Dracaena aletriformis

Large-leaved Dragon Tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Dracaena
Species: D. aletriformis
Binomial name
Dracaena aletriformis
(Haw.) Bos
Synonyms

Dracaena hookeriana K.Koch [family DRACAENACEAE]
Pleomele hookeriana (K.Koch) N.E.Br. [family DRACAENACEAE]
Dracaena rumphii (Hook.) Regel [family DRACAENACEAE]
Dracaena latifolia Regel [family DRACAENACEAE]
Draco hookeriana (K.Koch) Kuntze [family DRACAENACEAE]
Cordyline rumphii Hook. [family AGAVACEAE]
Yucca aletriformis Haw. [family AGAVACEAE]
Sansevieria paniculata Schinz [family DRACAENACEAE][1]

Dracaena aletriformis is commonly known as the Large-leaved Dragon Tree. These plants are found in forest in the eastern areas of South Africa from Port Elizabeth to northern and eastern Gauteng.[2] They are also found in Swaziland,[2] but are most common in the coastal and dune forests of KwaZulu-Natal.[3]

Taxonomy

This plant has 8 synonyms.[1] In the APG III classification system, the genus Dracaena is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae).[4]) It has also been placed in the Agavaceae (now the subfamily Agavoideae) and the Dracaenaceae. Like many lilioid monocots, it was formerly placed in the family Liliaceae (lily family).[2]

Description

Single stemmed or branched (usually at the base). The leaves are large and strap-shaped in rosettes at the tips of the stem/s. The leaves are leathery, shiny, and dark green, with whitish margins. These plants may grow up to 4 m tall. The flowers are produced on a much branched flowering head. The flowers are silvery-white and described as sweetly[3] or strongly[2] scented. The two-lobed berry-like fruit ripen to a reddish-orange colour.

Ecological Significance

The flowers open from late afternoon to early morning and attract night-active pollinator moths. Birds eat the fruit; helping to remove the orange pulp which contains a growth inhibitor that otherwise slows germination of the seeds.[2] Snails and the larvae of the Bush Night Fighter butterfly, Artitropa erinnys, feed on the leaves.[2][5] Birds and mice nest among the leaves of these plants. [3]

A group of D. aletriformis in dune vegetation. 
Fruit of D. aletriformis. 
Surrounded by Isoglossa woodii in dune vegetation. 
A young specimen. 

References

  1. 1 2 Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos [family DRACAENACEAE], Aluka
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Viljoen, C. (2003). Dracaena aletriformis, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
  3. 1 2 3 Pooley, E. (1993)
  4. ↑ Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L. & Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
  5. ↑ Williams, M. (1994).

Bibliography

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