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Dracaena draco (L.) L.

Dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderAsparagalesA diverse group that includes asparagus
FamilyAsparagaceaeAgaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
GenusDracaenaFrom the Ancient Greek δράκαινα (drakaina), “female dragon”
Speciesdraco

About plant names...

The dragon tree is native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, Azores, and part of Morocco. It is not found wild in North America. When branches or the trunk are cut, they ooze a red resin—"dragon's blood." The resin is used to color the varnish used for Stradivarius violins and in a photoengraving process.

Identification: Dragon trees cannot be confused with any other type of tree. Its foliage forms a dense, umbrella-shaped canopy of thick, moisture-retentive, stiff sword-shaped leaves. This canopy is shaped to funnel rainwater inward toward the trunk, where it is channeled to the roots; and it is thick enough to shade the roots to reduce evaporation. They reach heights of 39′ (12 m). It grows very slowly, and some specimens are believed to be 650 years old.

Online References:

Wikipedia

Floridata.com

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species

The University of Connecticut Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Plant Growth Facilities

Dracaena draco (dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Dracaena draco (dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

 

Dracaena draco description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Dracaena draco (dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Dracaena draco (dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree)

2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, Cali­fornia

Dracaena draco (dragon tree, drago, Canary Islands dragon tree, dragontree)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Range: Zones 9-11:

About this map...