Calamus draco is an Asian species of rattan plant in the family Arecaceae; its native range is from peninsular Thailand to western Malesia.[1][2] It is a source of the red resin known as dragon's blood, which is a pigment with medicinal uses.[3]
| Calamus draco | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Calamoideae |
| Tribe: | Calameae |
| Genus: | Calamus |
| Species: | C. draco
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| Binomial name | |
| Calamus draco | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description edit
Calamus draco has stems in clusters forming individual rattan stems climbing up to 15 m., with sheaths to 30 mm diameter. Leaf fronds are described as cirrate (with a cirrus: extension of the rattan leaf tip armed with grappling hooks), produced from leaf-sheaths, which are bright green, bearing chocolate-coloured indumentum when young: they are 2.5 m long including petiole (up to 300 mm and armed with groups of short lateral spines to 6 mm long); the cirrus is about 1 m long. About 20 regularly arranged leaflets are on each side of the rachis. The mature fruit are more or less ovoid, 28 x 20 mm, covered in 16 vertical rows of scales and may be heavily encrusted with the "dragon's blood".[2]
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References edit
- ^ Willdenow CL (1799) Species Plantarum. Editio Quarta. Berolini [Berlin], ed. 4 2(1): 203.
- ^ a b "Calamus draco Willd". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ Gibbs A; Green C; Doctor VM. (1983). "Isolation and anticoagulant properties of polysaccharides of Typha augustata and Daemonorops species". Thromb. Res. 32 (2): 97–108. doi:10.1016/0049-3848(83)90021-X. PMID 6658717.