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Dracaena (view source)

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{{SPlantbox
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|familia=Ruscaceae
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|genus=Dracaena
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|Min ht metric=cm
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
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|image=Dracaena draco-dragon tree-IMG 6371.JPG
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|image_width=240
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|image_caption=Dracaena draco
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}}
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'''''Dracaena''''' (romanized form of the Ancient Greek ''drakaina'', "female dragon") is a genus of about 40 species of [[tree]]s and [[succulent]] [[shrub]]s classified in the family [[Ruscaceae]]. The majority of the species are native in [[Africa]], with a few in southern [[Asia]] and one in tropical [[Central America]].
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''Dracaena'' have a secondary thickening [[meristem]] in their trunk.
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Some species such as ''D. deremensis'', ''D. fragrans'', ''D. godseffiana'', ''D. marginata'', and ''D. sanderiana'' are popular as [[houseplant]]s. Rooted stem cuttings of ''D. sanderiana'' are widely marketed in the U.S.A. as "Lucky Bamboo", although only superficially resembling true [[bamboo]]s.
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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Dracaena (female dragon; the dried juice supposed to resemble dragon's blood). Liliaceae. Dracena. Ornamental hothouse or stove plants, frequently with variegated leaves.
 
Dracaena (female dragon; the dried juice supposed to resemble dragon's blood). Liliaceae. Dracena. Ornamental hothouse or stove plants, frequently with variegated leaves.
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Often arborescent, with sword-shaped or broad lvs. mostly crowded at the summit of the st.: fls. clustered in panicles or heads, greenish-white or yellowish; perianth salver-form or campanulate; lobes 6, spreading; stamens 6: fr. a 3-celled berry. Differs from Cordy-line in having larger fls., and solitary instead of many ovules in each cell of the ovary.—About 40 tropical woody plants, a few being in cult. See Baker, Journ. Linn. Soc., vol. 14, for a monograph of the genus.
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Often arborescent, with sword-shaped or broad lvs. mostly crowded at the summit of the st.: fls. clustered in panicles or heads, greenish-white or yellowish; perianth salver-form or campanulate; lobes 6, spreading; stamens 6: fr. a 3-celled berry. Differs from Cordy-line in having larger fls., and solitary instead of many ovules in each cell of the ovary.—About 40 tropical woody plants, a few being in cult.
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Dracaena draco, of the Canaries, is the dragon tree. It reaches a height of 30 to 60 feet, branching when of great age. The dragon tree of Teneriffe, famous for centuries, was 70 feet high, and one of the oldest of known trees. See Cordyline for other names not found in this article; also for culture.
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}}
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==Cultivation==
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Dracaena Draco, of the Canaries, is the dragon tree. It reaches a height of 30 to 60 feet, branching when of great age. The dragon tree of Teneriffe, famous for centuries, was 70 feet high, and one of the oldest of known trees. See Cordyline for other names not found in this article; also for culture.
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The following key to the cultivated species of both Dracaena and Cordyline is based upon the lvs.
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===Propagation===
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The following are apparently not in the American trade: D. americana, Donnell Smith. Twenty to 40ft. high: lvs. linear-sword- shape, S-15 in. long, green: flu. white, small, in dense panicles. Allied to D. Draco. Cent. Amer. S.T.S. 1:207. New.—D. arborea. Link. Lvs. green, sword-shaped, dense, sessile. Gt. 40:1438; and p. 226. G.W. 8:200; 12:232.— D. Broomfieldii, Hort. Lvs. spreading or recurved, strap-shaped, undulate, sessile, deep green bordered with broad white margins. J.H. III. 33:541. G.C. III. 20:667; 23:249; 33:249 (var.) G. 27:597. G.W. 13:4.— Botanical status obscure. —D. concinna, Kunth. Lvs. oblanceolate, green, purple on the margin, green-petioled. — D. cylindrica, Hook. Lvs. linear-lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate, bright green, spreading. B.M. 5846. —D. Eeckhantii, Hort. F.R. 4:46. Gn.W. 16:697.—D. elliptica. Thunb. Lvs. spreading, petioled, thickish, elliptic-lanceolate, glossy, acute, longitudinally striate. B.M. 4787. G.C. II. 17:261 (var. maculata).—D. ensifolia, Hort. Amer.=Dianella ensifolia. —D. kewensii, Hort. Lvs. dark green, broadly oblong-lanceolate- acute: petiole red, half as long as the blade. New Caledonia. New. May be a form of C. terminalis. G.C. III. 33:265. F.E. 15:619.— D. marginata, Lam. Lvs. sword-shaped, dense, spreading, green, margined and veined with red. G.W. 12:235.—D. marmorata. Hort. B.M. 7078.—D. phrynioides. Hook. Lvs. petioled, mostly oval, acuminate, coriaceous, spotted with yellowish white, pale beneath. B.M. 5352.—D. reflexa. Lam. Lvs. lanceolate or sword- shaped, acute, contracted into a petiole.—D. Saposchnikowi, Regel. Lvs. sword-shaped, crowded, green. Gt. 705.—D. Smithii, Baker. Lvs. large, narrowly sword-shaped, crowded, bright green. B.M. 6169.
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===Pests and diseases===
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Some trade names, the botanical status of which is in doubt, are the following: alba-marginata, albanensis, Alexandria, angustifolia, angustata,argenteo-striata, DeSmetiana, edmontoniensis, elefantissima, Elizabethiae, Frederica, Hendersonii, impercator, Jamesii, Janssesii, Lacourtii, Mayi, Mandaeana, Offeri, perelyares, recurva, Salmonea, Sheperdii, spectabilis. D. nova-caledonica is probably Cordyline neo-caledonica, Lindl., with bronze lvs. K. M. Wieqand.
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}}
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==Varieties==
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{{Taxobox
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{{Inc|
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| color = lightgreen
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The following key to the cultivated species of both Dracaena and Cordyline is based upon the lvs.
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| name = ''Dracaena''
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| image = Dracaena draco-dragon tree-IMG 6371.JPG
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| image_width = 240px
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| image_caption = ''Dracaena draco''
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
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| familia = [[Ruscaceae]] (Dracaenaceae)
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| genus = '''''Dracaena'''''
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| genus_authority = [[Domenico Vandelli|Vand.]] ex [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
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| subdivision = See text
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}}
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[[Image:Dracaena reflexa.JPG|thumb|240px|''Dracaena reflexa'']]
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[[Image:LuckyBamboo 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|240px|thumb|"Lucky Bamboo", ''Dracaena sanderiana'']]
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[[Image:Dracaena draco.jpg|thumb|240px|''Dracaena draco'']]
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'''''Dracaena''''' is a genus of about 40 species of [[tree]]s and [[succulent plant|succulent]] [[shrub]]s classified in the family '''[[Ruscaceae]]''' in the [[APG II]] system, or, according to some treatments, separated (with ''Cordyline'') into a family of their own, '''Dracaenaceae''' or in the [[Agavaceae]]. The majority of the species are native in [[Africa]] and nearby islands, with a few in southern [[Asia]] and one in tropical [[Central America]]. The segregate genus ''Pleomele'' is now generally included in ''Dracaena''. The genus ''[[Sanseviera]]'' is closely related, and has recently been synonymized under ''Dracaena'' in the [[Kubitzki system]].
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The following are apparently not in the American trade: D. americana, Donnell Smith. Twenty to 40ft. high: lvs. linear-sword- shape, S-15 in. long, green: flu. white, small, in dense panicles. Allied to D. Draco. Cent. Amer.—D. arborea. Link. Lvs. green, sword-shaped, dense, sessile.— D. Broomfieldii, Hort. Lvs. spreading or recurved, strap-shaped, undulate, sessile, deep green bordered with broad white margins.— Botanical status obscure. —D. concinna, Kunth. Lvs. oblanceolate, green, purple on the margin, green-petioled. — D. cylindrica, Hook. Lvs. linear-lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate, bright green, spreading.—D. Eeckhantii, Hort.—D. elliptica. Thunb. Lvs. spreading, petioled, thickish, elliptic-lanceolate, glossy, acute, longitudinally striate.—D. ensifolia, Hort. Amer. equals Dianella ensifolia. —D. kewensii, Hort. Lvs. dark green, broadly oblong-lanceolate- acute: petiole red, half as long as the blade. New Caledonia. New. May be a form of C. terminalis.— D. marginata, Lam. Lvs. sword-shaped, dense, spreading, green, margined and veined with red.—D. marmorata. Hort.—D. phrynioides. Hook. Lvs. petioled, mostly oval, acuminate, coriaceous, spotted with yellowish white, pale beneath.—D. reflexa. Lam. Lvs. lanceolate or sword- shaped, acute, contracted into a petiole.—D. Saposchnikowi, Regel. Lvs. sword-shaped, crowded, green.—D. Smithii, Baker. Lvs. large, narrowly sword-shaped, crowded, bright green.
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''Dracaena'' have a secondary thickening [[meristem]] in their trunk. This [[monocot]]yledonous secondary thickening meristem is quite different to the thickening meristem found in [[dicot]]yledonous plants and is termed '''Dracaenoid thickening''' by some authors. This character is shared with other members of the [[Agavaceae]] and [[Xanthorrhoeaceae]] among other related families.
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Some trade names, the botanical status of which is in doubt, are the following: alba-marginata, albanensis, Alexandria, angustifolia, angustata,argenteo-striata, DeSmetiana, edmontoniensis, elefantissima, Elizabethiae, Frederica, Hendersonii, impercator, Jamesii, Janssesii, Lacourtii, Mayi, Mandaeana, Offeri, perelyares, recurva, Salmonea, Sheperdii, spectabilis. D. nova-caledonica is probably Cordyline neo-caledonica, Lindl., with bronze lvs.  
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}}
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==Species==
   
They can be divided into two groups based on their growth habits:
 
They can be divided into two groups based on their growth habits:
 
#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'''.
 
#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'''.
 
#A group of smaller, shrubby species with slender stems and flexible strap-shaped leaves, growing as understorey plants in [[rainforest]]s (and very popular as [[houseplant]]s), and known collectively as '''shrubby dracaenas'''.
 
#A group of smaller, shrubby species with slender stems and flexible strap-shaped leaves, growing as understorey plants in [[rainforest]]s (and very popular as [[houseplant]]s), and known collectively as '''shrubby dracaenas'''.
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;Dragon trees
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===Dragon trees===
 
* ''[[Dracaena americana]]'' - Central America Dragon Tree
 
* ''[[Dracaena americana]]'' - Central America Dragon Tree
 
* ''[[Dracaena arborea]]'' - Tree Dracaena
 
* ''[[Dracaena arborea]]'' - Tree Dracaena
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* ''[[Dracaena draco]]'' - Canary Islands Dragon Tree
 
* ''[[Dracaena draco]]'' - Canary Islands Dragon Tree
 
* ''[[Dracaena ombet]]'' - Gabal Elba Dragon Tree
 
* ''[[Dracaena ombet]]'' - Gabal Elba Dragon Tree
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* ''[[Dracaena tamaranae]]'' - Gran Canaria Dragon Tree
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;Shrubby dracaenas
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===Shrubby dracaenas===
 
* ''[[Dracaena aletriformis]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena aletriformis]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena bicolor]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena bicolor]]''
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* ''[[Dracaena concinna]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena concinna]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena elliptica]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena elliptica]]''
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* ''[[Dracaena fragrans]]'' - Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena, corn plant
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* ''[[Dracaena deremensis]]''
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:* Synonym: ''Dracaena deremensis''
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* ''[[Dracaena fragrans]]'' - Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena, corn plant, Cornstalk Dracaena
 
* ''[[Dracaena goldieana]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena goldieana]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena hookeriana]]''
 
* ''[[Dracaena hookeriana]]''
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Several other species previously included in ''Dracaena'' are now treated in the genus ''[[Cordyline]]''.
 
Several other species previously included in ''Dracaena'' are now treated in the genus ''[[Cordyline]]''.
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==Uses==
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==Gallery==
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A bright red resin, [[dragon's blood]], is produced from ''D. draco'' and, in ancient times, from ''D. cinnabari''. Some species such as ''D. deremnsis'', ''D. fragrans'', ''D. godseffiana'', ''D. marginata'', and ''D. sanderiana'' are popular as [[houseplant]]s. Rooted stem cuttings of ''D. sanderiana'' are widely marketed in the U.S.A. as "Lucky Bamboo", although only superficially resembling true [[bamboo]]s.
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<gallery perrow=5>
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Image:Dracaena reflexa.JPG|''Dracaena reflexa''
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Image:LuckyBamboo 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|"Lucky Bamboo", ''Dracaena sanderiana''
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Image:Dracaena flower.JPG|''Dracaena'' flower.
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Image:Upload.png| photo
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</gallery>
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==References==
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<references/>
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==References and external links==
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==External links==
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*Waterhouse, J. T. 1987. The Phylogenetic Significance of ''Dracaena''-type growth. ''Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.'' 109: 129-128.
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*{{wplink}}
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*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/soqotra/misty/page01.html Socotra botany]. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
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[[Category:Ruscaceae]]
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{{stub}}
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