Coastal Pandanus, Beach pandanus, Screwpine
Pandanus tectorius

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

An erect branched shrub 3 to 5 m high. It can be 14 m tall. The trunk has several prop roots. The stems are prickly. The leaves are spirally crowded towards the ends of branches and covered with waxy powder. They are up to 1.5 m long and 3 to 5 cm wide. The edge of the leaf and the midrib have sharp spiny teeth pointing towards the end of the leaf. Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. Male flowers have showy white bracts. The female plants produce woody, pineapple like fruit. The fruit are alone and hang down. They are rounded and 20 cm long. They are composed of 50 to 75 fibrous fleshy fruit with a stone in the centre. They are somewhat angular. There are hundreds of local named varieties. There is tremendous variation in this plant. Some leaves do not have spines and the shape and size of the fruit varies. (See the many synonyms!)

There are about 600 Pandanus species. They grow in the tropics. (It is similar to and often confused with Pandanus odoratissimus which occurs in India and is being grown elsewhere). The darker yellow fleshed kinds have high proVitamin A carotenoids.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows on the sandy edges of mangroves and along rivers. They are very common along the seashore throughout the islands of the Philippines. They are never found very far inland. It usually grows from sea level to 20 m altitude. In Samoa it grows to 300 m altitude. It usually grows in places with an average annual temperature range of 24-28°C. The rainfall is usually between 1500-4000 mm per year. It can grow in soils with a pH between 6-10. It can grow in salty soils. It grows on coral atolls. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Bougainville, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Cambodia, Caroline Islands, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Guam, Guatemala, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kosrae, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nuie, Pacific (country/location of origin), Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Torres Strait, Tuvalu, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, Yap

How it is used for food

The fleshy portion of the lower part of the mature fruit is eaten raw. It can be cooked or made into flour. The seeds are eaten cooked. CAUTION: The seeds can contain calcium oxalate crystals. These can be removed by cooking and straining. They irritate the mouth. The tender shoots or terminal buds are eaten as a vegetable. Flowers and pollen are edible. The tip of the aerial root is eaten raw or roasted. They can be processed into a drink. The leaves can be used to flavour sweet dishes.

It is enjoyed as a food in Pacific island nations such as Kiribati. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Nuts, leaves, fruit, flowers, spice

How it is grown

Plants are normally self sown. They can be grown from fresh seed. They are best sown in waterlogged soil. The preferred kinds are grown from cuttings. Cuttings of 30-40 cm are suitable. Seeds can float on ocean currents and still germinate after several months. It is used as a hedge or fence.

Plants grow slowly. It produces 8-12 fruit per year.

Its other names

Local names

Ajbwirok, Akgak, Anewetak, Bali, Beach screw pine, Binu, Boa kashikeyo, Bob, Bop, Ceenu, Choy, Deipw, Dua go, Epo, Fa, Fach, Fafa, Fala, Falahola, Far, Fara, Fasa, Hala, Hedan, Kafu, Kassadh, Kebar, Keora, Kepar, Kipal, Kipar, Kukuvalu, Kusargh, Lamchiek, Laufala, Liolol, Lou'akau, Mane, Mengkuang duri, Mengkuang laut, Mengkuang layer, Mogili, Mweng, Nicobar breadfruit, Ongor, Ongorraked, Pandan darat, Pandan laut, Pandan pantai, Pandan todak, Pandan wangi, Pandan-dagat, Pandang, Pibis, Rumchek, Striped screwpine, Tchob, Tchoi, Te kaina, Toei-daang, Toei-hom, Txeno, Vadra, Veitch screw-pine, Voivoi, Wip

Synonyms

Corypha laevis (Lour.) A. Chev.; Pandanus absonus H. St. John; Pandanus adscendens H. St John; Pandanus aequor H. St. John; Pandanus aitutakiensis H. St. John; Pandanus akiakiensis H. St. John; Pandanus alloios H. St. John; Pandanus amplexus H. St. John; Pandanus angulatus H. St John; Pandanus angulosus H. St. John; Pandanus anisos H. St. John; Pandanus aoraiensis H. St. John; Pandanus arapepe H. St. John; Pandanus asauensis H. St. John; Pandanus ater H. St. John; Pandanus baptistii Misonne; Pandanus bassus H. St. John; Pandanus bathys H. St. John; Pandanus bergmanii F. Br.; Pandanus bicurvatus H. St. John; Pandanus blakei H. St. John; Pandanus boraboraensis St. John; Pandanus bothreus H. St. John; Pandanus bowenensis H. St. John; Pandanus brachypodus Kaneh.; Pandanus brownii H. St. John; Pandanus cacuminatus H. St. John; Pandanus carolinensis Matelli; Pandanus chamissonis Gaudich.; Pandanus charancanus Kaneh.; Pandanus chelyon H. St. John; Pandanus christophersenii H. St. John; Pandanus citraceus H. St. John; Pandanus collatus H. St. John; Pandanus complanatus H. St. John; Pandanus cooperi (Martelli) H. St. John; Pandanus coronatus Martelli; Pandanus coronatus f. minor Martelli; Pandanus crassiaculeatus H. St. John; Pandanus crassus H. St. John; Pandanus cylindricus Kaneh.; Pandanus cylindricus var. sinnau Kaneh.; Pandanus cymatilis H. St. John; Pandanus decorus K. Koch; Pandanus dicheres H. St. John; Pandanus dilatatus Kaneh.; Pandanus discolor auct.; Pandanus distinctus Martelli; Pandanus divaricatus H. St. John; Pandanus divergens Kaneh.; Pandanus dotyi H. St. John; Pandanus douglasii Gaudich.; Pandanus drakei H. St. John; Pandanus drolletianus Martelli; Pandanus duriocarpoides Kaneh.; Pandanus duriocarpus Martelli; Pandanus edwinii H. St. John; Pandanus elevatus H. St. John; Pandanus enchabiensis Kaneh.; Pandanus erythrophloeus Kaneh.; Pandanus extralittoralis H. St. John; Pandanus eyesyes Kaneh.; Pandanus fahina H. St. John; Pandanus faramaa H. St. John; Pandanus fascicularis Lam.; ? Pandanus fatuhivaensis H. St. John; Pandanus fatyanion (Kaneh.) Hosok.; Pandanus feruliferus H. St. John; Pandanus filiciatilis H. St. John; Pandanus fischerianus Martelli; Pandanus fragrans Gaud.; Pandanus futunaensis H. St. John; Pandanus gambierensis H. St. John; Pandanus glomerosus H. St. John; Pandanus grantii H. St. John; Pandanus guamensis Martelli; Pandanus haapaiensis H. St. John; Pandanus heronensis H. St. John; Pandanus hivaoaensis H. St. John; Pandanus homeinsularum H. St. John; Pandanus hosinoi Kaneh.; Pandanus hosokawae Kaneh.; Pandanus houmaensis H. St. John; Pandanus hubbardii H. St. John; Pandanus impar H. St. John; Pandanus inarmatus H. St. John; Pandanus inermis Roxb.; Pandanus inflexus H. St. John; Pandanus infundubuliformis H. St. John; Pandanus insularis Kaneh.; Pandanus intraconicus H. St. John; Pandanus intralaevis H. St. John; Pandanus jaluitensis Kaneh.; Pandanus jonesii (F. Br.) H. St. John; Pandanus kafu Martelli; Pandanus kamptos H. St. John; Pandanus koidzumii Hosok.; Pandanus korrensis Kaneh.; Pandanus kraussii H. St. John; Pandanus kusaiensis Kaneh.; Pandanus laculatus H. St. John; Pandanus laevis Lour.; Pandanus laevis Kunth [Illegitimate;] Pandanus lakatwa Kaneh.; Pandanus lambasaensis H. St. John; Pandanus laticanaliculatus Kaneh.; Pandanus latincanaliculatus var. edulis Kaneh.; Pandanus lauensis H. St. John; Pandanus licinus H. St. John; Pandanus limitaris H. St. John; Pandanus longifolius H. L. Wendl. [Invalid]; Pandanus macfarlanei Martelli; Pandanus macrocephalus Kaneh.; Pandanus makateaensis H. St. John; Pandanus malatenensis Blanco; Pandanus mangarevaensis H. St. John; Pandanus mariaensis H. St. John; Pandanus marquesasensis H. St. John; Pandanus matukuensis H. St. John; Pandanus mbalawa H. St. John; Pandanus meetiaensis H. St. John; Pandanus menne Kaneh.; Pandanus menziesii Gaudich.; Pandanus metius H. St. John; Pandanus minysocephalis H. St. John; Pandanus mooreaensis H. St. John; Pandanus moschatus Rumph. ex Voigt; Pandanus moschatus Miq. [Illegitimate]; Pandanus motuensis H. St. John; Pandanus nandiensis H. St. John; Pandanus notialis H. St. John; Pandanus oblatiapicalis H. St. John; Pandanus oblaticonvexus H. St. John; Pandanus obliquus Kaneh.; Pandanus odonoides Hosok.; Pandanus odoratissimus var. laevigatus Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. laevis (Warb.); Pandanus odoratissimus f. major Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. oahuensis Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. parksii Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. pyriformis Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. savaiensis (Martelli) Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. setchellii Martelli; Pandanus odoratissimus var. spurius Willd.; Pandanus odoratissimus var. suvaensis Martelli; Pandanus okamotoi Kaneh.; Pandanus onoilauensis H. St. John; Pandanus orarius H. St. John; Pandanus otemanuensus H. St. John; Pandanus ovalauensis H. St. John; Pandanus pachys H. St. John; Pandanus palkilensis Hosok.; Pandanus palmyraensis H. St. John; Pandanus pansus H. St. John; Pandanus paogo H. St. John; Pandanus papaeariensis Martelli; Pandanus papenooensis H. St. John; Pandanus parhamii H. St. John; Pandanus parksii H. St. John; Pandanus patulior H. St. John; Pandanus pedunculatus R. Br.; Pandanus pedunculatus var. insularis B. C. Stone; Pandanus pedunculatus var. malagunensis B. C. Stone; Pandanus pedunculatus var. rendovensis B. C. Stone; Pandanus planus H. St. John; Pandanus politus H. St. John; Pandanus ponapensis Martelli; Pandanus prismaticus Martelli; Pandanus prolixus H. St. John; Pandanus pseudomenne Hosok.; Pandanus pulposus (Warb.) Martelli; Pandanus pulposus var. cooperi Martelli; Pandanus pusillus H. St. John; Pandanus pyriformis (Martelli) H. St. John; Pandanus pyriformis Gaud.; ? Pandanus radiatus H. St. John; Pandanus raiateaensis H. St. John; Pandanus raroiaensis H. St. John; Pandanus rectangulatus Kaneh.; Pandanus repens Miq.; Pandanus rhizophorensis H. St. John; Pandanus rhombocarpus Kaneh.; Pandanus rikiteaeansis H. St. John; Pandanus rimataraensis H. St. John; Pandanus rockii Martelli; Pandanus rotensis Hosok.; Pandanus rotundatus Kaneh.; Pandanus rurutuensis H. St. John; Pandanus sabotan Blanco; Pandanus saipanensis Kaneh.; Pandanus saltuarius H. St. John; Pandanus samak Hassk.; Pandanus sanderi Sander; Pandanus savaiensis (Martelli) H. St. John; Pandanus seruaensis H. St. John; Pandanus sinuosus H. St. John; Pandanus sinuvadosus H. St. John; Pandanus smithii H. St. John; Pandanus spurius (Willd.) Miq.; Pandanus stradbrokeensis H. St. John; Pandanus subaequalis H. St. John; Pandanus subcubicus H. St. John; Pandanus subhumerosus H. St. John; Pandanus subradiatus H. St. John; Pandanus sunuvadensus; ? Pandanus suvaensis (Martelli) H. St. John; Pandanus taepa (F. Br.) H. St. John; Pandanus tahaaensis H. St. John; Pandanus tahitensis Martelli; Pandanus tahitensis var. exigua J. W. Moore; Pandanus tahitensis var. niueana B. C. Stone; Pandanus takaeoaesis H. St. John; Pandanus tamaruensis J. W. Moore; Pandanus tapeinos H. St. John; Pandanus taravaiensis H. St. John; Pandanus tectorius var. (many varieties); Pandanus temehaniensis J. W. Moore; Pandanus terrireginae H. St. John; Pandanus tessellatus Martelli; Pandanus tikeiensis H. St. John; Pandanus tima H. St. John; Pandanus timoeensis H. St. John; Pandanus tolotomensis Glassman; Pandanus tomilensis Kaneh.; Pandanus tongaensis H. St. John; Pandanus trapaneus H. St. John; Pandanus tritosphaericus H. St. John; Pandanus trukensis Kaneh.; Pandanus tubuaiensis Martelli; Pandanus tupaiensis H. St. John; Pandanus uea H. St. John; Pandanus utiyamae Kaneh.; Pandanus vahitakiensis H. St. John; Pandanus vandra H. St. John; Pandanus vangeertii auct.; Pandanus variegatus Miq.; Pandanus veitchii Mast.; Pandanus virginalis H. St. John; Pandanus viri H. St. John; Pandanus viridinsularis H. St. John; Pandanus volkensii Kaneh.; Pandanus yorkensis H. St. John; Pandanus yunckeri H. St. John; ? Not in plant list Pandanus odoratissimus sensu auct.non L.f.; Pandanus inermis Blume;