Dragon's blood tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dragon's Blood Tree
• Socotra dragontree
• dragon blood tree
• “Dragon’s Blood” Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Draco cinnabari

Regional and Traditional Names

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 and the family Asparagaceae, it is further classified under the genus Dracaena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is characterized by an extremely limited and specialized geographical range. It is found exclusively within the Northeast Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its entire natural habitat is restricted to the unique island of Socotra. This endemic species thrives only within this specific ecological niche. Consequently, its global distribution is entirely confined to this single, isolated location.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dracaena cinnabari is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, maintaining its presence within its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant's regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody structures, a life form classification that is consistent across its developmental stages. Furthermore, it exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout the year without the seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dracaena cinnabari is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing into a large tree that can reach a mean plant height of approximately 9 meters. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently in its environment without being an epiphyte or a parasite. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing behavior, maintaining a sturdy, woody architecture as it matures.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

9 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dracaena cinnabarii is characterized by specialized metabolic adaptations suited for its native arid environments, focusing primarily on efficient water management and the synthesis of unique secondary metabolites. Its photosynthetic processes are geared toward maximizing carbon fixation while minimizing transpirational water loss, often utilizing specialized stomatal control to maintain cellular turgor during periods of drought. A key physiological feature is the production of complex polyphenols and resinous compounds within its tissues, which serve as chemical defenses against herbivory and environmental stressors. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not engage in symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric gas into organic forms; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer. This reliance on soil-available nitrates and ammonium means its growth and physiological vigor are heavily dependent on the nitrogen content of the substrate rather than internal fixation processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dracaena cinnabari has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 2,4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone, 2-Hydroxychalcone.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Neoplasma

2,4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

2-Hydroxychalcone

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Dracaena cinnabari has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, infections, influenza virus type A, lung cancer, oral cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Die Pharmazie

Infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Influenza virus type a

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Lung cancer

1. Die Pharmazie

Oral cancer

1. Archives of oral biology

Squamous cell carcinoma

1. Archives of oral biology

Preparations

Dracaena cinnabari has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts, crude extracts, gum resin, methanolic extract, resin extract.

Methanol extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Crude extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gum resin

1. World journal of gastroenterology

Methanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Resin extract

1. Archives of oral biology