Asparagus tree, Small-leaved dragon tree
Dracaena mannii

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can grow 15-30 m tall. The trunk is branched. It can have stilt roots. The leaves are narrow and in rings at the top of the plant. The leaves are 50 cm long. The flowers are at the end. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are orange red.

There are about 40-60 species of Dracaena. Also put in the family Dracaenaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest in West Africa. In Malawi it grows between 500-1,600 m altitude. It grows on the edges of evergreen forest. It can be on forests along rivers, in palm groves and along the edges of mangroves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The very young shoots are eaten like asparagus.

It is not a popular food but eaten when food is scarce. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from fresh seeds. It can also be grown from large cuttings. It re-grows after cutting.

Its other names

Local names

Betenhe, Kesene, Kikiadi, Kucatacata, Ndiadi mbulu, Taga, Thebo, Tolala

Synonyms

Dracaena nitens Welw. ex Baker; Dracaena perrotteti Baker; Dracaena reflexa Lam. var. nitens (Welw. ex Baker) Baker; Dracaena usambarensis Engl.; Pleomele mannii (Baker) N. E. Br.; Pleomele nitens (Baker) N. EW. Br.; Pleomele usambarensis (Engl.) N. E. Br.; and others