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Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl. [family DRACAENACEAE]

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2007) Author: Geoffrey Mwachala & Paul Mbugua
Names
Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl. [family DRACAENACEAE], in Bot. Mag.: t. 1081 (1808); Baker in J.B. 12: 165 (1874) & in J.L.S. 14: 529 (1875) & in F.T.A. 7: 440 (1898); T.T.C.L.: 21 (1949); U.O.P.Z.: 236 (1949); F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 3 (1): 157 (1968); Hamilton, Uganda forest trees: 78 (1981); Bos, Dracaena in W Afr.: 69, t. 13, photo 12 (1984); K.T.S.L.: 639 (1994); Bos in Fl. Eth. & Eritr. 6: 77 (1997). Type: Commelin, Hort. Med. Amst. 2: t. 4 f. 2 (1701)
Aletris fragrans L. [family MELANTHIACEAE], Sp. Pl. ed. 2: 456 (1762)
Pleomele fragrans (L.) Salisb. [family DRACAENACEAE], Prodr.: 245 (1796); N.E. Br. in K.B. 1914: 276, 278 (1914)
Sansevieria fragrans (L.) Jacq. [family DRACAENACEAE], Fragm. Bot: 5, t. 2 f.6 (1800)
Cordyline fragrans (L.) Planchon [family AGAVACEAE], Fl. Serres 6: 11, 132, 136 (1851)
Dracaena steudneri Engl. var. kilimandscharica [family DRACAENACEAE], in P.O.A. C: 143 (1895); T.T.C.L.: 21 (1949). Type: Tanzania, Moshi District: Marangu, Volkens 1416 (B, holo.; G, K!, iso.)
Dracaena smithii Hook.f. [family DRACAENACEAE], in Bot. Mag.: t. 6169 (1875); Baker in F.T.A. 7: 440 (1898); F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 3 (1): 156 (1968). Type: specimen cultivated in Kew Gardens, Jan. 1874 (K!, lecto., chosen by Bos)
Dracaena ugandensis Baker [family DRACAENACEAE], in F.T.A. 7: 445 (1898). Type: Uganda, “common in hedges”, Scott Elliot 7264 (K!, holo.)
Dracaena deremensis Engl. [family DRACAENACEAE], in E.J. 32: 95 (1902); T.T.C.L.: 20 (1949); K.T.S.L.: 639 (1994). Type: Tanzania, Lushoto District, Usambara, Handei, Nguelo, Scheffler 67 [protologue says 66?] (B, holo., K!, photo)
Information
Shrub or tree, 1.5–15 m high; stem single, up to 30 cm in diameter, or in forest often with a mass of horizontal stems near the ground from which vertical stems arise. Leaves strap-shaped to oblanceolate, sessile, (7–)20–150 cm long, 2–12 cm wide, base attenuate, widening for 2–5 cm and sheathing the stem, apex acute with subulate mucro. Inflorescence erect, rarely pendent, paniculate, 15–160 cm long; flowers in multiflowered glomerules; pedicels 2–6 mm long, articulated below the middle. Buds purple or pink, flowers with tube white, the lobes white with a fine red to purple line down the centre, darker outside, (15–)17–22(–25) mm long, tube 5–11 mm long, lobes 7–12 mm long, up to 3 mm wide. Fruits bright orange, depressed globose, 11–19 mm in diameter, lobed when several-seeded; seeds white turning brown, globose to bean-shaped, 4–14 mm in diameter.
Range
DISTR. U 2–4; K 1–7; T 1–8 throughout tropical Africa
Altitude range
600–2250 m
Distribution
KENYA North Kavirondo District near Kakamega Forest Station, Dec. 1967, Perdue & Kibuwa 9400!KENYA Kericho District Sotik, Kibajet Estate, Dec. 1947, Bally 5720!KENYA Teita District Kasigau, Rukanga route, 16 Nov. 1994, Luke & Luke 4166!TANZANIA Bukoba District Kagera, Minziro, Feb. 1995, Congdon 413!TANZANIA Tanga District Potwe Forest, Dec. 1960, Semsei 3187!TANZANIA Morogoro District Kanga Mts, 90 km N of Morogoro, Dec. 1987, Mwasumbi & Munyenyembe 13875!UGANDA Toro District Kibale Forest, Sebutole, Feb. 1953, Osmaston 2812!UGANDA Ankole District Igara, Mar. 1939, Purseglove 637!UGANDA Mengo District 14 km on Masaka road, Oct. 1937, Chandler 1942!
Notes
USES. Used for hedges/living fences. CONSERVATION Least concern D. deremensis var. warneckei of T.T.C.L.: 20 (1949) is a cultivar of D. fragrans (L.) Ker- Gawl.; see Bos et al. in Edin. J. Bot. 49(3): 311–331 (1992).
Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker-Gawl. [family DRACAENACEAE]
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