The Yemen Dragon Tree (
Dracaena serrulata) is also known as the Arabian Dragon Tree. It can be found in Northern Yemen, Oman and southern parts of Saudi Arabia. These Arabian populations are restricted to high altitudes. The trees can survive on only a few drops of mist from the Arabian Sea. The Yemen Dragon Tree forms a sparsely branched crown of several rosettes with many rigid, narrow leaves with toothed (or serrated) margins.
The stem of the Yemen Dragon Tree can eventually grow to 35 centimeters in diameter. On average, the this species of
Dracaena will grow to about five meters, but given perfect conditions, it can reach twelve meters. It differs from other species in its narrow and rigid, glaucous foliage and slower growth.
The first part of its scientific name,
Dracaena, is a feminine form of the Greek word
Drakon and therefore means 'female dragon'. The second part,
serrulata, is from the Latin
serratus 'sawlike, notched like a saw' ultimately from
serra which meant 'a saw'. Specifically,
serrulata means 'little saw', referring to serrated leaf margins.
The Yemen Dragon Tree is an endangered species. In Oman trees on Jabal Samhan, part of a nature reserve, have been severely damaged in the last ten years because of the cutting of leaves for camel fodder. No regeneration is apparent anywhere within its distribution range in Oman.
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