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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.
Large-leaved dragon tree | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asparagaceae |
Subfamily: | Nolinoideae |
Genus: | Dracaena |
Species: | D. aletriformis
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Binomial name | |
Dracaena aletriformis | |
Synonyms | |
Dracaena hookeriana K.Koch [family DRACAENACEAE] |
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 Limpopo. [2] They are also found in Eswatini, [2] but are most common in the coastal and dune forests of KwaZulu-Natal. [3]
This plant has 8 synonyms. [1] In the APG III classification system, the genus Dracaena is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the family Ruscaceae). [4] 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). [2]
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 metres (13 ft) tall. The flowers are produced on a much branched flowering head. The flowers are silvery-white and described as sweetly or strongly scented. [3] [2] The two-lobed berry-like fruit ripen to a reddish-orange colour.
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. [2] Snails and the larvae of the Bush Night Fighter butterfly, Artitropa erinnys, feed on the leaves. [2] [5] Birds and mice nest among the leaves of these plants. [3]