DRACAENA TAMARANAE

This member of the Dracaenaceae* family was given this name by Águedo Marrero Rodríguez, R.S.Almeira and Manuel González-Martín in 1998. It is found in the dry south-western of Grand Canaria, Canaries Island, growing in a well drained soil and cracks on rocky hills with some water and lots of sun. The stem can grow to 30 centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to eight or even ten centimetres in height. The flowers are white. Especially young plants are real choppy, but they tend to be slim by age. It was earlier believed to be Dracaena draco, but recent studies reveals it is a separate species with its ribbed leaves, and more bluish and greyish colour, even in juvenile specimens. The inflorescence is more branched with slightly different flowers. The fruits and seeds are slightly smaller. After the first flowering, it will start branching. The main branches are divided into three from the apex (trichotomous branching), whereas those of the D. draco. always separate into two. It is only found on the south-western Gran Canaria, from the Amurga cliffs in Barranco de Fataga to Mesa del Junquillo in Barranco de la Aldea.

The genera name from Latin; drago; a female dragon. The species name from Tamarán, an aboriginal name attributed to Gran Canaria.