Dracaena goldieana, or queen of Dracaenas,[2] is a tropical shrub in the genus Dracaena, native to Central Africa and Nigeria.[1] It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, valued for its richly variegated foliage.[3]

Dracaena goldieana
From L'Illustration Horticole, 1878, Vol. 25: Revue Mensuelle Des Serres Et Des Jardins (Plate 300)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Dracaena
Species:
D. goldieana
Binomial name
Dracaena goldieana
Bullen ex Mast. & T.Moore 1872[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Draco goldieana (Bullen ex Mast. & T.Moore) Kuntze 1891
  • Pleomele goldieana (Bullen ex Mast. & T.Moore) N.E.Br. 1914

Description

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Dracaena goldieana is a small, rhizomatous understory shrub or subshrub growing to 30–60 cm high with a slender stem, up to 1 cm in diameter. The ovate leaves, which measure 18–30 cm long and up to 6.5 cm wide, terminate in a filiform (threadlike) mucro. The leaves are dark green, retained along the entire stem, and are variegated with transverse bands of light grey. [4]

The flowers of D. goldieana are sessile, white in colour, and form dense clusters 25-30 mm long.[4]

Distribution

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Dracaena goldieana is native to Nigeria and western Central Africa, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Zaire. It has also been introduced to Trinidad and Tobago.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Dracaena goldieana", Dracaena goldieana Bullen ex Mast. & T.Moore, Plants of the World Online, retrieved 2023-04-22
  2. ^ Pennisi, Svoboda (2008-02-03). "Gardening in containers using tropical plants". Bulletin. 1338: 12. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  3. ^ Sharathkumar, Malleshaiah; Peter, K.V.; Rajeevan, P.K. (June 2017). "Ornamentals for greening". Acta Horticulturae (1165). International Society for Horticultural Science: 52. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1165.7. ISSN 0567-7572. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b Mwachala, Geoffrey (2005-08-10). "Chapter 4. Discussion and Conclusions". Systematics and ecology of Dracaena L. (Ruscaceae) in Central, East and Southern Africa (PhD). Universität Koblenz-Landau, Campus Koblenz, Universitätsbibliothek. Retrieved 2023-04-22.