Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

274 DRACAENACEAE
Distribution and
classification
Reproduction
Use
DRACAENACEAE
The family includes trees, sometimes very large, or
shrubs with woody stems (Dracaena) or xerophytic
herbs with rhizomes (Sansevieria). Leaves leathery
to thickly succulent, generally crowded in terminal
rosettes, sometimes in 2 opposite ranks, linear to ovate,
sometimes cylindrical, often containing hard fibres.
Inflorescence axillary, simple or bran ched, racemes or
panicles, sometimes umbel­like. Pedicels articulate,
flowers solitary to densely crowded, often accompanied
by minute bracts and bracteoles. The six tepals are fused
at the base into a short or long tube. Stamens opposite the
tepals, in serted at the throat, filaments usually somewhat
inflated and spindle shaped, anthers versatile. The ovary
is superior, cylindrical to bottle shaped, three­locular
with a single ovule in each locule, style filiform, stigma
capitate to 3­lobed. Fruits usually a berry, globose to
subglobose, 1-3seeded. Seeds globose or flattened.
Dracaenaceae is mainly a tropical family, except one
species, Dracaena draco, which is endemic for the
Canary islands. The family includes 2 genera and 130–
200 species. Both genera (Dracaena and Sansevieria) are
represented in the flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Dracaena
with 5 species and Sansevieria with 6. Some authors treat
these genera as one, but they are kept separately in the
Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, which is followed here.
Due to the strong fragrance emanating from the flowers
during the evening, and the copious production of nectar,
pollination by nocturnal animals is likely.
A number of species of Dracaena and Sansevieria are
used as ornamentals. Some species have variegated
leaves. Some species of Dracaena produce commercially
important resins which are often called Dragon’s blood.