mother-in-law's tongue

Description:

Two varieties (photos 1 & 3) of mother-in-law's tongue, a native of tropical West Africa but now found throughout the tropics as an ornamental. It can be propagated by cuttings or by dividing the rhizome. It will rot easily if overwatered.

Habitat:

Planted as an ornamental in a semi-urban yard & garden in the equatorial tropics of northern New Guinea.

Notes:

The plant derives its common name from the fact that the ends of the leaves are very sharp :-)