(Dracaena angolensis) Family: Asparagaceae
Also known as: Bow String Hemp, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Elephant’s Toothpick, Skyline Spear, Sansevieria, and Spear Sansevieria
Origin: Angola
Written about further in The Civilized Jungle, Volume I and The Medicinal Jungle, Volume I
“With only the slightest imagination, both its most common name and that of Elephant’s Toothpick – OK, add a tad of fantasy – seem quite plausible!”
So noted, this is one of those, “What’s that?” plants that many visitors to our Ola Brisa Gardens blurt out when first seeing them. But, upon learning its blood – er, make that sap – line, one might, somewhat easily recognize one of its more well-known plant kin – the well-known Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.
Previously classified as Sansevieria cylindrica, it was recently botanically reclassified. (This came about when the Sansevieria genus was moved into the Dracaena family. . . and, even without asking them what they thought about it! But with its cylindrical, upright spears, growing, potentially to between four to seven feet tall, it’s easy to see the source of its various common names. Occasionally, it can sport a small creamy-white flower spike shooting up from their center, vying for a moment of attention amid that arsenal of spears.
In the Umbanda religion in Brazil, it is known as “St. George’s spear” and is believed to ward off evil.
In yet other cultures, the Sansevieria cylindrical is associated with health, longevity, and protection against negative energy. This fact brings about a rather interesting divergence of thoughts as – in returning to its earlier-mentioned sap, comes this “Whoa, wait a moment” fact. As a result of its naturally contained saponins, their toxicity lends itself to the potential for causing skin irritation and even being poisonous if ingested!
(Then just why, Tommy, are you discussing it as an ethnobotanical plant?) Well, you see, for certain cultures, in specific applications, it is – in all actual, practical fact – one!
For example, on Sri Lanka, decoctions made from the African Spear are used for dental caries, headaches, and snakebites – a most interesting threesome of afflictions!
West of there, a bit, in Africa, it is known for its ability to treat coughs, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and even snakebites. Its properties make it useful as an antiseptic, wound healer, and even – believe it or not – a refreshing beverage!
Other traditional, ethnopharmaceutical applications include its leaves and rhizomes being used to treat asthma, eczema, jaundice, gynecological problems, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, and viral hepatitis. Its extracts have been used traditionally as an antiseptic and to treat general (and a few private) wounds. (Yep, those old Army day experiences creep in everywhere!)
While no part of this plant is considered edible, it is used to treat ringworm and fungal diseases. The leaf sap is applied directly on infected sores, cuts, and grazes; it is also used to treat fungal and scabies infections.
While still cognizant of its saponins, the plant also contains various bioactive compounds, including: Alkaloids – providing pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects and potential anti-cancer properties; cardenolides – which are beneficial to humans as they are used to treat heart failure and certain irregular heartbeats and have potential as anti-cancer agents; polyphenols – which have anti-oxidant properties, help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and provide anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing the risk of various chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; and steroids – which reduce redness and swelling, accordingly, helping with inflammatory conditions as diverse as asthma and eczema.
Research has also shown that these compounds may possess anti-bacterial and anti-toxic properties. Yet further study has revealed that the African Spear may include anthelmintic (anti-parasitic worms capacities), anti-heumatic (substances aiding with aches and pains of rheumatism), diuretic, and laxative qualities.
And, appropriately enough, while pausing to take a deep breath in re-consideration of this sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plant – the phrase being most apt – know that it is also thought to possess air-purifying properties, allowing it to remove indoor toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, trichloroethylene, and xylene.
Maybe, medicine’s a family thing! In Malaysia, its cousin, Sansevieria trifasciata – also called a Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law’s Tongue – has been traditionally used to treat boils, ear pain, fever, and swellings.
So, before passing judgment on this unique plant, let’s pause to consider a paraphrase of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Within the best, there is some evil, and within the worst, there is some good.”
(Whew! There may be hope for me yet!)
