First report of a strict dragon tree species (Dracaena cambodiana: Asparagaceae) from India

Authors

  • Jatindra Sarma Research, Education and Working Plans, Assam Forest Department
  • Hussain Ahmed Barbhuiya Landscape and Cosmetic Maintenance Section, Architectural and Structural Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
  • Santanu Dey Department of Botany, Nagaland University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v13.i1.849

Keywords:

Dragon blood, Dracaena cambodiana, Critically Endangered, Assam, NE India

Abstract

Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnep., a dragon tree species, is reported here for the first time from India. Its taxonomic relationships with other closely related species of genus Dracaena Vand. ex L. are examined and discussed. A detailed taxonomic description, along with color photographs is provided to facilitate its future identification. Recent surveys confirm that the habitat and regional population of the plant is under severe threat. Hence, following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, it is regionally categorized as Critically Endangered. 

References

Brown, N.E. 1914. Notes on the genera Cordyline, Dracaena, Pleomele, Sansevieria and Taetsia. Kew Bull. 1914:273–279.

Chen, S.C. 1980. Dracaena. In: F.T. Wang & T. Tang, eds. Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Vol. 14. Science Press, Beijing, China. Pp. 273–278.

Chen, X. & N.J. Turland. 2000. Dracaena Vandelli ex Linnaeus. In: Z.Y. Wu & P.H. Raven, eds. Flora of China. Vol. 24 (Flagellariaceae through Marantaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Pp. 73–263.

Damen, T.H.J., W.J. van der Burg, J. Wiland-Szyma?ska, & M.S.M. Sosef. 2018. Taxonomic novelties in African Dracaena (Dracaenaceae). Blumea 63:31–53.

Dang, N.H., P.V. Kiem, C.V. Minh, & T.T. Huong. 2008. Antifungal constituents from the stems of Dracaena cambodiana. J. Chem. 46(4):503–508.

González-Castro, A., D. Pérez-Pérez, J. Romero, & M. Nogales 2019. Unraveling the Seed Dispersal System of an Insular “Ghost” Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco) in the Wild. Front. Ecol. Evol. 7:1–11.

IUCN. 2012a. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1 Second edition. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K.

IUCN. 2012b. Guidelines for application of IUCN Red List Criteria at regional and national levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, U.K.

Karthikeyan, S., S.K. Jain, M.P. Nayar, & M. Sanjappa. 1989. Florae Indicae Enumeratio Monocotyledonae. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India.

Klimko, M., R. Nowi?ska, P. Wilkin, & J. Wiland-Szyma?ska. 2018. Comparative leaf micromorphology and anatomy of the dragon tree group of Dracaena (Asparagaceae) and their taxonomic implications. Pl. Syst. Evol. 304:1041–1055.

Liu, J., H.-F. Dai, J. Wu, Y.-B. Zeng, & W.-L. Mei. 2008. Flavanes from Dracaena cambodiana. Z. Naturforsch. 63b:1407–1410.

Lou, Y., H.-F. Dai, H. Wang, & W.-L. Mei. 2011. Chemical constituents from dragon’s blood of Dracaena cambodiana. Chin. J. Nat. Med. 9(2):0112?0114.

Luo, Y., H. Wang, X. Xu, W. Mei, & H. Dai. 2010. Antioxidant phenolic compounds of Dracaena cambodiana. Molecules 15:8904–8914.

Marrero, A., R.S. Almeida, & M. Gonzalez-Martin. 1998. A new species of the wild dragon tree, Dracaena (Dracaenaceae) from Gran Canaria and its taxonomic and biogeographic implications. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 128:291–314.

Ou, L.C., X.H. Wang, & C.H. Zhang. 2013. Production and characterization of dragon’s blood from leaf blades of Dracaena cambodiana elicited by Fusarium proliferatum. Ind. Crop Prod. 45:230–235.

Sinha, B.K. & S.K. Srivastava. 1996. Genus Dracaena Vandelli ex L. in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 38:14–18.

Shorthouse, D.P. 2010. SimpleMappr, an online tool to produce publication-quality point maps. www.simplemappr.net. Accessed Jan 2019.

The Plant List. 2013. Version 1.1. www.theplantlist.org. Accessed Jan 2019.

Wang, H., H.-M. Jiang, F.-X. Li, H.-Q. Chena, W.-C. Liu, S.-Z. Ren, W.-L. Mei, & H.-F. Dai. 2017. Flavonoids from artificially induced dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana. Fitoterapia 121:1–5.

Wilkin, P., P. Suksathan, K. Keeratikiat, P.V. Welzen, & J. Wiland-Szyma?ska. 2012. A new threatened endemic species from central and northeastern Thailand, Dracaena jayniana (Asparagaceae: tribe Nolinoideae). Kew Bull. 67:697–705.

Zhang, L. & Q.-M. Li. 2010. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in an endangered species Dracaena cambodiana (Liliaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 97:e91-e93.

Zhao, J.-L., L. Zhang, S. Dayanandan, S. Nagaraju, D.-M. Liu, & Q.-M. Li. 2013. Tertiary origin and Pleistocene diversification of dragon blood tree (Dracaena cambodiana-Asparagaceae) populations in the Asian tropical forests. PLoS ONE 8(4):e60102.

Published

2019-07-23

How to Cite

Sarma, J., Barbhuiya, H. A., & Dey, S. (2019). First report of a strict dragon tree species (Dracaena cambodiana: Asparagaceae) from India. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 13(1), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.17348/jbrit.v13.i1.849