Botany
A herbaceous perennial with short stem and a stout rootstock. The leaves are erect, fleshy, fibrous and flat; some varieties are cylindrical or concave above, rounded dorsally), sub-erect, dagger-shaped, rigid, pale-green with transverse bands of dark green, 0.5 to 1.5 meters long, 4-7 cm wide. The flowers are pale-colored, numerous, in facsicles of 3 to 6, numerous, sweet-scented, 2.5 to 3 cm long. Fruit is sparingly produced, globose, about 8 mm diameter. Seeds are ovoid and white.

Distribution
Cultivated in many parts of the Philippines.
Naturalized, in thickets and hedges, at low and medium altitudes.

Chemical constituents and properties
Contains an active constituent: the alkaloid sansevierine.

Parts used and preparation
Leaves, shoots, rootstocks.

Uses
Folkloric
The roasted leaves used as an emollient.
Rootstocks used for cough.
Juice of tender shoots used to clear phlegm.
Also used as febrifuge, tonic and purgative.
In India, tender roots and rhizome used as expectorant. Also, used in bone setting.
Ethnoveterinary
In viral diseases associated with stringy nasal discharge, slightly warmed leaf juice is used as nasal drops, thrice in two hours. A paste is also applied over the body.
Others
The leaves are a source of a strong white fiber use in the manufacture of bowstring, twine, cloth, and paper. It is sometimes mixed with the local piña.

Studies
• Anticancer: Study of the methanol extract of Sansevieria roxburghiana in male Swiss albino mice transplanted with Erlich Ascites Carcinoma cell line showed significant dose-dependent anticancer activity.

Availability
Cultivated and wild-crafted.