The truly unusual Snake Plant is frequently found growing amongst the boulders of another Falklands phenomenon – stone runs and amongst inland rock on mountains. Long, straggling and branched stems rise from deep roots and form tangled bushes which can be up to 1 m across. The stems have overlapping leaves resembling scales which end in club-shaped heads of sweetly scented tiny white flowers. Flowers from November to March. The purple stamens may make the club appear purplish. Found predominantly in stone runs and rocky outcrops from 30 to 700m above sea level.

Widespread on both East and West Falklands, though not recorded in Lafonia. The Snake Plant is endemic to the Falklands, found nowhere else in the world.

Sources include:Plants of the Falkland Islands- Robin W Woods, The Vascular Flora of the Falkland Islands- D. M. Moore, B.Sc., Ph.D, 1968, Field Guide to the Plants of the Falkland Islands- Thomas Heller, Rebecca Upston, Richard Lewis, edited by Colin Clubbe

Photographic credits: Terry Spruce, Ali Marsh

Photographs and Images Copyright: The images on this site have been bought under licence or have been used with the permission of their owners. They may not be copied or downloaded in any form without their owner's consent.