Socotra dragon tree

Scientific name: Dracaena cinnabari

Officially approvedEntity code: ENT-0049

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Habitat

Where it is found

Socotra has more than 308 endemic plant species, including this tree, while other species of its genus occur in tropical Africa, south-western Arabia, the Canary Islands and Morocco.

SRC-242

According to Kew's World Checklist, the dragon's blood tree is native only to the island of Socotra, which belongs to Yemen.

SRC-403

YemenPresent

Sources (2)

Sources

2Al-Fatimi 2018 — Ethnobotanical Survey of Dracaena cinnabari and Investigation of the Pharmacognostical Properties, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Its ResinSRC-242
4Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. — distribution (World Checklist of Vascular Plants, WCVP)

Ahmad reads the approved sentences themselves, nothing more.

Sources

1Ahmad et al. 2022 — Complete chloroplast genome sequencing and comparative analysis of threatened dragon trees Dracaena serrulata and Dracaena cinnabariSRC-278
2Al-Fatimi 2018 — Ethnobotanical Survey of Dracaena cinnabari and Investigation of the Pharmacognostical Properties, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Its ResinSRC-242
3GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f.SRC-264
4Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f. — distribution (World Checklist of Vascular Plants, WCVP)SRC-403
5Establishment of a two-tiered molecular identification system for Dracaena species - the source plants of dragon's blood (Frontiers in Plant Science)SRC-404

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Latest review

Approved version OWNER-REVIEW-20260930T094148773 · last approved 30 September 2026

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SRC-403

Role in the ecosystem

The resin of the dragon's blood tree has been used for centuries in Socotran folk medicine for skin, dental, eye and digestive complaints, and as a dye in artworks; its red colour comes from flavylium compounds.

SRC-242

Sources (1)

Sources

2Al-Fatimi 2018 — Ethnobotanical Survey of Dracaena cinnabari and Investigation of the Pharmacognostical Properties, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Its ResinSRC-242

Relationships with other living things

According to an assessment based on morphological and ecological traits, the closest relative of the Socotra dragon tree in its genus is the Macaronesian dragon tree (Dracaena draco).

SRC-278

Sources (1)

Sources

1Ahmad et al. 2022 — Complete chloroplast genome sequencing and comparative analysis of threatened dragon trees Dracaena serrulata and Dracaena cinnabariSRC-278

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Socotra dragon tree

Habitat

Where it is found

Sources

Latest review

Where next?

Role in the ecosystem

Relationships with other living things