Suji

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Suji

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cordyline rumphii
• Pleomele fruticosa
• Sansevieria fruticosa
• Pleomele australasica
• Sansevieria flexuosa
• Aletris cochinchinensis
• Terminalis angustifolia
• Draco fruticosa
• Draco angustifolia
• Dracaena rumphii
• Dracaena quitensis
• Dracaena australasica
• Dracaena linearifolia
• Pleomele flexuosa
• Pleomele angustifolia
• Dracaena menglaensis
• Pleomele brachyphylla
• Dracaena fruticosa
• Dracaena angustifolia var. angustior
• Dracaena brachyphylla
• Pleomele angustifolia var. angustior
• Dracaena cochinchinensis
• Dracaena atropurpurea var. kurzii
• Dracaena angustifolia var. honoriae

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 and is identified by the genus Dracaena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across parts of East and South Asia. In China, its presence is recorded in the South-Central regions as well as on the island of Hainan. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in the state of Assam. The species also inhabits the territory of Bangladesh within the same subcontinent. Finally, its range extends into the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dracaena angustifolia is characterized by its adaptation to specific altitudinal gradients within its native habitat, primarily thriving in montane and sub-montane environments. This species occupies a distinct vertical niche, with an established elevational range that begins at a minimum of 300 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 800 m AMSL. Within this specific topographical bracket, the plant interacts with varying microclimates, moisture levels, and soil compositions typical of mid-to-low elevation slopes. Its presence within this 500-meter altitudinal belt suggests a specialized tolerance for the temperature fluctuations and precipitation patterns characteristic of these specific highland zones.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dracaena angustifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its conducting parts well above the ground, typically developing a woody structure that allows it to withstand various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the species exhibits a nanophanerophyte life form, reflecting its specific growth habit and stature. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dracaena angustifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. This plant is a self-supporting species, functioning independently without the need for climbing structures or parasitic dependencies, as it is categorized as an independent organism. It is a strictly terrestrial plant, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dracaena angustifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by its foliage, where the leaves exhibit a specific range of dimensions; they typically possess a minimum width of 1.5 cm and can reach a maximum width of 3 cm. In terms of longitudinal growth, the leaves maintain a minimum length of 20 cm, a mean length of 25 cm, and can extend to a maximum length of 30 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrients rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length mean:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dracaena angustifolia is characterized by the development of inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.5 m. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that exhibit specific dimensional variations. The fruit length varies from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm, with an average length of approximately 1 cm. Similarly, the fruit width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 1.2 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1 cm.

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.5 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.3 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dracaena angustifolia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, rhizome, root.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Steroids

Rhizome

1. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Dracaena angustifolia has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Loureirin B, Loureirin C, 25(S)-Dracaenoside N, ABTS, COMPOUND 9.

Loureirin B

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in plant science

Loureirin C

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

25(S)-Dracaenoside N

1. Steroids

ABTS

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

COMPOUND 9

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Cochinchinenin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

DPPH

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

LIGNIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Dracaena angustifolia has 8 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antithrombotic, Cytotoxic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Journal of natural products

Antithrombotic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Conditions

Dracaena angustifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Dracaena angustifolia has 14 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Chinese dragon's blood, resin, Chinese Dragon's blood, D. cochinchinensis extracted with heating-tree technongy, Dragon's blood.

Chinese dragon's blood

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Natural product research

Resin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chinese dragon's blood

1. Journal of natural medicines

D. cochinchinensis extracted with heating-tree technongy

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dragon's blood

1. Radiation research

Meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products

Dragon's blood

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Fresh stem

1. Steroids

Fresh stems

1. Journal of natural products

Red resin

1. Natural product research