Dracaena cinnabari
Dracaena cinnabari
Dracaena cinnabari is a species of the genus of dragon trees (Dracaena ) in the family of asparagus plants ( Asparagaceae ). The specific epithet cinnabari means vermilion ' (Latin cinnabarinus ).
Description
Dracaena cinnabari grows as an evergreen, tree-shaped life form with an unbranched or branched, stout trunk, reaching stature heights of up to 10 meters. The branches are branched dichotomously. The upright, stiff, seated leaves are broad at the base, sword- shaped, 30 to 60 inches long and 2-3 inches wide.
In highly branched paniculate inflorescence, the flowers are in pairs to third together in groups. Your flower stalk is 5 millimeters long. The cup-shaped perianth is up to 5 mm long, the stamens are slightly shorter. The thread-like style ends in a capitate stigma. The flowering period is in February.
Until the fruit ripening pass five months. The fruits are to be during ripening from green to black and end up orange - red spherical, fleshy berries. The berries contain one to three seeds, which are eaten by birds and spread by them.
Systematics, distribution and hazard
Dracaena cinnabari is endemic to Socotra, an eastern Somalia archipelago that belongs politically to Yemen. The main distribution area is located there at altitudes between 300 and 1500 meters, where the plants grow preferentially on calcareous soils.
The first description was published in 1882 by Isaac Bayley Balfour ( 1853-1922 ).
In the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN as " Vulnerable (VU) ," ie, endangered classified.
Use
From Dracaena cinnabari is reddish-brown to brownish-red dragon's blood, a natural resin obtained. The inhabitants of Socotra use it for curing stomach ailments, for dyeing wool, make it adhesive forth and so decorate ceramics and their homes.
On the Arabian Peninsula, as well as in other countries, the dried and powdered resin is often used as an herbal remedy with analgesic, astringent, antiseptic, hemostatic and ulcer -inhibiting effect against many diseases, and as an abortifacient in the first trimester of pregnancy.