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Dracaena (From drakaina a female dragon)

(from drakaina, a female dragon; the inspissated juice becomes a powder, like dragon's blood). SYNS. Pleomele, Terminalis. ORD. Liliaceoe. A genus of about thirty-five species of ornamental stove foliage plants, widely dispersed over the tropics. Flowers generally fascicled in panicles, in a few species in dense sessile heads or oblong spikes. The differences between Cordyline and Dracoena (the two genera having been much confused in gardens) reside principally in the fruits, &c. The flowers of Dracoena are generally larger than those of Cordyline, and the cells of the ovary in the latter genus contain many ovules, whilst in Dracoena they generally contain but one. Propagation. Dracaenas, and the large group of plants grown as such, but which properly belong to the genus Cordyline, are easily and rapidly increased by cutting up the stems of old plants, in pieces 1in. or 2in. long, and placing them at any season, in cocoa-nut fibre, or light soil, in the bottom heat of a propagating house. The tops of the plants will strike as cuttings, and the fleshy base of the stem may also be occasionally removed, and utilised for propagation. Young plants are soon obtained from the latter, and from almost every eye of the firm wood that has been cut in pieces and inserted. Cultivation. Although the class of plants under notice belong essentially to the stove, they will keep in good condition in a greenhouse in summer. Many are also well adapted for room or table decoration, particularly those with recurved narrow leaves. Useful sizes for such purposes may soon be obtained, if stove treatment, with plenty of light, be given. A compost of loam and lumpy peat, in equal proportions, with the addition of a little charcoal, will suit them admirably. Dracaenas or Cordylines require but a moderate amount of pot room, in comparison to the size of plant that may be obtained. Pots 5in. or 6in. in diameter are large enough for useful decorative subjects 1ft. or 1 1/2ft. high; and such plants may be potted on into proportionately larger sizes if required for exhibition or for large specimens. Plenty of heat and moisture are requisite when the plants are young, to encourage a vigorous, quick growth. It is not advisable, however, to syringe too much in winter, as the water, lodging in the axils of the leaves, is, at that season, liable to prove injurious. Exposure of the plants to plenty of light is requisite for obtaining the highest development of colour in their leaves. See also Cordyline.

D. arborea (tree-like). fl. greenish, 3/4in. long. May. l. dense, sessile, lorate, 1 1/2ft. to 3ft. long, 2in. to 3in. wide in middle. h. 40ft. Northern Guinea, 1800.

D. cernua (drooping). A synonym of D. reflexa.

D. concinna (neat).* l. narrow, of a sombre green, with purplishred margins; the contracted stalk-like base is also green, with a slight purplish tinge. h. 6ft. Mauritius, 1870. A very useful neat-growing species, with a dwarf, compact habit. (R. G. 1864, 441.) D. cylindrica (cylindrical). fl. white, small; spike cylindrical, sessile, terminating the stem. l. linear-lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate, bright green, spreading. Stem erect, undivided. h. 5ft. West tropical Africa. (B. M. 5846.) D. Draco (Dragon).* Dragon-tree. fl. greenish - white, very small, forming into a large panicle. l. lanceolate-linear, entire, glaucous, disposed in a crowded head. Stem arboreous, simple, or divided at the top, and, when old, becoming much branched, each branch being terminated by a head of leaves. h. 40ft. Canary Islands, 1640. This very fine species is much more graceful and elegant when in a young state than when it becomes old. It can be used very effectively in sub-tropical gardening, and may remain in the open from May to September, inclusive. There are few better ornaments for a conservatory than well-grown specimens of this plant. The famous Dragon-tree of Orotava measured 60ft. in height, and the stem was 15ft. in diameter. (B. M. 4571.) D. elliptica (elliptic). fl. greenish-yellow, rarely solitary, mostly in pedicellate fascicles of threes. March. l. generally spreading, petiolate, coriaceo-membranaceous, elliptical-lanceolate, glossy, acute and mucronate, closely marked with parallel longitudinal lines or striae, full green; petiole grooved, dilated, and amplexicaul at the base. Stem fruticose, 2ft. to 3ft. or more high, terete. h. 2 1/2ft. India, Java, &c. SYN. Sanseviera javanica. There is a pretty variety, maculata (B. M. 4787), having its leaves spotted or blotched with yellow.

D. fragrans (fragrant). fl. very fragrant. April. l. lanceolate, lax. h. 6ft. Tropical Africa, 1768. (B. M. 1081.) D. f. Lindeni (Linden's).* l. deep green, traversed their entire lengths by bands of creamy-white and various shades of yellow; elegantly recurved, lanceolate-acuminate. 1879. This plant forms a highly useful subject for decorative purposes. (I. H. xxvii. 384.) D. Goldieana (Goldie's).* fl. in a dense globose sessile head, 2in. in diameter, surrounded on the outside by a few reduced leaves; perianth white, above 1in. long, with lanceolate spreading segments. l. cordate-ovate, acuminate, with a yellowish-green costa, marbled and irregularly banded with dark green and silvery-grey in alternate straight or furcate bands. West tropical Africa, 1872. A very magnificent ornamental foliage plant, of erect habit, and with closely-set, stalked, spreading leaves. (B. M. 6630.) D. marginata (bordered). l. ensiform, densely rosulate, 1ft. to 1 1/4ft. long by 3/4in. broad, spreading, rigid, green, margined and veined with red. Trunk 4ft. to 5ft. high, 1in. thick, branched. Madagascar. D. phrynioides (Phrynium-like).* l. broadly ovate, acuminate, coriaceous, 6in. to 8in. long, exclusive of the petiole; upper surface very dark green, profusely spotted with pale yellow; under surface paler. Fernando Po, 1863. A very pretty dwarf growing plant, requiring plenty of heat and moisture to cultivate it to perfection. (B. M. 5352.) D. reflexa (reflexed). fl. greenish-yellow, nearly 1in. long, very numerous, disposed in a handsome branching raceme. l. oblanceolate. h. 12ft. to 15ft. Mauritius, 1819. SYN. D. cernua.

D. Saposchnikowi (Saposchnikow's). fl. whitish. Spring. h. 10ft. 1870. A tree-like species, of branching habit, and distinct character. Native country unknown. 1870. (R. G. 705.) D. Smithii (Smith's). fl. in crowded fascicles in the axils of the panicle, and terminating short branchlets, sub-sessile; perianth pale yellow, 1/2in. long. Winter or early spring. l. 3ft. to 4ft. long, forming a spreading rosette on the crown of the stem, slightly recurved, not waved, narrowly ensiform, broadest beyond the middle, acuminate, bright green, striated; midrib indistinct above, very strong and prominent beneath. Stem slender, 15ft. high, hitherto quite unbranched, cylindric, almost smooth. Tropical Africa, 1850. This species is closely allied to D. fragrans. (B. M. 6169.) D. surculosa maculata (spotted sucker).* fl. pale yellowish, small, disposed in a lax globose corymb. l. green, with yellow spots, lanceolate. Old Calabar, 1867. A pretty slender shrub. (B. M. 5662.) D. umbraculifera (umbrella-bearing). l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, about 1in. wide, dark green, very closely set, horizontal, with the ends slightly recurved, giving it the appearance of a table top or umbrella. h. 10ft. Mauritius, 1778. A very peculiar and distinct species. (L. B. C. 289.) Many other plants, usually known as Dracaenas, will be found described under the genus Cordyline.