Dracaena transvaalensis
(Wolkberg dragon-tree)
Wolkberg-drakeboom [Afrikaans]; photsoloma [North
Sotho]; Tshila-mbila [Venda]
Life
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> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales
> Family: Asparagaceae > Genus:
Dracaena
A shrub or small tree with a main stem
terminating in a rosette of elongate erect leaves, 30-50 cm long.
For a Dracaena it is unusual in growing in a fairly arid,
open habitat, with its distribution limited to the dry bushveld
escarpment of northern Mpumalanga and southern Limpopo provinces in
South Africa.
Identification
- Shrub or small tree, 2-5 m high.
- Leaves are greyish-green, leathery and strap-like, 30-50 cm
long by 3-6 cm wide, have a prominent midrib, and tend to be
erect not drooping.
- Bark is whitish to light brown with leaf scars.
- Flowers in sprays 15-20 cm long, greenish-white to cream and
20-25 cm long. They are sweet-smelling and open at night.
- Fruit are usually two lobed and are orange when mature.
Distribution and habitat
Distribution is limited to the escarpment in
northern Mpumalanga and southern Limpopo provinces, South Africa.
Unusual for a species of Dracaena in that it grows in arid
areas, on rocky mountain slopes and in open ravines.
Ecological interactions
- As the flowers are sweet-smelling and open at night, it is
likely that they are pollinated by moths, but there is no
evidence to support this.
Phenology
- Flowers from January to March.
- Fruits from March to June.
Uses
References
- Palgrave, K.C. and Palgrave, M.C. 2002. Trees of Southern Africa.
3rd Edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
- Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., McCleland, W. and Burrows, J.E.
2002. Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park.
Jacana, Johannesburg.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
