( 2053 ) 



Dracjena ferrea. Purple Dragon-tree, 



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Class and Order. 

 Hexandria Monogynia. 



Generic Character. 



Cor. 6-partita, erecta. Filam. medio subcrassiora. Bacca 

 trilocularis, 1-sperma. 



Specific Character and Synonyms. 



Dracaena ferrea; arborea. foliis lanceolatis acutis. Willd. 



Sp. PL 2. p. 157. Hort. Kew. ed. alt 2. p. 277. 



Persoon Syn. 1. 371. . 



Dracaena terminalis ; herbacea, caulescens folns lanceolatis. 



Willd. Sp. PL 2. p. 157. Jacq. Collect 2. p. 3M.ic 2. 



t 448 Redoute liliac. 91. Persoon Syn. I. p. Sid. 

 Asparagus terminalis; inermis, foliis alternis lanceolatis 



petiolatis, racemo terminah composito. Sp. PL 4oU. 

 Terminalis. Rumph. Amb. 4. p. 79. t 34. 



Descr. Stem arboreous, marked with rings, occasioned 

 by the falling leaves, which continue growing from the ex- 

 tremity only. The germen is three-celled, with several ovula 

 in each cell. The wood is said to become extremely hard, 

 from whence it has acquired the name of Iron-wood. 



Dracjena ferrea and terminalis were long considered as 

 two distinct species, but are now regarded as the same. 



Native of China. Introduced in 1771 by Benjamin 

 Torin, Esq. Flowers in February, March, and April. Our 

 specimen was communicated from the stove of John Walker, 

 Esq. of Arno's Grove, Southgate, in February 1816. 



