A new species, the member of the genus Chlorophytum, which has been welcomed by the scientist community as well common man naming this guest as Vanampushpam is Swadeshi Buddy that has been found in the Western Ghat of New Bharat. Hence, it has been christened as Chlorophytum vanampushpam, Chlorophytum also addressed spider plants, is a subfamily falling within the family asparagus (Asparagaceae) > Asparagales > Monocots > Angiosperms > Tracheophytes > Plantae:
Vanampushpam having white flowers in small clusters and slender leaves is considered to be a cousin of Safed Musli. Its finding has been reported in the journal Phytotaxa.
Several species of Chlorophytum, the genus of Vanampushpam are found in India. They include Chlorophytum arundinaceum, native to Peninsular India, Western Ghats, Chlorophytum borivilianum in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, known as “safed musli”; widely cultivated for medicinal roots, Chlorophytum breviscapum, native to Western Ghats (South India), Chlorophytum capense, Chlorophytum comosum, Chlorophytum diwanjii, Chlorophytum glaucum, native to Western India, Chlorophytum gothanense, native to Western Ghats, Chlorophytum kolhapurense, native to Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Chlorophytum laxum, native to Peninsular India, Chlorophytum palghatense, native to Western Ghats, Chlorophytum sharmae and Chlorophytum with some others.
So far its growth habit is concerned, it is perennial herbs, often geophytic growing from underground storage organs and many species has tuberous roots or rhizomes, which store nutrients and aid survival in dry seasons. The leaves of Vanampushpam are rosette-forming, emerging from the base in a spiral or clustered arrangement, linear to lanceolate, often elongated and grass-like, with smooth or slightly wavy margins, typically green, though some (e.g., C. comosum) may have variegated leaves (green with white/cream stripes), fleshy or succulent in some species, aiding water storage. Their roots are tuberous or fibrous, often thickened for storage (especially in medicinal species like C. borivilianum, known as “safed musli”). As regards their Inflorescence, flowers borne on a scape (leafless flowering stem) or raceme, often elongated. They may be scapigerous (arising directly from the base) or lax, depending on the species (e.g., *C. breviscapum* has short scapes), flowers are small, star-shaped, and typically white or greenish-white, with 6 tepals (3 petals + 3 sepals), flowers, actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) and bisexual, six stamens and a single pistil with a superior ovary. Often they are self-compatible, though pollination mechanisms vary (insects or self-pollination). There are other characteristics as well. (Hamid Siddiqui)
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