Gory Notes & Shady Deals -Dragon's Blood Tree
Hello and welcome back to another week of Rooted! This week we’re talking about a tree that might just be as interesting in fact as it is in fiction-Dragon’s blood.
The Dragons blood tree, or Dracaena cinnabari, is native to the Socotra archipelago of Yemen- an area known for its biodiversity and unique species.
The Dragons blood tree is kind of a weirdo, even on an island of misfits. It has a long, thick, smooth trunk, and a very densely packed canopy. It really is about as close to an umbrella as a tree can get, with its crooked branches basically touching, i’s evergreen leaves ONLY on the very tips of new growth.
While it might sound bizarre, this is actually a VERY useful adaptation for these plants, which grow on the tops of mountains in very thin poor soil, getting very little water or relief from the constant beating sun. So, having this dense canopy and as few leaves as possible helps to keep the trunk and soil below shaded, while also preventing as much evaporation as possible.
Dragon’s blood trees also put on flowers usually around March, which then become greenish berries that turn black as they age, then to orange when they are ripe. Those berries each have 1-4 seeds, which are typically distributed by the various birds that call these trees home. This is also super handy to them, since the older trees support the seedling by giving them much needed support in their early years.
Speaking of growing, arborous members of the dracaena family have a sort of weird way of doing things. Their leaves and new growth happen ONLY at the end of the branches. They shed all of their leaves every 3-4 years, which is very abnormal for evergreens, especially monocots. Typically leaf shed is more of an annual or not at all situation. And it is because of this that the dragon blood tree does -almost- have growth rings, though they cannot be used to reliably determine the tree's age.
While that might not seem like a big deal, it makes it really hard to track the tree populations and to accurately estimate how long it takes one of these trees to grow from a seedling to maturity, which is more relevant than ever due to climate change.
Dragon’s blood doesn't just LOOK like an umbrella- it’s also a literal umbrella species- meaning that it plays a critical role in supporting other species like birds and rodents that call this tree their home. And other animals and plants that benefit from the shade they provide.
As an umbrella species and symbol of a nation, the effects of climate change on dragons blood are well documented, and a massive consideration for how we react. Currently the biggest issue for them is the change in weather. This plant typically relied on infrequent but steady rainfall without super high winds. However, due to a change in temperature and wind patterns, these trees are now subjected to intense periods of high winds and heavy rains that snap mature trees, followed by intense drought and heat, which kills off saplings that no longer have the support of mature trees.
Another struggle- goats. The goats that live on the archipelago have an insatiable appetite and eat pretty much whatever they want- including the young dragons blood saplings that somehow weather the storms.
This is especially concerning because while we dont know exactly how long it takes for these bad boys to grow, we know it's a pretty long time…like probably a hundred years or so before they can really provide shade or anything. Without a middle generation started, scientists are worried about the future of not just this species, but the health of most species native the archipelago.
Obviously it’s a bit of a bummer, but the good news is that we are working on it.
Now, this whole time you have probably been sitting in suspend wondering- WHY do they call this tree a “Dragon Blood” tree….and well, it’s because they actually bleed. I guess technically all trees kind of bleed- that’s what sap is- but these trees have RED sap that really does look like blood.
This sap is red due to 5 distinct flavonoids, the same flavonoids that are responsible for vibrant fall leaves, and even some of the coloring of our blood.
This blood is obviously what got this tree on the map, with plenty of folklore and pharmacology for us to dig into.
According to greek mythology , there was a vicious serpent- like dragon named ladon- not to be mistaken for Landon, the kid we somehow all had in first grade that was absolutely a biter- Ladon honestly has similar vibes, but is a little bit scared. He had a hundred heads and lived twisted around a tree in the Garden of the Hesperides guarding the golden apples. The dragon was sent by Hera, Queen of Heaven, to protect the sacred fruit that she had offered as gift to Zeus- her no- good scoundrel of a husband who honestly didn’t appreciate this woman enough.
.
Anyway, after a whole lot of affairs and fights, Zeus’s son- The strong, hot-headed Hercules was sent to engage in the dangerous and difficult tasks (the 12 labors he had to do to earn respect and become a god…the rising action of Disney’s hercules)
The 11th task called upon him to steal the apples of the Hesperides with the fierce dragon standing guard. Hercules, wanting to win the approval of his good for nothing dad, sliced off Ladon’s head and the dragon’s blood flowed out over the land sprouting the dragons blood trees we all know today. . Ladon was placed among the stars by the gods as the Constellation Draco. And the dragon trees, with their long, slender succulent trunks and prickly leaves, continue to bleed the death of Ladon with a reddish oozing sap whenever they get cut. And you know what- good for him. He deserved better. Rest in peace Ladon, you would have loved Charlie XCX.
Meanwhile, In yemen they have a bit of a different tale, but the outcome is about the same. In this tale, Two brothers (or a dragon and an elephant- depending on who you ask) get into a HUGE fight. It starts with just name calling and insults, but quickly turns to punching and kicking and stabbing- you know, sibiling stuff, and eventually one of them gets so angry that he accidentally kills his brother. Immediately filled with regret, he weeps and asks the fates to reverse his actions. While they can’t do that, they do send trees down that spring out of the brother’s tears- holding his blood as a reminder of what can happen when we choose anger and spite.
In the dragon version there is just an epic beastie battle that the dragon DOES win, but the elephant gets a few good hits in, and the dragons blood- being magical- creates trees.
Interestingly, it’s believed that that rendition of the story may have come later, in support of the theories of alchemy and other magics that claimed dragon’s blood was magic and capable of some pretty wild stuff.
Most notably it was said that in orderfor spells and incantations to be their most powerful, they should first be written out in Dragon’s blood. Of course- I know what’ you’re thinking- how were people getting this, and did they really believe it came from dragons…..and the short answer is YES, because there were scoundrels out there calling themselves “Dragon Slayers” and they would sell the crystalized sap to merchants, telling them that they had harvested it themselves off of their blades. And honestly, at the time it was hard to call them out, because they all would just collectively tell people that there WERE dragons and they just lived on coastal islands and left people alone because they were banished from mainlands or just didn’t like people… which is really wild when you think about the fact that explorers really hated eachother most of the time, but the tie that binds was gaslighting the general public about DRAGONS. Like “yes bro, I say those too bro- they were so big and so scary and you were so brave. I saw one breathing fire on our last expedition- it was a wonder we got out alive…and also they stole my leg- it was absolutely not scurvy, but instead a massive lizard with a hankering for limbs.” LIKE WHAT ARE WE ON ABOUT, ENGLAND.
And while you might have thought the spell writing was where it’s usefulness ends, you’d be wrong. For a moment there they were putting dragons blood on everything. People were using it as toothpaste, they were using it to dye clothing and stuff, it was being used as a varnish on super fancy italian violins- people were obsessed- it was having a pop culture MOMENT.
One of the uses that has really stood the test of time is actually wound healing…. Herbalists then and now bascially made a slightly more goth neospprin- mixing the powdered dragon’s blood or an extraction of it into animal fat or another salve, and applied that over wounds to aid in the healing process, where it ultimately helped the would to heal much faster (great) with less scarring (mostly because it was way less likely to get infected)
Today we know this is effective because of a variety of polyphenols. Most notably Taspine, which is believed to stimulate chemotaxis for fibroblasts….in less technical terms, taspine basically calls a round of ubers to get fibroblasts to the wound site more quickly. And those fibroblasts basically sort of act like a needle, pulling collagen and tissue in and together to help close up the wound faster, and shrink the area of the scab, making it easier for the body to really focus where it needs to.
Today Dragon’s blood trees and other members of the dracaena family are popular as houseplants and in desert and drought tolerant landscaping. So if you happen upon a tree that looks like it has a skinned knee, stop to say hello, and really take a moment to reflect on the ways that british dudes had the audacity to do just about anything. That’s where I’ll leave you for this week, but I’ll be back next week with more tall tales and true facts- see you then!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737969/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8386382/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9578548/
https://www.healthline.com/health/dragons-blood
https://plantscapers.com/the-dragon-tree-myth/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracaena_cinnabari
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8324360/
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=66195
https://www.triumphanddisaster.com/blogs/articles/science-of-dragons-blood
https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_blood
