The Cambodian Dragon Tree (
Dracaena cambodiana) lives in forests in the southern Chinese provinces Yunnan, Guangxi and Hainan. Other populations exist in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Species can be found near sea level up to 300 meters. This species likes dry and sandy soils, and limestone cliffs.
The Cambodian Dragon Tree usually reaches 4 meters in height, although some may eventually become as high as 10 meters. The slender stems are usually branched, with grayish brown bark. Its sword-shaped leaves are crowded at apex of branches. These bright green leaves typically measure 70 centimeters by 3 centimeters. The greenish white or pale yellow flowers are formed in clusters, followed by a berry that is circa 1 centimeter in diameter.
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,
cambodiana, is Latin in origin and means '(from) Cambodia'.
The Cambodian Dragon Tree is listed as an endangered species due to its highly restricted distribution and overexploitation, because of its medicinal, ornamental and ecological values. The problem is that scientific studies have revealed that the dragon's blood - the reddish resin from the Dragon Trees - harvested from The Cambodian Dragon Tree really does have some antimicrobial activity
[1].
[1] Chen et al: Two new antimicrobial flavanes from dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana in Journal of Asian Natural Products Research – 2012
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