Dragon Blood Tree
Dracaena cinnabari
A few times each year I receive calls concerning the identity of the tree growing on the northwest corner of the intersection of North Andrews Avenue and NW 2nd Street. The tree is a Dragon Blood Tree, Dracaena cinnabari, and is the only specimen that I know of in South Florida. I’m sure I’ll be corrected if there are others. For years, I have identified it as Dracaena draco but now I believe it’s actually a Dracaena cinnabari. I don’t know how this tree came to be where it is or its age. One thing that I do know is that it is actually not a tree but a very large succulent plant. Many of you probably have some type of Dracaena in your landscape or home or office. Besides the natural shape, this Dragon Blood Tree has never been ‘shaped’, the other interesting characteristic is that the sap is red and that’s how it derives its common name.
The Dragon Blood Tree is native to to the Socotra archipelago in the Indian Ocean and is sometimes called the Socotra Dragon Tree. Unlike most monocot (palms and grasses) plants, the Dracaenaceae display secondary growth, D. cinnabari even has growth zones resembling tree rings found in dicot tree species. Dragon's blood is used as a stimulant. The root yields a gum-resin, used in gargle water as a stimulant, astringent and in toothpaste. The root is used in rheumatism. The trees can be harvested for their crimson red resin, called Dragon's blood which was highly prized in the ancient world and is still used today. Around the Mediterranean basin it is used as a dye and as a medicine, Socotrans use it ornamentally as well as dying wool, gluing pottery, a breath freshener and lipstick. Because of the belief that it is the blood of the dragon it is also used in ritual magic and alchemy.
The unique flora and fauna of the Socotra Archipelago is considered a World Heritage Site a Global 200 Ecoregion and efforts are being made to protect this and many other species.
Photos are of the Dragon Blood Tree in downtown Fort Lauderdale, taken July 19, 2012.
