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Dracaena is a genus of about 40 species of trees and succulent shrubs in the family Agavaceae, or, according to some treatments, separated (with Cordyline) into a family of their own, Dracaenaceae. The majority of the species are native in Africa and nearby islands, with a few in southern Asia and one in tropical Central America.
They divide into two groups, perhaps better treated as separate genera:
- A group of tree-size species with stout trunks and stiff, broad-based leaves, growing in arid semi-desert areas, and known as Dragon trees: D. americana, D. arborea, D. cinnabari, D. draco.
- A group of smaller, shrubby species with slender stems and flexible strap-shaped leaves, growing as understorey plants in rainforests (and very popular as houseplants): D. bicolor, D. cincta, D. concinna, D. deremensis, D. elliptica, D. fragrans, D. goldieana, D. hookeriana, D. marmorata, D. phrynioides, D. reflexa, D. sanderiana, D. surculosa, D. thalioides, D. umbraculifera.
Dragon's blood, a bright red substance used in mediaeval magic and alchemy, then believed by the users to be the dried blood of dragons, is actually the dried resin tapped from the stems of Dracaena draco and D. cinnabari. It was used in Europe as a medicine because of its astringent and healing properties. Now it is used as a varnish for violins and in photoengraving.
Species
Dragon trees
- Dracaena americana
- Tree dracaena, Dracaena arborea
- Socotra dragon tree, Dracaena cinnabari
- Canary Islands dragon tree, Dracaena draco
Shrubby dracaenas
- Dracaena bicolor
- Dracaena cincta
- Dracaena concinna
- Janet Craig Compact dracaena, Dracaena deremensis
- Dracaena elliptica
- Striped dracaena, Dracaena fragrans
- Dracaena goldieana
- Dracaena hookeriana
- Red-Edged dracaena, also known as the Madagascar Dragon tree, Dracaena marginata
- Tricolor Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dracaena marginata tricolor
- Dracaena marmorata
- Dracaena phrynioides
- Pleomele, also known as the Song of India, Dracaena reflexa
- Ribbon plant, also known as Lucky Bamboo and Belgian evergreen, Dracaena sanderiana
- Gold dust dracaena, Dracaena surculosa
- Dracaena thalioides
- Dracaena umbraculifera
The name "dragon tree" stems from the fact that the plant grows two new branches at the place where a branch was cut off, a bit like it is said to happen with the heads of a dragon, such as the Lernean Hydra.
Several other species previously included in Dracaena are now treated in the genus Cordyline.
For the reptiles of the same genus name, see Dracaena
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