DRACAENA

Dracaena Vand. ex L., Mant. Pl. 9. 1767.

196 species

Dracaena angolensis

Dracaena angolensis (Welw. ex Carriere) Byng & Christenh., Global Fl. 4: 64. 2018; Sansevieria angolensis Welw. ex Carriere Rev. Hort. (Paris) 447. 1861; S. cylindrica Bojer ex Hook., Bot. Mag. 85: t. 5093. 1859; Cordyline cylindrica (Bojer ex Hook.) Britton, Bot. Porto Rico 5: 150. 1923.

Perennial stemless, evergreen, erect herb, from thick rhizome, often stoloniferous; scapigerous. Leaves basal in rosette, rosette distichous with 3-4 or more leaves, erect; blades solid, cylindrical, gradually tapering, rounded in T. S., rigid with ridges and grooves, 80-120 cm long and ca. 2 cm in diameter, green with dark green vertical stripes and horizontal grey-green bands.

Inflorescence spike-like, 60-90 cm long, axillary (arising from axils of bracts at the base of plant), bracts 7-15 cm x ca. 3 cm, brown. Flowers 2.5-4 cm long, tubular, delicate, greenish-white tinged with pink and lightly fragrant; bracts ca. 3 cm long, linear-lanceolate. (Flowers not observed)

Common Names: Elephant’s Toothpick, African Spear, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Bow String Hemp, Spear Sansevieria, Saint Barbara Sword