Cordyline
Cordyline is a genus of about 24 species of woody monocotyledonous flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lomandroideae. The subfamily has previously been treated as a separate family Laxmanniaceae, or Lomandraceae. Other authors have placed the genus in the Agavaceae. Cordyline is native to the western Pacific Ocean region, from New Zealand, eastern Australia, southeastern Asia and Polynesia, with one species found in southeastern South America.
The name Cordyline comes from the Greek word kordyle, meaning "club," a reference to the enlarged underground stems or rhizomes.
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepts 23 species.Cordyline angustissima K.Schum. – New GuineaCordyline australis Endl. – New ZealandCordyline banksii Hook.f. – New ZealandCordyline cannifolia R.Br. – Australia: N.E. Northern Territory, N.E. QueenslandCordyline congesta Steud. – Australia: S.E. Queensland to N.E. New South WalesCordyline forbesii Rendle – Papua New GuineaCordyline fruticosa A.Chev. – Papuasia to W. PacificCordyline × gibbingsiae – New ZealandCordyline indivisa Endl. – New Zealand Cordyline lateralis Lauterb. – New GuineaCordyline ledermannii K.Krause – New GuineaCordyline manners-suttoniae F.Muell. – Australia: N.E. QueenslandCordyline × matthewsii – New ZealandCordyline mauritiana J.F.Macbr. – MascarenesCordyline minutiflora Ridl. – New GuineaCordyline murchisoniae F.Muell. – Australia: E. QueenslandCordyline neocaledonica B.D.Jacks. – New CaledoniaCordyline obtecta Baker – Norfolk Island, N. New Zealand North IslandCordyline petiolaris Pedley – Australia: S.E. Queensland to N.E. New South WalesCordyline pumilio Hook.f. – New Zealand North IslandCordyline racemosa Ridl. – New GuineaCordyline rubra Otto & A.Dietr. – Australia: S.E. Queensland to N.E. New South WalesCordyline schlechteri Lauterb. – New GuineaCordyline sellowiana Kunth – Bolivia to Brazil and N. ArgentinaCordyline stricta Endl. – Australia: S.E. Queensland to N.E. New South WalesFormerly placed here
- Dracaena aletriformis Bos
- Dracaena elliptica Thunb. & Dalm.
- Dracaena fragrans Ker Gawl.
Cultivation and uses
Members of the group are often grown as ornamental plants - notably C. australis and C. fruticosa. Many species have been used as a foodstuff and medicine, for additional details on these and other uses see the article on C. australis. The rhizome was roasted in an hāngī by Māori to extract sugar.In the highlands of Papua New Guinea. leaves of Cordyline and other plants are tied to sticks to mark taboo areas where pandanus language must be spoken during karuka harvest.