Located some 250 miles off the coast of Yemen, Socotra is the largest island of the Socotra Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, near Gulf of Aden. This island is home to some of the weirdest looking plants in the world. Socotra has 825 rare species of plants of which more than one third are endemic. These plants do not occur anywhere else in the world. Socotra Island is considered the jewel of biodiversity in the Arabian Sea.
The dragon's blood tree is one of Socotra's most striking plants. It is a strange-looking tree shaped like an umbrella. The red sap of the dragon's blood tree was thought to be the dragon's blood by the ancients. It was sought after as a medicine and was also used in medieval rituals. Today, its red sap is the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes, and medicine.
Various endemic aloes of Socotra were also important in ancient times. These endemic aloes were used as a medicine and for cosmetics. Among other strange looking endemic plants in the island include - the giant succulent tree Dorstenia gigas, Moraceae, the cucumber tree Dendrosicyos socotranus, the rare Socotran pomegranate, Aloe perryi and Boswellia socotrana.
The dragon's blood tree is one of Socotra's most striking plants. It is a strange-looking tree shaped like an umbrella. The red sap of the dragon's blood tree was thought to be the dragon's blood by the ancients. It was sought after as a medicine and was also used in medieval rituals. Today, its red sap is the source of valuable resin for varnishes, dyes, and medicine.
Various endemic aloes of Socotra were also important in ancient times. These endemic aloes were used as a medicine and for cosmetics. Among other strange looking endemic plants in the island include - the giant succulent tree Dorstenia gigas, Moraceae, the cucumber tree Dendrosicyos socotranus, the rare Socotran pomegranate, Aloe perryi and Boswellia socotrana.
