English/ Common name- Dracaena Tree. African Dragon Tree. Dragon tree.
Local name- Dracaena tree
Botanical name- Dracaena arborea
Appearance- Dracaena Arborea is a slow-growing tropical evergreen tree with an upright habit. When young it usually has a single stem, as it matures it may branch. Its dark green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins, appear as a rosette, are up to 120cm long and 10cm across. With age, its old leaves fall off revealing its stem. Its stem may achieve a diameter of up to 30cm. Its light brown bark is vertically fissured with radial leaf scars. Its small white bell-shaped flowers appear on stems that emerge from its leaves. The red/ orange fruit is in the form of berries.
Origin- Dracaena Arborea, commonly known as Tree Dracaena or African Dragon Tree, is native to tropical West Africa. In its native habitat, it grows as a tropical woodland understory plant. The etymological root of the binomial name Dracaena is derived from the Greek language ‘dracaena’ meaning 'she-dragon’.
Conditions required for growth- Dracaena Arborea should be in a setting where it will have plenty of room to grow. Outdoors these plants grow to be over 10’ – 15’ feet high. Arborea provides an attractive palm tree. If leaves fade overall, it may mean your plant is getting too much direct sunlight.
Uses- Dracaena plants are known for their purifying factors, it's an ideal plant for indoors, Plants remove these pollutants from the air, and one of the most effective among them is dracaena. It can reduce indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon dioxide.
Hazards: Dracaena is toxic to both cats and dogs. Or rather saponin, a chemical compound that is found in the plant, is toxic to them. A dog eating dracaena leaves can result in vomiting (sometimes with and sometimes without blood), diarrhea, weakness, drooling, loss of appetite.
