THE DRAC^NA FAMILY 



DRAC^NACE^ Link 



i HIS family consists of lo or 12 genera, with about 115 species of shrubby 

 or tree-like plants, with a woody stem sometimes sparingly branched, 

 occurring in the warmer regions of both hemispheres. They have 

 little economic value; some of the Yuccas yield an inferior fiber and 

 edible fruits of very poor quality, and the roots of some are also used as soap. 

 The Dragon tree, Dracana Draco, of the Canary islands, a large and pecuUar 

 tree, is said to have been of great importance to the ancient Egyptians, as the red 

 resinous exudation is supposed to have been used by them in the process of mum- 

 mifying their dead; under the name of Dragon's blood it was used medicinally 

 in the form of plasters and other apphcations. The Dragon's blood of the present 

 time, however, is derived from some East Indian palms. Many species of Dracana 

 are great favorites in our conservatories, on account of their beautiful and often 

 gorgeously colored foliage. 



The DraccenacecR have very numerous alternate, long, narrow, firm, stiff leaves, 

 often with thread-like filaments on the margin, sometimes finely toothed. The 

 flowers are in racemes or panicles, on terminal scapes or scape-hke stems; their 

 perianth, consisting of 6 quite similar divisions, is usually white; stamens 6, their 

 filaments distinct, but sometimes partially joined to the perianth ; anthers 2-celled. 

 The pistil consists of 3 united carpels; the ovary is superior, i- to 3-celled; ovules 

 2 to many in each cavity; styles united, sometimes very short or obsolete, usually 

 evident on the fruit, which is a dehiscent capsule, or indehiscent and berry-like. 

 Our arborescent genera are: 



Divisions of the perianth distinct or but very shghtly united at the base; 

 stamens sHghtly attached to the base of perianth. 

 Perianth-segments thickened, mostly inflexed; style wanting. i. Clistoyucca. 



Perianth-segments thin and petaloid, spreading at night; style present. 2. Yucca. 



Divisions of the perianth united into a short tube at the base; stamens inserted 



on its throat. 3. Samuela. 



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