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]

Gallery

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

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos [family DRACAENACEAE], Aluka
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Viljoen, C. (2003). Dracaena aletriformis, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
3. ^ ^{a b c} 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

• Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.