Dracaena ovata

Dracaena ovata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Nolinoideae
Genus:	Dracaena
Species:	D. ovata
Binomial name
Dracaena ovata Ker Gawl.
Synonyms[1]
Cordyline ovata (Ker Gawl.) Planch. Draco ovata (Ker Gawl.) Kuntze Dracaena afzelii Baker Dracaena prolata C.H.Wright Dracaena sessiliflora C.H.Wright Draco afzelii (Baker) Kuntze Pleomele afzelii (Baker) N.E.Br. Pleomele prolata (C.H.Wright) N.E.Br. Aletris pumila Donn

Dracaena ovata is a shrub or small tree within the family Asparagaceae.

Description

The species grows up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall. The stem is commonly yellowish brown in color and is fibrous when young with prophylls often present.[2] Its leaves are arranged in whorls, petiole is present and up to 4 millimetres (0.16 in); leaves are ovate to obovate in outline, can reach up to 28 centimetres (11 in) long and 8 centimetres (3 in) wide, base is cuneate while apex is acuminate. Inflorescence is terminal racemes, up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long with white flowers.[2] The fruit is globular in shape, and up to 25 millimetres (1 in) in diameter, green when young and yellow and orange when ripe.[3]

Distribution

The species occurs in West Africa, from Sierra Leone westwards to Southern Cameroon.[2]

References

1. "Dracaena ovata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
2. Bos, J.J. (1984). Dracaena in West Africa (PhD thesis). Wageningen University.
3. Bongers, F.; Poorter, L.; Hawthorne, W. D. (2004), Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.; Kouamé, F. N'.; Hawthorne, W. D. (eds.), "The forests of Upper Guinea: gradients in large species composition.", Biodiversity of West African forests: an ecological atlas of woody plant species (1 ed.), UK: CABI Publishing, p. 217, doi:10.1079/9780851997346.0041, ISBN 978-0-85199-734-6