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| Large-leaved dragon tree | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
| Genus: | Dracaena |
| Species: | D. aletriformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dracaena hookeriana K.Koch | |
Dracaena aletriformis is commonly known as the large-leaved dragon tree. These plants are found in forest in the eastern areas of South Africa from Port Elizabeth to northern and eastern Gauteng. They are also found in Swaziland, but are most common in the coastal and dune forests of KwaZulu-Natal.
Taxonomy
This plant has 8 synonyms. In the APG III classification system, the genus Dracaena is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae).) It has also been placed in the Agavaceae (now the subfamily Agavoideae) and the Dracaenaceae. Like many lilioid monocots, it was formerly placed in the family Liliaceae (lily family).
Description
Single stemmed or branched (usually at the base). The leaves are large and strap-shaped in rosettes at the tips of the stem/s. The leaves are leathery, shiny, and dark green, with whitish margins. These plants may grow up to 4 m tall. The flowers are produced on a much branched flowering head. The flowers are silvery-white and described as sweetly or strongly scented. The two-lobed berry-like fruit ripen to a reddish-orange colour.
Ecological significance
The flowers open from late afternoon to early morning and attract night-active pollinator moths. Birds eat the fruit; helping to remove the orange pulp which contains a growth inhibitor that otherwise slows germination of the seeds. Snails and the larvae of the Bush Night Fighter butterfly, Artitropa erinnys, feed on the leaves. Birds and mice nest among the leaves of these plants.
Gallery
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A group of D. aletriformis in dune vegetation.
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Fruit of D. aletriformis.
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Surrounded by Isoglossa woodii in dune vegetation.
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A young specimen.
References
- ^ permanent dead link] Dracaena aletriformis (Haw.) Bos {{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Aluka
- ^ Viljoen, C. (2003). Dracaena aletriformis, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
- ^ Pooley, E. (1993)
- Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L.; Fay, M.F. (2009), "A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 132–136, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00999.x
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|lastauthoramp=ignored (|name-list-style=suggested) (help) - Williams, M. (1994).
Bibliography
- Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Dracaena aletriformis |
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| Yucca aletriformis | |