DRAGON’S BLOOD TREE

Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari) is a very rare tree species that
originated from the Socotra archipelago, which is a small island of four islands in the
middle of the Indian Ocean. Dragon’s blood tree can be found in the islands of
Socotra and surrounding areas, including the land of Yemen This tree was discovered
by Professor Issac Bayley Balfour in 1880.This plant is also known as Suji Socotra
and Dragon’s Blood Tree (Suji Blood). This tree is dubbed so because of the red sap
produced by this plant.

This tree is shaped like a mushroom or a giant umbrella. The roots of this tree
are monocots, but do not have xylem and phloem vessels as in most other plants Like
other monocots, such as palms, the dragon's blood tree grown from the tip of the stem.
The stems and branches of the dragon blood tree are thick and plump, where each
branch is repeatedly divided into two parts. Some trees have a more rounded crown
than others and remind us of giant mushrooms and not umbrellas. The leaves are
shaped like swords, hard, and clustered on the tree. Its are found only at the end of the
youngest branch. Their leaves are spilling every three or four years before new leaves
simultaneously matured. The small fruits produced, generally eaten by the birds, then
spread the seed to another place

Dragon’s Blood Tree is not like any other tree. It has a unique and strange
appearance.Trees generally have white sap. But in the Dragon’s Blood Tree, the sap is
red like blood and is usually referred to as dragon's blood if slashed. This dragon's
blood tree contains a red resin, which has been used for various purposes throughout
history . This red sap, will be dried and then used as a medicine or dye. While Socotra
residents still use it as a panacea, this sap is widely used in the West Country as a red
varnish for violin dyes and also used in the photography process. Dragon’s Blood Tree
is grown in a dry area and can live more than 300 years.

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classifies the status of

the "vulnerable" tree of dragon’s blood trees. While there may be several factors that
make the population at risk, the main one is believed to be climate change.. Another
problem is the increasing number of development on the island, especially the creation
of highways, as well as the increasing number of visitors. When combined with
climate change, human activity may now have a significant effect on the dragon’s
blood tree population. Researchers are trying to change this situation by planting seeds
in a protected area. They also studied life on the island and suggested methods of
conservation.