Dracaena mannii
Baker
Asparagaceae
Dracaena nitens Welw. ex Baker
Dracaena perrottetii Baker
Dracaena pseudoreflexa Mildbr.
Dracaena reflexa nitens (Welw. ex Baker) Baker
Dracaena thomsoniana Veitch ex Mast. & Moore
Dracaena usambarensis Engl.
Draco mannii (Baker) Kuntze
Draco perottetii (Baker) Kuntze
Pleomele heudelotii N.E.Br.
Pleomele mannii (Baker) N.E.Br.
Pleomele nitens (Welw. ex Baker) N.E.Br.
Pleomele perrottetii (Baker) N.E.Br.
Pleomele usambarensis (Engl.) N.E.Br.
Common Name: Asparagus Tree
Fruiting tree growing in Mozambique - there is also another plant climbing into the tree
Photograph by: Ton Rulkens
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
Fruiting tree growing in Mozambique - there is also another plant climbing into the tree
Photograph by: Ton Rulkens
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
General Information
Dracaena mannii is a variable, evergreen plant, ranging in habit from a shrub to a tall tree that can occasionally reach up to 30 metres tall[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The bole is usually unbranched, although the plant often forms several boles from near the ground, The plant is also sometimes stilt-rooted. The leaves are up to 50cm long, borne in a rosette at the apex of the bole; the terminal inflorescence bearing fragrant, greenish to creamy white flowers[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
A multipurpose tree, it is often harvested from the wild for a range of local uses and is sometimes cultivated as a living fence to protect crops and as an ornamental[
,
].
Dracaena mannii has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major
threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Kenya, south to Angola, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
Habitat
Lowland, submontane and montane moist forests in Tanzania[
]. Forest edges, in open gaps and on river banks in moist forest and swamp forest, at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in tropical and subtropical climates, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,800 metres. In Tanzania it grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Thrives in a variety of soil types[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
]..
Edible Uses
Young leaves and sprouts - cooked and eaten as vegetable[
]. The young shoots are eaten like asparagus, whilst young leaves are chopped and cooked with rice or beans[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
]. Mainly seen as a food for use when better foods are not available[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Medicinal
The ash of the plant is used as a vermifuge[
].
The roots are washed, chopped and soaked in cold water. The infusion is used to treat stomach-ache, gonorrhoea and chest pains[
,
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
The leaves are chopped, boiled and the decoction drunk to treat chest pains and mental illness[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree is often cultivated as living fence in Africa[
,
].
Other Uses
A soap is produced from the leaves[
].
A light-coloured dye is produced from the trunk[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
].
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings. Dracaena species are generally easy to propagate. Only a small piece of the plant is required to form a new plant, and even when thrown away it may easily root[
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
