Envision a world where the trees ooze red sap, where there are bottle-like guardians as huge and ancient as the landscape itself, and where flowers bloom in absolute disregard for all logic. This is no movie location in a science fiction film; it’s Socotra, a remote Yemeni island in the Arabian Sea. Why Socotra is so exceptional is its unparalleled biodiversity, particularly its remarkable and often surreal vegetation, a history of millions of years of isolation.
More than one-third of Socotra’s 800 flowering plant species are found nowhere else in the world, and it is a paradise for botanists and living evolution lab. Let us discuss some of the most iconic and intriguing plants to call this remarkable island.
The Dragon’s Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari)
No discussion of Socotra vegetation would be complete without the mighty Dragon’s Blood Tree. Its peculiar, umbrella-shaped canopy commandeers the island plateaus, and in an extraterrestrial silhouette against the skyline. And its shape isn’t even the peculiarity; it’s named after the red resin that exudes from cut bark. This “dragon’s blood” has been prized for centuries for its medicinal properties, dyes, and even as a varnish. To see one of the Socotran Desert Rose groves, containing some hundred-years-old trees, is to step inside one of the prehistoric paintings.
The Socotran Desert Rose (Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum)
Be awed by the Socotran Desert Rose, a plant which seems to defy the very idea of what a tree must be. With its amazingly inflated, bulbous stem (caudex) shaped like an elephant foot or a gigantic bottle, it holds water to survive the aridity. Adventurous branches balanced on top of this unconventional foundation erupt into stunning white and pink blooms, dramatic contrast with its rugged looks and delicate flowers. It is a survivor, yes, and a horticultural wonder.
The Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotrana)
Yes, you heard right – a tree that’s a cousin of a cucumber! The Cucumber Tree is the only arborescent (tree) member of the cucurbit family, thus an evolutionary marvel. It boasts a succulent, watertight trunk with a hardy, water-storing ability, and branches that bear tiny, spiky, cucumber-shaped fruits. It is not perhaps the most prettiest, but the fact that it’s distinctively so in the vegetable world makes it an absolute marvel.
The Socotran Dorstenia (Dorstenia gigas)
Often plonked upon cliff faces and boulder outcrops, the Socotran Dorstenia is another anomaly. A knarled, rather otherworldly piece of succulent with fleshy, thick stems and branches to hold up bizarre, disc-shaped inflorescences, this is a plant that stands testament to its remarkable abilities to thrive in such inhospitable environments. Although not native to Socotra, a number of Frankincense tree species (e.g., Boswellia sacra and Boswellia elongata) naturally occur on the island. These resilient trees, typical of dry, rocky environments, provide the resiny fragrance product that has been farmed for centuries in incense, perfumery, and traditional medicine. Yet another dimension is brought to Socotra’s ancient and highly prized botanicals.
Why Socotra is so Unique?
Socotra’s extraordinary flora, in turn, is the result of its long geological isolation. Having diverged from the Gondwana supercontinent millions of years ago, the island island was cut off and became an evolutionary crucible where the vegetation adapted, diversified, and evolved unencumbered by outside influences. This isolation, coupled with its unique microclimates ranging from coastal plains to mist-shrouded mountains, has yielded a staggering number of specialized species. Let us guide you to the magical nature of Socotra on one of our Socotra tours.