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 Limpopo.[2] They are also found in Eswatini,[2] but are most common in the coastal and dune forests of KwaZulu-Natal.[3]

Large-leaved dragon tree
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Dracaena
Species:
D. aletriformis
Binomial name
Dracaena aletriformis
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]

Taxonomy

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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

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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 metres (13 ft) tall. The flowers are produced on a much branched flowering head. The flowers are silvery-white and described as sweetly or strongly scented.[3][2] The two-lobed berry-like fruit ripen to a reddish-orange colour.

Ecological significance

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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]

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b "Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos". Jstor Global Plants. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Viljoen 2003.
  3. ^ a b c Pooley 1993.
  4. ^ Chase, Reveal & Fay 2009, pp. 132–136.
  5. ^ Williams, M. (1994).

Sources

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