Download Dracaena loureiri CH..

Medicine: resin
Food: fruits
Dye: leaves
Dracaena loureiri Gagnep.
chandai
Synonyms: D. cochinchinensis (Lour.) S.C. Chen, D. cambodiana Pierre ex Gagnepain, Pleomele
cochinchinensis Merril, Aletris cochinchinensis Lour.
Family: DRACAENACEAE
Other names: Local names: chandai. Thai: chang daeng, chan pa, lakkachan. Vietnamese: bon bon, huyet giac,
xo nha, dua dai, giang ong. Chinese: xue jie. Trade name: Dragon's blood tree, Cinnabaris.
Use: The red core wood and resin, especially parts infected by fungi and turning red, have medicinal properties.
Most of the harvested produce is exported to China, where it is used as an ingredient for ‘dragons blood’, a
popular and expensive tonic medicine. The plant supports blood circulation, dissolves blood clots, and eases
pain. Fruits are edible and from the leaves a green paints can be obtained.
Active ingredients: Flavonoids (antioxidant chemicals in the form of plant pigment) typically yellow to orange in
colour and aromatic compounds.
Harvesting: Wood and resin is collected from dead trees.
Yields, densities:
Access rules: Natural, open access.
Sustainability: Harvesting destroys the plant. Wild harvesting
should be discouraged and domestication encouraged.
Conservation status: The plant is almost extinct in China and
programs for saving the species in plantations are already on the
way. In Laos it also becomes rarer.
Processing: No processing takes place in Laos, except some sun
drying.
Quality criteria: Wood should be red in colour, clean, undamaged.
Marketing: Exports to China have risen quickly between 1995-1998,
from 0 to 178 tonnes. Currently villagers receive US$/kg 0.1-0.5, but
the export price lies between US$/kg 1.5-2.5. Only the raw product is
exported. In China, ‘dragons blood’ is a highly priced medicine
(US$50/kg).
Market prospects: Lao PDR could try to specialise in the production
of dragons blood as a high value product for export to China.
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Propagation: Easy to plant from tip or root cuttings, air layering, root
stem sections, or suckers. Propagation by seed is also possible. It takes 10-20 years to reach harvestable size.
Description: Small palm-like shrub, up to 10 m tall with rugged and sturdy greyish trunk, to 15 cm DBH. Leaf,
spirally arranged and grouped at the top of branches, simple, alternate, crowded at the top, 5-7 cm wide, 50-70
cm long. When leaves are shed, a distinct leaf scar is evident. Inflorescence in terminal large panicle, bent
downwards, about 30-40 cm long, older axes purple. Flowers in clusters of 3-7, small, yellowish white, fragrant,
about 6-7 mm long. Fruit, green, globose, around 1 cm in diameter, 1-3 seeded.
Distribution & Ecology: Grows naturally on limestone rock faces, in deciduous or evergreen
forests, on dry and sandy soils, requiring moderate water and full sun or light shade. Found throughout Lao PDR,
mainly in the North (Louang Phrabang, Sayabouly) but also in the middle of the country (Khammouan). Occurs in
China, but also in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Africa and Guinea.
References: INTFP01, NTFPGR04, NVPL59, ARCBC, PROSEA, MPT, BKF, TPN, MPV93, CPI, PUFF,
LSUAFRP1/2, ITC.