The Dragon tree
If I were in charge of promoting tourism in Yemen, I’d be using the native dragon tree, or Socotra tree, as my mascot. Native to the Socotra Island these unusual trees have evolved in isolation over millions of years.
Dragon trees in the background, Yemen
The Latin name of the endangered Socotra dragon tree or dragon blood tree is Dracaena cinnabari and it is native to the Socotra archipelago of islands in Yemen in the Indian Ocean. It is called a dragon tree due to the red sap that the trees produce.
“If you prick us, will we not bleed?”
Dragon trees bleeding
What is Dragon’s Blood Resin?
The sap is believed to have medicinal purposes: The Socotra tree, also called the Dragon’s Blood tree, holds significant medicinal value, and various parts of the tree have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
One of the primary medicinal uses of the Socotra tree is from its resin, known as Dragon’s Blood. This resin has been prized for its therapeutic properties and is extracted by making incisions in the bark of the tree. Dragon’s Blood has been traditionally used as a healing agent for various skin conditions as it is believed to possess antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making it effective in treating wounds, cuts, and skin infections.
The resin is often applied topically to promote wound healing, reduce inflammation, and prevent infection.
Dragon’s Blood from the Socotra tree has been employed for its anti-inflammatory properties to help alleviate joint pain and arthritis symptoms.
In addition to its external applications, the Socotra tree has been explored for its potential internal medicinal uses. Some studies suggest that compounds found in the tree may have antioxidant properties, offering protection against oxidative stress and contributing to overall health. Scientists say that more research is needed.
Perfect, natural symmetry in the dragon tree
The largest island of Yemen is also called Socotra and it comprises about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago.
Due to its isolation one third of its plant life is found nowhere else in the world. It has been described as “the most alien-looking place on Earth”.
Travelling to Yemen is currently not advised due to the attacks by the houthis on American and allied forces. Do book it down for one of your future bucket list things to do. In good days it not easy getting to Socotra.
This is what the dragon tree looks like when it is completely dried out.
If these dragon trees from Yemen don’t make you want to get out and do something to protect our earth, we don’t know what will.
This photo is a fake. The logs of wood presented show :
i) growth rings (neither Socotran nor Canarian dracaenas show any growth nor annual rings)
ii) lack of pith (central, soft part, often root out) while dracaenas show very thick pith
III) thick bark with deep grooves in its surface (Dracaena bark is thin and scaly
iv) too many straight logs (Socotrans Dracaenas are branching every foot or so)
The sap inside Dracaenas is this, watery and colourless. It gets its redness as it solidifies on contacts with oxygen but this takes weeks if not months to happen. As it solidifies It never flows freely.
By the way, trip to Yemen is a very risky because it is WAR there.
Joe
This article has a few mistakes. The trees do not “bleed” – the inside of the bark is red but hard and is chipped away with a knife. It’s then mixed with water or ground into a powder for various uses. The photo of the bleeding tree is not Dracaena nor is the “dried up” dragon’s blood tree – that’s a desert rose, Adenium obesum 🙂
In fairness to the choppers, the red sap is used as lipstick, the mighty Wikipedia says. So yeah..
I find this whole tree very haunting. I must learn more about it.
Prolly you should apply for a job in the Yemeni tourism promotion & management establishment.
Yes. When the job opens up, I will be there! 😉