It is a unique tree that is one of the most peculiar trees in the world . The Dragon’s Blood Tree got its name from its bright red sap, made up of a cocktail of chemicals. This sap was used as a colourant in the mummification process, and today, even as a natural remedy for gastrointestinal troubles. The tree has an interesting back story. About 500 years ago, there was a flightless bird species that ate the fruits of this tree. It helped disperse the seeds and kept the population of the tree stable. After the bird went extinct, the tree also went into decline.
. The tree has a distinctive external shape that makes it look like a huge umbrella, as the leaves grow only at the end of branches and point upwards. It has many branches; it grows by dichotomy, which means that each branch is divided into two until the leaves finally grow on the branches’ ends. It produces a lot of green leaves that are renewed every three or four years; they fall and other leaves grow in their place.
What makes this tree stand out among other trees in the world is that it bleeds when it is truncated; the bloody liquid is a type of red resin that has no smell or taste. This resin is of great importance, as it contains an effective substance known as draco, which has multiple medical uses and is part of the pharmaceutical industry to treat some health problems.
Credit : Sci planet
Picture Credit : Google
