title: Dragon's blood secretion and its ecological significance.
abstract: Dragon's blood is the name given to a red exudate produced by some plant species belonging to the generaDaemonorops,Dracaena,CrotonandPterocarpus. These are endemic to various parts of the globe. It is classified as a resin or latex depending on its mode of secretion and its chemical composition, which is species specific. This red substance functions in defence and is produced (a) constitutively and stored in preformed anatomical structures, or (b) by induction in response to traumatic events, such as mechanical injury, pathogen attack or invasion by insects. Apart from its defensive role in plants, dragon's blood is also a valuable natural resource renowned since antiquity for its diverse medicinal properties and uses in art. Despite the great importance of dragon's blood, our knowledge of the biological basis for its secretion is still incomplete. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of the anatomical basis for its secretion, and discusses its classification and ecological function. Bringing some clarity to these issues may also help in the commercial sourcing of dragon's blood.
authors.affiliation: Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden - Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin, Prawdziwka 2, 02-973 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jura-Morawiec
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Botany, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-WULS, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulik
keywords: Constitutive defence; Induced defence; Latex; Laticifers; Resin