[Taxacom] Help with old Dragon's Blood Tree

[Wilson Karen]

This is marginal to most TAXACOM contributors, but I am hoping that some
TAXACOMer has experience with caring for old Dracaena draco plants or
knows someone who has that experience.

Our magnificent old plant (more than a century old and with a 10 m diam.
canopy) toppled sideways last week - possibly from a combination of age
and a very long drought here in Sydney followed by quite a lot of rain
in recent months. There's a picture of it at
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/whats_new/_nocache

We are hopeful that we can save it, with a thinned-out canopy to reduce
the weight, since only about 25% of the trunk is torn (just above ground
level). Or, if that is not possible, that the underground parts may have
the capacity to send out a new side shoot. 

We haven't had this problem before, so we are hoping to find someone out
there who has experience with this species and knows (1) what is likely
to happen and (2) what we can do to give the plant its best chance at
survival. For example, what is the best way to reduce the chance of rot
setting in at the 'wounded' area?  And does thinning the canopy help
this species to survive? Is this species known to put out side shoots if
this old trunk succumbs?

We're contacting a few other bot. gardens as well but, given the wide
coverage of TAXACOM, I am hoping that someone can give us advice or
refer us to a knowledgeable source. 

Regards
Karen Wilson

**************************************** 
Karen L. Wilson 
Acting Manager Plant Diversity Section 
National Herbarium of NSW 
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney 
Mrs Macquaries Road 
SYDNEY NSW 2000, AUSTRALIA 

Phone: +61 2 9231 8137 
Fax: +61 2 9241 2797 
Email: karen.wilson at rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
 
The Botanic Gardens Trust is part of the Department of Environment and
Climate Change (NSW).





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