DRAGON TREE: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES, CULTIVATION - BIOLOGY - 2024

Dragon tree (Dracaena draco) is a tall, arborescent monocotyledonous plant that belongs to the Asparagaceae family. Known as drake, Canarian dragon tree, Canary Island dragon tree, dragonal or dragon tree, it is a native species of the Macaronesian region.

It is a perennial plant with a thick, succulent and branched trunk, with a grayish bark, smooth when young and rough when ripe. The greyish-green, leathery, lanceolate leaves are arranged in clusters at the end of the trunk or branches.

Dracaena draco. Source: pixabay.com

It is a slow-growing succulent plant, grown as single specimens or in small groups on rockeries and slopes, also in pots for porches, terraces or balconies. It is considered the official plant of Tenerife (Spain), however, its population is very small and scattered, and is currently classified as a "species of interest to Canarian ecosystems".

The sap in its trunk turns reddish at the slightest contact with the air, hence its name "dragon's blood." It is used for therapeutic purposes, building canoes, baskets, slings or drums, and obtaining dyes. In addition, the Guanches or Canarian aborigines considered it a sacred plant.

General characteristics

Trunk of Dracaena draco. Source: pixabay.com

Appearance

Arborescent plant without wood, single and succulent stem, it branches in height only after the first flowering, forming a wide and flat crown. It is usually 12 to 25 m tall and 5 to 7 m in diameter.

Its root system is formed by robust and superficial roots that fuse with the thick and erect trunk in its basal part. The bark has reddish, gray or silver tones, being smooth in young plants, rough and rough in mature plants.

Leaves

The persistent leaves are lanceolate, flat, leathery, flexible and slightly fleshy, arranged in a helical shape and forming a tuft at the end of the trunk. They are attached to the plume through an orange sheath, are gray-green in color, measure between 50-60 cm in length and 3-5 cm in width.

flowers

The hermaphroditic flowers of green-whitish color and 2 cm in diameter are grouped in panicular inflorescences 50 cm long. Flowering occurs between May and September, they do not present any ornamental interest and are arranged subterraneanly.

Fruit

The fruit is a spherical berry, fleshy and orange when ripe, 1-2 cm in diameter. Each fruit contains 1-2 seeds of brown color.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Liliopsida

- Subclass: Liliidae

- Order: Asparagales

- Family: Asparagaceae

- Subfamily: Nolinoideae

- Genus: Dracaena

- Species: Dracaena draco L., 1767

Etymology

- Dracaena: the name of the genus comes from the Latin «dracaena» which derives from the Greek «δράχαινα» which means «female dragon». Alluding to the red color of her sage known as "Dragon's Blood".

- draco: the specific adjective derives from the Latin «dracó, -ónis», which comes from the Greek «δράχων», which means «dragon» or «fabulous serpent».

Synonymy

- Asparagus draco L., 1762

- Draco arbor Garsault, 1764

- Palma draco (L.) Mill., 1768

- Stoerkia draco (L.) Crantz, 768

- Drakaina draco (L.) Raf., 1838

- Yucca draco (L.) Carrière, 1859

Fruits of Dracaena draco. Source: Quartl / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Habitat and distribution

The dragon tree is a plant adapted to tropical and subtropical climate conditions, at an altitude range between 100-1,800 meters above sea level. It grows on clay or sandy soils, with a slightly acidic or alkaline pH, well aerated and with good drainage.

In the wild, it tends to develop in inaccessible places, such as steep slopes, cliffs or steep cliffs. It develops in areas where humidity from the alder winds predominates, with an average temperature around 18ºC, but never lower than 6ºC during winter.

It is considered an endemic species of the Macaronesian region, that is, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde and the northwest region of Morocco. In the Canary Islands it is distributed in Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro and Tenerife, in other subtropical regions it has been introduced as an ornamental plant.

Branches of Dracaena draco. Source: Zyance / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Properties

Active principles

Dragon tree sap contains various secondary metabolites that provide it with various medicinal or therapeutic properties. Among them are flavonoids and sapogenins with anti-inflammatory, healing and hemostatic action.

Medicinal properties

The resin obtained from the bark known as "dragon's blood" has been used since ancient times as an anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antitussive, healing and toothpaste. As a traditional remedy, it is used to strengthen the gums, heal wounds, ulcers or sores, as well as to relieve colds and colds.

In some regions of the Canary Islands, topically applied sap plasters are used as an analgesic to reduce inflammation of bumps and bruises. Likewise, "dragon's blood" has been used for the treatment of first and second degree burns due to its healing and hemostatic properties.

Culture

Spread

The dragon tree is propagated from seeds grown in humid substrates or through cuttings obtained from the trunk or branches. However, both processes are extremely slow, so it is recommended to purchase specimens grown in specialized stores.

Dracaena draco in its natural habitat. Source: Frank Vincentz / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Care

- The dragon tree can be grown in full sun exposure or half shade, as long as it has good lighting during the day.

- Although it tolerates low temperatures, it is advisable to cultivate in places where the winter temperature does not drop below 5 ºC

- During winter, temperatures between 8-10 ºC favor its winter rest period.

- For sowing, either through seeds or rooting of cuttings, a substrate in equal parts of composted mulch, black earth and coarse sand is required.

- The best time to transplant is during the spring, taking the greatest care not to damage the very delicate roots.

- Irrigation should be applied in a moderate way, trying to wait for the substrate to be dry until applying a new fire.

- During the summer, as long as the environment is very hot and dry, it is advisable to water 2-3 times a week. The rest of the year once a week.

- In plants grown for ornamental purposes, it is recommended to amend with organic fertilizers at the beginning of spring.

- Sanitation pruning is carried out when there are dry, wilted leaves or with signs of disease, as well as dry flower stems.

- In general, they are plants very resistant to the attack of pests, however, they are susceptible to the incidence of fungal diseases when there is an excess of humidity.

References

1. Almeida P., R. (2003) Dracaenaceae. Dracaena draco (L.) Atlas and Red Book of the Endangered Vascular Flora of Spain.
2. Almeida P., R. (2003). On the presence of Dracaena draco (L.) L. in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands): chorological contribution, current status and biogreographic significance. Bot. Macaronesian, 24, 17-38.
3. Cruz Suarez, J. (2007) El Drago. Bien Me Sabe Magazine Nº 174. ISSN: 1885-6039. Recovered at: bienmesabe.org
4. Dracaena draco. (2020). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
5. Dracaena draco (2018) Green Guide. Recovered in: guiaverde.com
6. Dracaena draco (2018) Canary Tree App. Recovered at: arbolappcanarias.es
7. Huesca, M. (2017) Drago de Canarias- Dracaena draco. Recovered in: paramijardin.com