DRACAENA

[dra.cae.na] n [NL, fr. LL, she-serpent, fr. Gk drakaina, fem. of drakon serpent--more at dragon] (ca. 1823): any of two genera (Dracaena and Cordyline) of Old World tropical shrubs or trees of the agave family that have naked branches ending in tufts of sword-shaped leaves and include some used as houseplants