Dracaena trifasciata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sansevieria trifasciata

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 identity is defined by the genus Dracaena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is recorded specifically within Tunisia. Its range extends to the Macaronesian islands, where it can be found on the Canary Islands. The species is also well-represented across West Tropical Africa, occurring in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Furthermore, its documented territory includes the West Tropical African nation of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dracaena trifasciata is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, spanning from lowlands to montane regions. It is commonly found inhabiting diverse terrains within an elevational range that begins at 100 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This wide distribution allows the species to adapt to various microclimates, ranging from warmer, tropical lowland environments to cooler, more temperate high-altitude zones. Its ecological resilience is reflected in its capacity to occupy different niche layers within these varying elevations, often favoring rocky outcrops or semi-arid landscapes where it can manage varying levels of moisture and solar exposure.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dracaena trifasciata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons without completing its cycle in a single year. As a cryptophyte, it maintains its vital organs protected at or below the soil surface, which aids in its survival and long-term establishment. This plant exhibits a geophyte life form, relying on specialized underground structures to store nutrients and endure environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, it maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout the year rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dracaena trifasciata is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous structure, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking any climbing or vining tendencies, and functions as an independent species without parasitic behavior. It is a terrestrial plant, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, maintaining a stable growth habit on land. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.8 m, presenting a compact and sturdy physical form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dracaena trifasciata is characterized by its specific metabolic and morphological adaptations, utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate energy production. Morphologically, the plant features elliptic leaf forms that vary significantly in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 175 cm. The width of these leaves is similarly variable, measuring between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 9 cm. Despite its robust appearance, the species does not exhibit succulence and lacks the biological capacity to function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

175 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dracaena trifasciata is characterized by the production of a spike-type inflorescence, which typically measures between 0.3 m and 0.5 m in length. The flowering period generally commences in May and concludes in September. During this time, the plant produces small, white flowers that are arranged along the spike. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The dispersal of the seeds follows an anthropochorous syndrome, indicating that they are spread through human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

berry

Inflorescence :

spike

Inflorescence length max:

0.5 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.3 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dracaena trifasciata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
3. Drug and chemical toxicology
4. Indian journal of pharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Dracaena trifasciata has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Glycosides, Tannins, Terpenoids, (25S)-Ruscogenin.

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
3. Drug and chemical toxicology

Glycosides

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Drug and chemical toxicology

Tannins

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Drug and chemical toxicology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Drug and chemical toxicology

(25S)-Ruscogenin

1. Dr. Duke

ANTHRAQUINONE

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Abamagenin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

D-xylose

1. Dr. Duke

Digiprolactone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Dracaena trifasciata has 68 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Androgenic, Angiogenic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Anorexic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of pharmacology

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadenomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiandrogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Indian journal of pharmacology

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Cervix)

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Dracaena trifasciata has 11 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Prain, Prain Fraction, ethanolic leaf extract, extracts, fractions.

Prain

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Prain fraction

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic leaf extract

1. Indian journal of pharmacology

Extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fractions

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydrogels

1. Natural product research

Isolates

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf aqueous extract (stlae)

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Leaf extract

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Leaves

1. Acta biochimica Polonica