Dracaena is a genus of about 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs. The formerly accepted genera Pleomele and Sansevieria are now included in Dracaena. In the APG IV classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. It has also formerly been separated into the family Dracaenaceae or placed in the Agavaceae.
Dracaena hanningtonii, synonym Sansevieria ehrenbergii, is a flowering plant which grows in northeastern and eastern tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It occurs notably in proliferation along the Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania.
Sansevieria is a historically recognized genus of flowering plants, native to Africa, notably Madagascar, and southern Asia, now included in the genus Dracaena on the basis of molecular phylogenetic studies. Common names for the 70 or so species formerly placed in the genus include mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn's tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant and snake tongue. In the APG III classification system, Dracaena is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae. It has also been placed in the former family Dracaenaceae.
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word succulent comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning "juice" or "sap".
Dracaena cinnabari, the Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree, is a dragon tree native to the Socotra archipelago, part of Yemen, located in the Arabian Sea. It is named after the blood-like color of the red sap that the trees produce. It is considered the national tree of Yemen.
Aloe perfoliata, the rubble aloe or mitre aloe, is a hardy creeping aloe, found in rocky, mountainous areas throughout the Western Cape, South Africa.
Aloiampelos, formerly Aloe ser. Macrifoliae is a genus of succulent plants in the subfamily Asphodeloideae, comprising seven species found in Southern Africa. They are typically multi-branched climbing or sprawling shrubs, with long spindly stems and a large woody base on the ground. These characteristics, as well as their soft, narrow, triangular leaves whose lower part ensheathes the stem, make them easy to distinguish.
Dracaena stuckyi, synonym Sansevieria stuckyi, is a species of succulent plant native to Africa including Mozambique, Tanzania, and southern Kenya. It is a member of a group of related Dracaena including Dracaena angolensis and Dracaena pearsonii, that grow upright, cylindrical foliage and are native to dry biomes.
Dracaena eilensis, synonym Sansevieria eilensis, is a species of succulent plant native to a small region of Somalia near the town of Eyl. The species was collected in 1973 by John Lavranos.
Aloe humilis, also known as spider aloe is a species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe. It is endemic to South Africa's Cape Province, and is a low growing, short stemmed aloe with small spines and which grows in dense clusters.
Cheiridopsis pillansii is a species of plant in the genus Cheiridopsis native to South Africa. It is a low-growing succulent with pairs of small, cushion-like leaves that are pale green to purple in color. C. pillansii, sometimes commonly called the "hoof mesemb", forms clumps up to 500 millimetres (20 in) wide.
Dracaena arborescens, synonym Sansevieria arborescens, is a succulent plant native to Kenya and Tanzania.
Dracaena bagamoyensis, synonym Sansevieria bagamoyensis, also known as snake plant is a succulent plant native to Kenya and Tanzania.
Aloe descoingsii is a species of Aloe native to southern Madagascar. Regarded as the smallest Aloe species in the world, it generally reaches a maximum of about 3 inches (7.62 cm) across. With white spotted leaves, A. descoingsii grows via offsets in clumps and sports tiny orange flowers.
Haworthia floribunda is a species of succulent plant in the genus Haworthia native to the Cape Province of South Africa. It grows in rosettes with dark green, lanceolate leaves that curve or twist outward. The leaves may be smooth or, in H. floribunda var. dentata, have small teeth.
Cheiridopsis peculiaris is a species of succulent plant in the genus Cheiridopsis native to South Africa. Its name refers to the peculiar leaf shape compared to other species in its genus. Like other Cheiridopsis it has leaf pairs, but unusually the outer pair grows flat along the ground while the other pair faces toward the sky.
Dracaena hallii is a species of succulent plant native to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Limpopo Province of South Africa. The species was named for Harry Hall, formerly the curator of succulents at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. Commonly known as the "baseball bat" plant, it has extremely thick foliage with a rounded shape and a central channel.
Dracaena singularis is a species of succulent plant in the genus Dracaena native to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Mistakenly placed in the genus Boophane at first, by the 1980s the plant was corrected to be in the genus Sanseviera, until that entire genus was merged with Dracaena. The species is named singularis since at its mature size, it has only a single leaf up to 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) in length, while in a juvenile state it displays small rosettes of several leaves.
Dracaena ballyi is a species of succulent plant native to Kenya and Tanzania. It grows in small rosettes with leaves that have bands of color and sharp tips. Originally collected by Peter Bally in 1963 and long cultivated as a houseplant, it was scientifically described in 2004.
Dracaena aethiopica is a species of succulent plant widely distributed in Southern Africa. Its binomial name—aethiopica—refers to its origins in Africa. A highly variable species, it grows in desert or dry shrubland and spreads rhizomatically. The leaves grow in rosettes and may be up to 70 centimetres (2.3 ft) tall. Genetically, this species is most closely related to Dracaena ballyi. In Africa, this species has been used to augment poisons for hunting and fishing purposes.
