Dracaena reflexa

Dracaena reflexa
	Dracaena reflexa on Réunion
Systematics
	Monocots
Order :	Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family :	Asparagaceae (Asparagaceae)
Subfamily :	Nolinoideae
Genre :	Dragon trees ( Dracaena )
Type :	Dracaena reflexa
Scientific name
	Dracaena reflexa
	Lam.

Dracaena reflexa is a species of dragon tree ( Dracaena ) in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The specific epithet reflexa (Latin reflexus) means turned backwards, curved backwards.

description

The plant forms a stem, often branching with multiple stems. It can be about 4 to 5 m high, rarely up to 6 m. As a houseplant, however, it remains significantly smaller. Dracaena reflexa is relatively slow-growing. The leaves of Dracaena reflexa have an inverted lanceolate shape and are about 12 to 16 cm long. The leaves are leathery and green and 1.5 to 5 cm wide at the base.

The small flowers are white and have racemose inflorescences.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 38, 40 or 42.

Systematics and distribution

Native is Dracaena reflexa on Mauritius , Madagascar , Mozambique and several other islands in the Indian Ocean . It is widely used today as an ornamental plant and as a houseplant.

The first description was in 1786 by Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck . Synonyms for Dracaena reflexa Lam. are Dracaena reflexa var. typica H.Perrier (1936), Draco reflexa (Lam.) Kuntze (1891), Lomatophyllum reflexum (Lam.) Bojer (1837) and Pleomele reflexa (Lam.) NEBr. (1914).

The following varieties of Dracaena reflexa are known:

Dracaena reflexa var. Angustifolia : The variety Dracaena reflexa var. Angustifolia has magenta-colored (instead of white) flowers and olive-green leaves. It occurs on islands in the western Indian Ocean.
Dracaena reflexa var. Bakeri (Scott Elliot) H.Perrier : It occurs in southeastern Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Brevituba H.Perrier : It occurs in central Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Condensata H.Perrier : It occurs in south-eastern Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Lanceolata H.Perrier : It occurs in Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Linearifolia Ayres ex Baker : It occurs in Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion.
Dracaena reflexa var. Nervosa H.Perrier : It occurs in Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Occidentalis H.Perrier : It occurs in western and southwestern Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Parvifolia Thouars ex H.Perrier : It occurs in eastern Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Reflexa : It occurs in northeastern Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and Aldabra .
Dracaena reflexa var. Salicifolia (rule) Baker : It occurs in Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Subcapitata H.Perrier : It occurs in eastern Madagascar.
Dracaena reflexa var. Subelliptica H.Perrier : It occurs in eastern Madagascar.

use

In Madagascar, the plant is a medicinal plant in traditional medicine.

proof

literature

Rob Herwig: House Plants. The complete guide for living with green , Lexicographical Institute, Munich, 1987; Book no. 04652-4.

Individual evidence

^ Tropicos. [1]
^ Encyclopédie Méthodique: Botanique . Volume 2, Paris 1786, p. 324 (online) .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Dracaena - data sheet at World Checklist of Selected Plant Families of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on September 16, 2016.

Web links

Commons : Dracaena reflexa - collection of images, videos and audio files

[Tropicos-1] Tropicos. [1]

[2] Encyclopédie Méthodique: Botanique . Volume 2, Paris 1786, p. 324 (online) .

[WCSP-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Dracaena - data sheet at World Checklist of Selected Plant Families of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on September 16, 2016.