This very distinctive tree is native to Socrotra Island, Yemen (Fig. 1) in the Arabian Sea areal, off the northeast corner of Africa. This island is 82 miles long and 31 miles wide. The highest mountain there is 4931 feet. The human population of this island is about 60,000.
Figure 1. Socotra Island, off the northeast corner of Somalia, Africa and southeast of Yemen.
Socotra Island has a large number of endemic species (e.g., 37 percent of its flowers). Also, 90 percent of its reptiles are endemic, and, furthermore, 95 percent of its terrestrial mollusks are endemic. Its mammals are not endemic.
One of the more interesting endemic plants is the “Dragon Blood Tree” (Dracaena clinnabari). These tree have a very distinctive shape and are very slow growing. The average age of trees is about 300 years. Their sap is red and resembles blood. This tree is a threatened species on the island. Although this tree is native to Socrotra, it has also been introduced (spread via humans) to the Canary Islands, Florida, California, Central America, Hawaii, and northern Australia. This tree is very slow growing; it will live for 10-15 years before bearing flowers.
Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Clades (three of them)
Order Asparagales
Family Asparagceae
Genus Dracaena
Type species D. cinnabari
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