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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Dracaena''
| image = Dracaena draco.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Dracaena draco''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Ruscaceae]] (Dracaenaceae)
| genus = '''''Dracaena'''''
| genus_authority = [[Domenico Vandelli|Vand.]] ex [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
[[Image:Dracaena reflexa.JPG|thumb|240px|''Dracaena reflexa'']]
[[Image:LuckyBamboo 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|240px|thumb|"Lucky Bamboo", ''Dracaena sanderiana'']]
'''''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]].
''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.
==Species==
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 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'''.
;Dragon trees
* ''[[Dracaena americana]]'' - Central America Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena arborea]]'' - Tree Dracaena
* ''[[Dracaena cinnabari]]'' - Socotra Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena draco]]'' - Canary Islands Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena ombet]]'' - Gabal Elba Dragon Tree
;Shrubby dracaenas
* ''[[Dracaena aletriformis]]''
* ''[[Dracaena bicolor]]''
* ''[[Dracaena cincta]]''
* ''[[Dracaena concinna]]''
* ''[[Dracaena elliptica]]''
* ''[[Dracaena fragrans]]'' - Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena, corn plant
:* Synonym: ''Dracaena deremensis''
* ''[[Dracaena goldieana]]''
* ''[[Dracaena hookeriana]]''
* ''[[Dracaena mannii]]''
* ''[[Dracaena marginata]]'' - Red-edged Dracaena or Madagascar Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena marmorata]]''
* ''[[Dracaena phrynioides]]''
* ''[[Dracaena reflexa]]'' - Pleomele Dracaena or "Song of India"
* ''[[Dracaena sanderiana]]'' - Ribbon Dracaena, marketed as "Lucky Bamboo"
* ''[[Dracaena surculosa]]'' - Spotted Dracaena or Gold Dust Dracaena
* ''[[Dracaena thalioides]]''
* ''[[Dracaena umbraculifera]]''
Several other species previously included in ''Dracaena'' are now treated in the genus ''[[Cordyline]]''.
==Uses==
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.
==References and external links==
*Waterhouse, J. T. 1987. The Phylogenetic Significance of ''Dracaena''-type growth. ''Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.'' 109: 129-128.
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/soqotra/misty/page01.html Socotra botany]. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
[[Category:Ruscaceae]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Dracaena''
| image = Dracaena draco.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Dracaena draco''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Ruscaceae]] (Dracaenaceae)
| genus = '''''Dracaena'''''
| genus_authority = [[Domenico Vandelli|Vand.]] ex [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
[[Image:Dracaena reflexa.JPG|thumb|240px|''Dracaena reflexa'']]
[[Image:LuckyBamboo 2005 SeanMcClean.jpg|240px|thumb|"Lucky Bamboo", ''Dracaena sanderiana'']]
'''''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]].
''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.
==Species==
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 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'''.
;Dragon trees
* ''[[Dracaena americana]]'' - Central America Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena arborea]]'' - Tree Dracaena
* ''[[Dracaena cinnabari]]'' - Socotra Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena draco]]'' - Canary Islands Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena ombet]]'' - Gabal Elba Dragon Tree
;Shrubby dracaenas
* ''[[Dracaena aletriformis]]''
* ''[[Dracaena bicolor]]''
* ''[[Dracaena cincta]]''
* ''[[Dracaena concinna]]''
* ''[[Dracaena elliptica]]''
* ''[[Dracaena fragrans]]'' - Striped Dracaena, Compact Dracaena, corn plant
:* Synonym: ''Dracaena deremensis''
* ''[[Dracaena goldieana]]''
* ''[[Dracaena hookeriana]]''
* ''[[Dracaena mannii]]''
* ''[[Dracaena marginata]]'' - Red-edged Dracaena or Madagascar Dragon Tree
* ''[[Dracaena marmorata]]''
* ''[[Dracaena phrynioides]]''
* ''[[Dracaena reflexa]]'' - Pleomele Dracaena or "Song of India"
* ''[[Dracaena sanderiana]]'' - Ribbon Dracaena, marketed as "Lucky Bamboo"
* ''[[Dracaena surculosa]]'' - Spotted Dracaena or Gold Dust Dracaena
* ''[[Dracaena thalioides]]''
* ''[[Dracaena umbraculifera]]''
Several other species previously included in ''Dracaena'' are now treated in the genus ''[[Cordyline]]''.
==Uses==
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.
==References and external links==
*Waterhouse, J. T. 1987. The Phylogenetic Significance of ''Dracaena''-type growth. ''Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.'' 109: 129-128.
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/soqotra/misty/page01.html Socotra botany]. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
[[Category:Ruscaceae]]
