1108.000 Cordyline Comm. ex R.Br.

Tree-like, shrub; stems woody, few branched with conspicuous leaf scars. Leaves crowded at apex of stems usually petiolate; blades lanceolate with parallel veins that have lateral veins branching from the mid-rib. Inflorescence arises from axils of distal leaves; usually paniculate, large and many branched. Flowers usually tubular-campanulate or sub-cylindric; lobes in 2 whorls of 3. Fruit a leathery capsule. Seeds 1-several, black; coated with phytomelan.

Derivation of name: from the Greek: kordyle meaning a club, referring to the enlarged underground stem or rhizomes.

Worldwide: 20 species in Asia, Australasia, Pacific and tropical America.

Zimbabwe: 3 cultivated taxa.