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Ti Tree

Cordyline fruticosa · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (3 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Ti Tree, scientifically known as Cordyline fruticosa, is a versatile tropical plant cherished for both its ornamental beauty and therapeutic properties. Widely used in traditional medicine, its leaves and roots possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial qualities, offering diverse healing benefits for various ailments across many different indigenous cultures worldwide.

Family
Asparagaceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Leaf
Common names
Broadleaf Palm-Lily · Good-Luck-Plant · 9 more
Scientific synonyms
Terminalis Fruticosa · Taetsia Fruticosa · 230 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Cordyline fruticosa

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Dracaena terminalis
  • Cordyline guilfoylei
  • Dracaena fumikage
  • Dracaena pulchella
  • Cordyline gloriosa
  • Dracaena hybrida
  • Cordyline terminalis var. ti
  • Dracaena chelsoni
  • Dracaena salviati
  • Dracaena magnifica
  • Cordyline hedychioides
  • Dracaena sulcata
  • Dracaena lineata
  • Cordyline regina
  • Aletris chinensis
  • Cordyline heliconiifolia
  • caña de indio
  • croto
  • Banderilla asiática

German:

  • Keulenlilie

French:

  • Epinard hawaien
  • Épinard hawaïen
  • Langue de femme
  • Épinard hawaïen

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Asparagaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Cordyline.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Asparagales
Family Asparagaceae
Genus Cordyline

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several tropical and subtropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its presence extends to the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the Comoros. Within Asia, the species is located in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Assam, as well as in China Southeast. Additionally, its range includes the specific Chinese island of Hainan.

Region Area
West-Central Tropical Africa Gulf of Guinea Is.
Western Indian Ocean Comoros
China Hainan
China China Southeast
Indian Subcontinent Assam
Indian Subcontinent India
Indo-China Cambodia
Indo-China Myanmar
Indo-China Thailand
Malesia Jawa

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cordylines fruticosa is characterized by a broad adaptability to various environmental conditions, spanning a wide altitudinal gradient. It thrives across an elevational range starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. While its specific primary habitat is often categorized broadly, it typically flourishes in tropical and subtropical environments, frequently occupying forest edges, disturbed areas, and shaded understories where moisture is relatively consistent. This ability to colonize diverse elevations allows it to persist in both lowland coastal regions and higher montane ecosystems, provided the microclimate supports its growth requirements.

Elevational range max:
2000 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
0 m AMSL
Habitat :
(?)

Genetics

The genetics of Cordyline fruticosa are characterized by a complex karyotype, featuring a notable chromosome number of 152. This high chromosomal count is a defining cytogenetic feature of the species. In terms of its genomic composition, the plant exhibits a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid state despite the exceptionally large number of individual chromosomes present within its cells.

Chromosome number :
152
Ploidy :
2

Life history

The life history of Cordyline fruticosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems above the ground level, while its growth habit can also be classified under the nanophanerophyte category depending on its specific structural development and height. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :
evergreen
Life form :
nanophanerophyte
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cordyline fruticosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence without parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3.33 meters.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
shrub
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
5 m
Plant height mean:
3.33333333333333 m
Plant height min:
1 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordyline fruticosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many tropical understory plants. Its vegetative morphology features non-succulent leaves that lack specialized water-storage tissues, and the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The foliage displays significant dimensional variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 25 cm to an average of 37.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 80 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 7.5 cm.

Leaf length max:
80 cm
Leaf length mean:
37.5 cm
Leaf length min:
25 cm
Leaf width max:
16 cm
Leaf width mean:
7.5 cm
Leaf width min:
5 cm
Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Succulence :
no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordyline fruticosa is characterized by a complex interaction of biotic factors, beginning with its inflorescence, which typically reaches a length between 0.3 m and 0.6 m. These inflorescences bear pink flowers that utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruit categorized as a berry. The resulting seeds are relatively small, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.010555 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00815 g to a maximum of 0.00815 g) and a consistent seed volume of 7.9 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is noted to be anthropochorous, suggesting a role for human-mediated movement in the spread of the species.

Dehiscence :
indehiscent
Dispersal syndrome :
anthropochorous
Flower colour :
pink
Fruit dryness :
fleshy
Fruit type :
berry
Inflorescence length max:
0.6 m
Inflorescence length min:
0.3 m
Pollination syndrome :
insect
Pollination syndrome :
biotic
Seed mass max:
0.00815 g
Seed mass mean:
0.010555 g
Seed volume max:
7.9 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordyline fruticosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Plant parts reported in Cordyline fruticosa
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Leaf 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Leaf

  1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Cordyline fruticosa has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Antifertility.

Activities reported in Cordyline fruticosa
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Abortifacient 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antifertility 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Abortifacient

  1. Journal of midwifery & women's health

Antifertility

  1. Journal of midwifery & women's health