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Sunday, 2 August 2009

Dragon's Blood


Many things are written about the dragon tree. Some say it gets its name from the scars around its trunk and its spiky head. Others say it is because of its blood red sap. And yet others will tell of legends .....
Historically, the natives of the Canary Islnds made shields from the bark of the tree and the medicinal properties of the sap were known way back in Roman times when the dragon's blood sap was used for all sorts of homeopathic medicines.
It is now a protected species. This one, sitting at the edge of our drive and looking like a fairly calm dragon, was just getting ready to bed down for the night.
But who knows what happens when the sun goes down.

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