Plants in the sansevieria genus grow in shrub-like clumps with broad, strap-shaped leaves. Also called mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn's tongue and snake plant, sansevieria plants possess variegated green and greenish-yellow foliage that makes them an attractive choice to many hobby gardeners. There are about 70 species included in the genus.
The appearance of each plant is slightly different, affording snake plant enthusiasts a variety of choices when picking the right plant for their household. When they are comfortable in their environment, the plants all produce greenish-white flowers, which grow on long stalks called racemes. Sansevieria plants produce red or orange berries after flowering.
These ornamental plants can grow up to 7 feet (2.133 meters) in height. Sansevieria plants thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full, indirect sunlight but can adapt to tolerate some shade. While snake plants tolerate and, at times, thrive on neglect, they are prone to root rot when overwatered. Letting the soil dry slightly between waterings can combat this problem.
Perennial in habit, sansevieria plants are considered evergreen in their native tropical climates. While snake plants function as perennials when grown in a tropical or subtropical climate year round, snake plants die off like an annual if left outside during cold weather. Temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) harm most snake plants.
In addition to their use as ornamental plants, mother-in-law's tongue plants also have practical uses around the world, not all of which are backed by popular scientific thought. In Africa, these plants are used for fiber. Some folk remedies recommend sansevieria sap as an antiseptic. Traditional medicine advises the use of snake plant leaves for bandages. The Asian art of feng shui recommends these plants to counter negative or draining emotions and energy.
Mother in-law's tongue has some scientifically proven benefits to health. The devil's tongue plant was named in a study conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as one of the top plants to counter indoor air pollution. As an air-purifying plant, sansevieria is known to reduce concentrations of the chemicals benzene and formaldehyde in indoor spaces.
Not all attributes of this plant are positive. Jinn's tongue is considered toxic when ingested. Humans only experience mild salivation. Animals, including dogs and cats, experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Skin irritation from the sap is also possible. A person should seek professional medical help if he, his child or his pet ingests any part of the mother-in-law's tongue plant.