Carl Peter Thunberg used the name Sansevieria. It is not clear whether Thunberg's name was intended to be new, or was a typographical error for Petagna's name. "Sansevieria Thunb." is a conserved name in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, notwithstanding arguments that the author should be given as Petagna. The spellings "Sanseveria" and "Sanseviera" are commonly seen as well, the confusion deriving from alternate spellings of the Italian place name. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that Sansevieria was nested within Dracaena, rendering the latter paraphyletic unless Dracaena was expanded to include the species formerly placed in Sansevieria. Sections As of 2015, the genus was subdivided into three sections, one of which was further subdivided into three subsections: sect. Sansevieria subsect. Sansevieria subsect. Hastifolia subsect. Solonifera sect. Dracomima sect. Cephalantha Selected former species Sansevieria arborescens Cornu ex Gérôme & Labroy = Dracaena arborescens (Cornu ex Gérôme & Labroy) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria bagamoyensis Carrière = Dracaena bagamoyensis (N.E.Br.) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria ballyi = Dracaena ballyi Sansevieria carnea Andrews = Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer ex Hook. = Dracaena angolensis (Welw. ex Carrière) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria ehrenbergii Schweinf. ex Baker = Dracaena hanningtonii Baker Sansevieria eilensis Chahin. = Dracaena eilensis (Chahin.) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria fischeri Baker = Dracaena fischeri Sansevieria kirkii Baker = Dracaena pethera Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria masoniana Chahin = Dracaena masoniana (Chahin.) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria pinguicula P.R.O.Bally = Dracaena pinguicula (P.R.O.Bally) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria stuckyi God.-Leb. ex Gérôme & Labroy = Dracaena stuckyi (God.-Leb.) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria suffruticosa N.E.Br. = Dracaena suffruticosa (N.E.Br.) Byng & Christenh. Sansevieria trifasciata Prain = Dracaena trifasciata (Prain) Mabb. Uses Rope and traditional uses In Africa, the leaves of former Sansevieria species are used for fiber production; in some species, e.g. Dracaena hanningtonii, the plant's sap has antiseptic qualities, and the leaves are used for bandages in traditional first aid. Ornamental purposes Several former Sansevieria species are popular houseplants in temperate regions, with Dracaena trifasciata the most widely sold; numerous cultivars are available. In China, the plant is usually kept potted in a pot often ornamented with dragons and phoenixes. Growth is comparatively slow and the plant will last for many years. There are two main varieties: wild type sansevierias have stiff, erect, scattered, lance-shaped leaves while the bird's nest sansevierias grow in rosettes. As houseplants, sansevierias thrive on warmth and bright