Dracaena - Dorasena

Japanese: ドラセナ - どらせな

A shrub or tree of the Agavaceae family (APG classification: Asparagaceae). There are about 40 species distributed mainly in tropical Africa, and there are many varieties. It is easy to cultivate and is a representative ornamental plant. It is often confused with Cordyline (Dracaena) because of the similar leaf shape, and the two are sometimes collectively called Dracaena. The representative species is Deremensis Warneckii, which is 3 to 4.5 meters tall and has dense, long, sword-shaped leaves on a green background with milky white vertical stripes. The fragrans is larger than this, and can grow to over 6 meters tall, with a thick stem and long, wide leaves. The Concinnae has extremely long, thin leaves with red edges on both sides. It is 1.5 to 2 meters tall. The Sanderiana has short, wide leaves similar to the Concinnae. It is 2 to 3 meters tall. Godsefiana has leaves with a different shape than those mentioned above. It has several thin stems that grow from the base of the plant, and its leaves are rounded and have yellowish-white spots. In addition to these, there is another Dracaena species, Draco, whose Japanese name is Ryuketsuju (dragon's blood tree). This tree grows to a height of about 20 meters and is famous for being a long-lived tree.

[Ichiro Sakanashi May 21, 2019]

Cultivation

Small varieties should be planted in 4-5 size pots, medium varieties in 5-8 size pots, and large varieties in 10 size pots or larger. Keep in the shade from late spring to early fall, and give plenty of water in midsummer. In winter, keep at 12°C or higher, and those with vivid variegation should be grown at 15°C or higher. Propagation occurs in June and July by layering, or by inserting a stem with leaves removed or laying it down.

[Ichiro Sakanashi May 21, 2019]

Dracaena deremensis Warnecki
The Japanese name is Shiroshima Sennenboku. It has densely packed, long, sword-shaped leaves with milky white vertical stripes on a green background. ©Shogakukan ">

Dracaena deremensis Warnecki

Dracaena fragrans
Dracaena fragrans Massangeana (Japanese name: Shima Sennenboku). It grows to a height of over 6m, with thick stems and long, wide leaves. ©Shogakukan ">

Dracaena fragrans

Dracaena concinna
Dracaena concinna tricolor (Japanese name: Benifukurinsennenboku). The leaves are extremely long and thin, with both edges turning red. ©Shogakukan ">

Dracaena concinna

Dracaena godsefiana
The Japanese name is Hoshisennenboku. The leaves are rounded and have yellowish-white spots. ©Shogakukan ">

Dracaena godsefiana

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

リュウゼツラン科（APG分類：キジカクシ科）の低木ないし高木。熱帯アフリカを中心に約40種分布し、多くの変種があり、栽培もしやすく、観葉植物の代表的存在である。葉姿がよく似るのでセンネンボク（コルディリネ）と混同され、両者をあわせてドラセナ類とよぶことがある。代表種はデレメンシス・ワーネッキーで、高さ3～4.5メートル、茎に細長い剣状の葉が密生し、葉は緑色地に乳白色の縦縞(たてじま)の斑(ふ)が入る。これよりも大形になるものにフラグランスがあり、高さ6メートル以上で、茎も太く、葉も長くて幅広いものがある。葉がきわめて細長いものにはコンシンネがあり、葉の両縁が赤色となる。高さは1.5～2メートル。葉姿がコンシンネに似る品種に、葉が短く、葉幅が広いサンデリアーナがある。高さ2～3メートル。葉姿が前記のものと違うものにゴッドセフィアナがある。これは株元から細い茎が数本株立ちとなり、葉は丸みがあり、斑点(はんてん)状に黄白色の斑が入る。ドラセナの仲間はこれらのほかに、和名リュウケツジュ（竜血樹）とよばれるドラーコがある。これは高さ20メートルほどになり、樹齢の長い木として有名である。

［坂梨一郎　2019年5月21日］