Aglaonema costatum, called the spotted evergreen, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Aglaonema, native to Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.[2] In these areas, the plant is typically found growing in the understory of tropical rain forests.[3] Its putative form, Aglaonema costatum f. immaculatum, called the unspotted Chinese evergreen, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Aglaonema costatum
At the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
Aglaonema costatum f. immaculatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Genus:	Aglaonema
Species:	A. costatum
Binomial name
Aglaonema costatum N.E.Br.[1]
Synonyms[2]
Aglaonema costatum f. foxii (Engl.) Jervis

A. costatum typically reaches about 60 cm tall and 30-45 cm wide.[5] Its leaves are typically about 20 centimeters long, ovately shaped, with entire margins. They are green, with a white stripe along the midrib and a number of irregularly shaped white spots.[3] In the summer, it produces white spathe-and-spadix flowers, about 2–3.5 centimeters long.[2]

As a result of the calcium oxalate crystals found in all parts of the plant, it will irritate the mouth and esophagus of a human who ingests it, and it is toxic to cats and dogs.[5]

References