
A photo by Alain Christophe.

A photo by Boris "Puk" Vrskovy, Slovakia.

A young plant in Copenhagen
Botanical Garden.

Jung but adult plant.

The morning mist contributes
with quite some water.

The water which is not
absorbed by the leaves is found
underneath the natural umbrella,
for the roots to absorb.

Here, in the morning
mist.

The really smooth leaves. |
Author: | Isaac
Bayley Balfour, 1882 |
Family: |
DRACAENACEAE* |
Origin: |
Socotra;
Yemen |
Soil: |
Grit |
Water:
|
Minimum -
Medium |
Sun: |
Maximum |
Thickness: |
80
Centimetres |
Height: |
9 Meters |
Flower:
|
White - Yellow |
Propagate: |
Seeds/Cuttings |
Names:
|
Socotra
Dragon Tree, Inside-Out Umbrella Tree |
Synonyms: |
Draco
cinnabari, Kuntze |
This charismatic member of the
Dracaenaceae family was described by Isaac Bayley Balfour in
1882. It is only found on the Yemen island; Socotra. It grows among
rocks and limestone, receiving little water and lots of sun.
Depending on the environment, it will eventually reach three to nine
meters with a stem up to 80 centimetres in diameter. The flowers are
white to yellow, and besides from seeds, I guess it will be possible to
make cuttings. I just made them by tissue-culture. The
larger plants survives without much water, but to grow, they will
need some, just like the seedlings, which is depending on quite some
water.
The genera name from Latin;
drago; a female dragon. The species name means 'cinnabar-red'
for the colour of the sap.
*Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG
IV 2016,
Dracaenaceae is
now part of
the Asparagaceae. |