Dracaena mannii Baker or small-leaved dragon tree, is a small to medium-sized tree, though recorded up to 30 m tall with stem to 2 m in diameter in Cameroon and Gabon. It occurs from Senegal to Angola along the African west coast, is widespread in tropical Africa and is found along the African east coast from Kenya to Kosi Bay in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It prefers lowland, submontane and montane forests which are either moist and evergreen, swampy or on coastal dunes. It is also found along forest edges, in clearings and on river banks from sea level to 1,800 metres. It is one of some 120 species currently recognised in its genus, which occur primarily in Africa and southern Asia with a single vagrant species in Central America.[2] The species is named after Gustav Mann (1836–1916), a German botanist, who corresponded with John Gilbert Baker.
This species is evergreen, single-stemmed or much branched from near the ground, sometimes stilt-rooted,[3] and has linear to narrowly oblong-elliptic leaves with numerous parallel nerves, up to 400 x 20 mm, mostly in terminal clusters, clasping the stem for half its circumference (half-amplexicaul). Flowers are in terminal spikes or panicles (racemose to paniculate), cream or pure white in colour, yellow-green on the outside, and sweetly fragrant when opening at night. The fruit is some 30 mm in diameter, berry-like, brown at first turning bright red when ripe.[4] Bark is white, papery and smooth, with prominent, crescent-shaped leaf scars. Old bark is smooth and grey, and longitudinally fissured, producing resin when damaged.[5]
Substances have been isolated from this species that inhibit fungal growth and the development of bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. It is also used against nausea and vomiting, parasitic infections, both cutaneous and subcutaneous, swelling, oedema and gout, mouth sores, worms, lung ailments. Extracts of leaves containing glycosides, saponins and steroids are used against pain, and bark extracts as an arrow-poison, while leaf-ash is used in the making of soap. Pulverised roots are soaked in cold water and the infusion is used against stomach-ache, gonorrhoea and chest pains.
^Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Dracaena mannii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T149352222A149505439. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T149352222A149505439.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^. African Biodiversity Conservation and Innovation Center. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
External linksedit
SANBI distribution map
May 03, 2024
dracaena, mannii, baker, small, leaved, dragon, tree, small, medium, sized, tree, though, recorded, tall, with, stem, diameter, cameroon, gabon, occurs, from, senegal, angola, along, african, west, coast, widespread, tropical, africa, found, along, african, ea. Dracaena mannii Baker or small leaved dragon tree is a small to medium sized tree though recorded up to 30 m tall with stem to 2 m in diameter in Cameroon and Gabon It occurs from Senegal to Angola along the African west coast is widespread in tropical Africa and is found along the African east coast from Kenya to Kosi Bay in northern KwaZulu Natal It prefers lowland submontane and montane forests which are either moist and evergreen swampy or on coastal dunes It is also found along forest edges in clearings and on river banks from sea level to 1 800 metres It is one of some 120 species currently recognised in its genus which occur primarily in Africa and southern Asia with a single vagrant species in Central America 2 The species is named after Gustav Mann 1836 1916 a German botanist who corresponded with John Gilbert Baker Dracaena mannii Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Monocots Order Asparagales Family Asparagaceae Subfamily Nolinoideae Genus Dracaena Species D mannii Binomial name Dracaena manniiBaker Synonyms Dracaena gazensis Rendle 1911 Dracaena nitens Welw ex Baker 1878 Dracaena perrottetii Baker 1874 Dracaena perrottetii var minor Baker Dracaena pseudoreflexa Mildbr 1910 Dracaena reflexa var nitens Welw ex Baker Baker Dracaena thomsoniana Veitch ex Mast amp Moore Dracaena usambarensis Engl 1894 Draco mannii Baker Kuntze Draco perottetii Baker Kuntze Pleomele gazensis Rendle N E Br Pleomele heudelotii N E Br Pleomele mannii Baker N E Br Pleomele nitens Welw ex Baker N E Br Pleomele perrottetii Baker N E Br Pleomele usambarensis Engl N E Br This species is evergreen single stemmed or much branched from near the ground sometimes stilt rooted 3 and has linear to narrowly oblong elliptic leaves with numerous parallel nerves up to 400 x 20 mm mostly in terminal clusters clasping the stem for half its circumference half amplexicaul Flowers are in terminal spikes or panicles racemose to paniculate cream or pure white in colour yellow green on the outside and sweetly fragrant when opening at night The fruit is some 30 mm in diameter berry like brown at first turning bright red when ripe 4 Bark is white papery and smooth with prominent crescent shaped leaf scars Old bark is smooth and grey and longitudinally fissured producing resin when damaged 5 Contents 1 Ethnic uses 2 Gallery 3 References 4 External linksEthnic uses editSubstances have been isolated from this species that inhibit fungal growth and the development of bacteria such as Escherichia coli Enterococcus faecalis Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus It is also used against nausea and vomiting parasitic infections both cutaneous and subcutaneous swelling oedema and gout mouth sores worms lung ailments Extracts of leaves containing glycosides saponins and steroids are used against pain and bark extracts as an arrow poison while leaf ash is used in the making of soap Pulverised roots are soaked in cold water and the infusion is used against stomach ache gonorrhoea and chest pains Young leaves and sprouts are cooked and eaten as a vegetable or with rice and beans Found in Kenya Tanzania Senegal Gambia South Africa Mozambique Zimbabwe Ivory Coast Gabon Cameroun and Nigeria it may be propagated from seed leaf cuttings rhizomes or suckers 6 Ripe fruits are used as a fish poison Gallery edit nbsp nbsp nbsp References edit Botanic Gardens Conservation International BGCI IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group 2019 Dracaena mannii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T149352222A149505439 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2019 2 RLTS T149352222A149505439 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Dracaena The Plant List Dracaena mannii Useful Tropical Plants Database Dracaena mannii Flora of Mozambique Dracaena mannii eMonocot Dracaena mannii African Biodiversity Conservation and Innovation Center Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 External links editSANBI distribution map Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dracaena mannii amp oldid 1183459377, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
