Karuka
Pandanus julianettii

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

Pandanus julianettii is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 4

Where it is found

Not known

Australasia - New Guinea.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Seeds. The seeds are oily and contain a fair amount of protein. Sometimes the inner leaves and the tips of the aerial roots are eaten cooked.

Oil: Oil

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A fibre obtained from the plant is used for making textiles.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations from 1,700 - 2,900 metres. Plants grow best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 13 - 24c, but can tolerate 6 - 30c. They may tolerate temperatures as low as 0c for short periods and down to 3c for prolonged periods. They prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 4,000mm. Succeeds in sunny positions and in light shade. Prefers a well-drained, humus-rich, light to medium soil. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5.5, but tolerates 3.5 - 5.6. Plants can be harvested for their fibre the first time 6 - 8 years from planting, with an economical life of 20-40 years and with a total lifespan of up to 70 years. Require 90-120 days from flowering to fruiting and have no obvious seasonality. This species has potential for commercial use. Branches do not have dormant buds and so will not resprout if cut back into the old wood. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruits and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing. Commonly vegetative cuttings of the top section of a branch is used for planting. This is suitable for a tree that has several branches. Sometimes karukas develop young suckers or shoots near the ground. When these are seen, they are broken off and replanted from these vegetative suckers. Trees from cuttings produce after 5-8 years. Seedling trees are slower to produce and have a taller straighter trunk.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pandan kelapa hutan fruits, Karunka

Synonyms

Pandanus jiulianettii. There is some confusion with the incorrect spelling: Pandanus jiulianettii.