Dracaena cinnabari

Botanical Description

Dracaena cinnabari is an evergreen tree with a dense crown growing about 9 metres tall. The tree normally branches freely to form a very distinctive umbrella shape. The tree is particularly valued for the resin obtained from the trunk, which is harvested from the wild and has various uses in medicine, making varnishes, as a cosmetic etc. Dracaena cinnabari is found only on the island of Socotra, off the northeast coast of Africa, where it appears that populations of the tree have been in general decline for some time. Although many trees still remain, regeneration is poor[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. The decline seems to be linked to a gradual drying in the region, plus overgrazing which leads to young plants being eaten[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Currently (2020) this species occupies only 5% of its potential habitats, and over 100 years of normal/typical regeneration is missing. Consequently the tree has been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2004)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].