Bois de chandelle Dracaena floribunda
Category
- Forests
Description
Dracaena floribunda looks like a small tree, the leaves are grouped into 'floating' rosettes on top of a bare trunk. The crown consists of whorls of thick, green to red leaves. The flowers with abundant plumes, comprise of clusters of thousands of white to yellow flowers resulting in pendulous inflorescences. The fruits are like small berries that turn orange in colour at maturity.
Habitat and ecology
This plant grows on the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion). It is usually found in humid forests but occasionally in intermediate forests. The plant produces many fruit that are dispersed by birds.
Conservation and threats
Dracaena floribunda is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Today this plant is difficult to find in the wild because of habitat lost and the degradation of the native vegetation by exotic species of plants.
The seeds germinate easily, and many seedlings could be found near the mother plants, but the ground is frequently disturbed by wild pigs and the seeds are eaten by deer and rats.
Did you know?
The species name 'floribunda' (profuse) reflects the abundant inflorescences bearing strongly perfumed, white flowers.
