The name dracaena is derived from the romanized form of the
Ancient Greekδράκαινα – drakaina, "female dragon".[7]
The majority of the species are
native to Africa, southern Asia through to northern Australia, with two species in tropical Central America.
Description
Species of Dracaena have a secondary thickening
meristem in their trunk, termed Dracaenoid thickening by some authors,[citation needed] which is quite different from the thickening meristem found in
dicotyledonous plants. This characteristic is shared with members of the
Agavoideae and
Xanthorrhoeoideae among other members of the
Asparagales.
Some shrubby species, such as D. fragrans, D. surculosa, D. marginata, and D. sanderiana, are popular as
houseplants. Many of these are toxic to pets, though not humans, according to the ASPCA among others. Rooted stem cuttings of D. sanderiana are sold as "lucky bamboo", although only superficially resembling true
bamboos.
Dracaena houseplants like humidity and moderate watering. They can tolerate periods of drought but the tips of the leaves may turn brown.[15] Leaves at the base will naturally yellow and drop off, leaving growth at the top and a bare stem.[15] Dracaena are vulnerable to mealybugs and scale insects.[15]
Other
A naturally occurring bright red resin,
dragon's blood, is collected from D. draco and, in ancient times, from D. cinnabari. Modern dragon's blood is however more likely to be from the unrelated Calamus rattan palms, formerly placed in Daemonorops.[a] It also has social functions in marking graves, sacred sites and farm plots in many African societies.[17]
References
Notes
^Fruit as source of red resin exuded between scales, used medicinally and as a dye (one source of "dragon's blood"): Daemonorops didymophylla; Daemonorops draco; Daemonorops maculata; Daemonorops micrantha; Daemonorops propinqua; Daemonorops rubra[16]
Citations
^
ab"Genus: Dracaena Vand. ex L."Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-01-19. Archived from
the original on 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
Sunderland, Terry C.H.; Dransfield, John (2002). Florentino O.; Dransfield, John; Tesoro; N. Manokaran (eds.).
"Species Profiles Rattans". Rattan, Current Research Issues and Prospects for Conservation and Sustainable Development. 14: 23–34.
Sheridan, M. (2008). "Tanzanian ritual perimetrics and African landscapes: the case of Dracaena". International Journal of African Historical Studies. 41 (3): 491–521.
JSTOR40282529.
The name dracaena is derived from the romanized form of the
Ancient Greekδράκαινα – drakaina, "female dragon".[7]
The majority of the species are
native to Africa, southern Asia through to northern Australia, with two species in tropical Central America.
Description
Species of Dracaena have a secondary thickening
meristem in their trunk, termed Dracaenoid thickening by some authors,[citation needed] which is quite different from the thickening meristem found in
dicotyledonous plants. This characteristic is shared with members of the
Agavoideae and
Xanthorrhoeoideae among other members of the
Asparagales.
Some shrubby species, such as D. fragrans, D. surculosa, D. marginata, and D. sanderiana, are popular as
houseplants. Many of these are toxic to pets, though not humans, according to the ASPCA among others. Rooted stem cuttings of D. sanderiana are sold as "lucky bamboo", although only superficially resembling true
bamboos.
Dracaena houseplants like humidity and moderate watering. They can tolerate periods of drought but the tips of the leaves may turn brown.[15] Leaves at the base will naturally yellow and drop off, leaving growth at the top and a bare stem.[15] Dracaena are vulnerable to mealybugs and scale insects.[15]
Other
A naturally occurring bright red resin,
dragon's blood, is collected from D. draco and, in ancient times, from D. cinnabari. Modern dragon's blood is however more likely to be from the unrelated Calamus rattan palms, formerly placed in Daemonorops.[a] It also has social functions in marking graves, sacred sites and farm plots in many African societies.[17]
References
Notes
^Fruit as source of red resin exuded between scales, used medicinally and as a dye (one source of "dragon's blood"): Daemonorops didymophylla; Daemonorops draco; Daemonorops maculata; Daemonorops micrantha; Daemonorops propinqua; Daemonorops rubra[16]
Citations
^
ab"Genus: Dracaena Vand. ex L."Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2010-01-19. Archived from
the original on 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
Sunderland, Terry C.H.; Dransfield, John (2002). Florentino O.; Dransfield, John; Tesoro; N. Manokaran (eds.).
"Species Profiles Rattans". Rattan, Current Research Issues and Prospects for Conservation and Sustainable Development. 14: 23–34.
Sheridan, M. (2008). "Tanzanian ritual perimetrics and African landscapes: the case of Dracaena". International Journal of African Historical Studies. 41 (3): 491–521.
JSTOR40282529.