Plants & CreaturesGreek → English
Dracaena
/drəˈsiːnə/noun
A genus of stiff-leaved tropical plants, several of them common houseplants.
The Greek roots
δράκαινα
drákaina
she-dragon
Literally: “female dragon”
Follow a root:δράκαινα1 word
The story of the word
The genus is named for the dragon's blood tree of Socotra, whose cut bark bleeds a deep red resin that medieval traders sold for varnish, dye and medicine. Drakōn itself traces to derkomai, to look, so the dragon is properly the one with the unblinking stare. The feminine ending is what makes the plant a she-dragon rather than a he.
- How it travelled
- Ancient Greek → Latin → English
Same family
dragondraconian
In a sentence
The dracaena in the corner survived two house moves and a winter with no heating.