Dragon Trees
Dracaena
Dragon trees form part of the Dracaena genus in the family Agavaceae (Dracaenaceae), order Asparagales. There are four main varieties of dragon "tree" some of which look more like a shrub than a tree. These are:
- Dracaena Americana
- Dracaena Arborea
- Dracaena Cinnabari
The Socotra dragon tree - Dracaena Draco
The Canary Islands dragon tree
Dragon Trees grow in arid or semi-desert regions. They have stout trunks which branch upwards and are covered with stiff leaves.
When a branch of a dragon tree is cut off, two new branches will grow in its place. This is reminiscent of the legendary hydra and is the reason for the tree's name.
In the middle ages the dried resin from dragon trees was called "Dragon's Blood" by alchemists.