Peace Lily

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Peace Lily

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, it is further categorized into the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Spathiphyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a remarkably broad geographical distribution that spans multiple continents and oceanic regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence can be noted within the Comoros islands. Its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically including areas in Bangladesh. Moving across the globe, the species is found in the South-Central Pacific within the Cook Islands. Finally, its distribution reaches the Americas, stretching from Honduras in Central America to the southwest of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spathiphyllum wallisii is defined by its adaptation to specific montane environments, characterized by a distinct elevational range that dictates its distribution and microclimate requirements. This species typically thrives within a vertical niche that centers around a mean elevation of 1465 m AMSL. This positioning suggests an ecological preference for mid-elevation tropical or subtropical zones, where the atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature profiles are stabilized by the surrounding topography. Within this altitudinal band, the plant likely occupies shaded, moist forest understories where the canopy provides necessary filtration of solar radiation and maintains the high hygroscopic conditions essential for its physiological processes. The specific elevation of 1465 m AMSL serves as a critical ecological threshold, influencing the availability of nutrients, the frequency of cloud interception, and the overall biodiversity of the biotic community with which it interacts.

Elevational range mean:

1465 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Spathiphyllum wallisii is characterized by its classification as a perennial, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Structurally, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at the soil surface or just beneath it, protected by leaf litter or organic debris. This hemicryptophytic nature, categorized under both life form classifications, enables the plant to survive environmental fluctuations by maintaining its regenerative capacity at the ground level, facilitating its continued growth and development over a long-term life cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spathiphyllum wallisiii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial plant, it maintains an independent existence and does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, growing directly in soil rather than on other structures. The plant is self-supporting in its stature, lacking the climbing habits of a liana or vine, and it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic characteristics, remaining strictly land-based. Its physical structure is defined by its soft, non-woody tissues, which are typical of its herbaceous and forb-like development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Spathiphyllum wallisii has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Abscisic acid (ABA), CA, CATALASE, CHLOROPHYLL, FE.

Abscisic acid (ABA)

1. BMC plant biology

CA

1. BMC plant biology

CATALASE

1. BMC plant biology

CHLOROPHYLL

1. BMC plant biology

FE

1. BMC plant biology

Flavonoids

1. BMC plant biology

MG

1. BMC plant biology

MN

1. BMC plant biology

N-

1. BMC plant biology

Peroxidase

1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Spathiphyllum wallisii has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral.

Antiviral

1. BMC plant biology