Plants that start with S

Sis forSnake plant

Scientific name: Sansevieria trifasciata

Snake plant is also called viper's bowstring hemp, mother-in-law's tongue or Saint George's sword. It is a very hardy plant, and spreads by growing below the ground and then sending up new leaves.

Succulents

Ian Lee / CC BY-SA

Sis forSnapdragon

Scientific name: antirrhinum majus

Snapdragons are an old-fashioned flower. The flower can be squeezed to make it open like a dragon's mouth, which is why they are called snapdragons. They should be planted in well-drained soil in full sun. They can be planted at any time of year, and take about 8-10 weeks to flower. They come in a big range of colours, but shades of pink and white are most common.

Plants

Matt Lavin / CC BY-SA

Sis forSorghum

Scientific name: sorghum bicolor

Sorghum is a type of grass that is grown for its seeds for food and also for fiber to make things from. It is grown mainly in Africa, and is used both for human and animal food. It can be popped like popcorn and can be made into couscous.

Food, Cereals

John Loo / CC BY-SA

Sis forSoursop

Soursop is a tropical found in warm places like South and Central America and South Asia. It is also called graviola. The fruit is oval and has green, bumpy skin, with soft white or pale yellow flesh inside.

Fruit, Spikey

Photographic Dictionary / Generated illustration

Sis forSoybean

Scientific name: glycine max

Soybeans, or soya beans are a type of legume that are used for many, many purposes. Soy beans can be used to make soy sauce, tofu, soy milk and a great many other things. They can also be cooked and eaten when they are still green and fresh. Soy beans must be cooked before they can be eaten. Soy beans contain protein that is close to exactly what humans need, and are a great food source for vegetarians.

Food, Plants

Andy Arthur / CC BY-SA

Sis forSpider plant

Scientific name: chlorophytum comosum

Spider plants are a very common, easy to grow plant. They will grow in a wide range of conditions, and will grow indoors too. They can remove air pollution from inside your house or office. New spider plants are easy to grow by pinning down into some soil the baby plants that grow on the end of long spikes on the adult plant, and then cutting them off when they have roots.

Plants

Henry Burrows / CC BY-SA

Sis forSpinach

Scientific name: spinacia oleracea

Spinach is an edible green leafy plant that grows to about a foot tall. It is from Nepal and southeast Asia. Spinach can survive very severe frosts. It is usually eaten cooked, on its own or with other food. Spinach goes well with cheese and garlic.

Vegetables, Plants

Jim Bendon / CC BY-SA

Sis forSpinifex

Scientific name: genus: triodia

Spinifex is the common name for a type of tussocky grass that grows in arid regions of Australia. It has very sharp leaves. As spinifex ages it grows outwards and dies in the centre and will form a circle that can be several metres across.

Plants

Honey-bee / CC BY-SA

Sis forSpore

Spores are the way some bacteria, fungi, ferns and algae reproduce. One spore can grow into a whole new organism. Spores are similar to seeds but they only need one parent not a male and a female parent like is needed to make seeds. Spores are also much smaller than seeds and do not have food reserves inside them.

Plant parts