Dracaena reflexa

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Dracaena reflexa Lam.
The generic name comes from Greek word drakaina, which means 'dragon's blood'.
Synonyms : Pleomele reflexa (Lam.) N.E. Br.
Common Name : Song-of-India, Pleomele
Plant Family : Agavaceae
Plant Form : Tree
Occurrence (Sectors) : 15, 28
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park

Habit : Naturally it may reach to great height but usually grown as a small houseplant.
Leaves : Simple, spirally arranged, lanceolate, broad at the base, parallel venation, entire margin, grown in tight whorls, uniform dark green.
Flowers : Small, clustered and usually white.
Significance :
- It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and houseplant mainly because of its richly coloured, evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems.
- It is believedto cure malarial symptoms, poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and to be useful as an antipyretic and hemostaticagent.