I inherited a bunch of houseplants that need help, and I'm hesitant to do anything to this one before knowing what it is. It is about three feet tall, has long, blade-like leaves that are edged in tiny spikes. A ridge of similar spikes runs the midrib on the underside of the leaves as well. I'm sure it needs transplanting since the smooth, light brown roots are completely mounding out of the soil. The main stem is sprouting dozens of little babies, which seem to emerge from, or extrude, smooth root-like appendages.

I posted more photos of the leaves and this weird growth habit on Flicker:

http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0094009/photos/43323090@N03/sets/72157632303215639/

Any ideas about what this plant could be? Because of the strange growth and the spiny leaf edges and under-ribs, I don't think it's the common house plants in the Dracaena family like a corn plant. It looks similar to an astelia or Diaanella, but these aren't common house plants and I don't think they'd grow like this, no matter how much they were neglected (as this poor plant has been.)

Any help on the plant ID and care would be so appreciated! Thank you!

~ O.