Common screw pine
Pandanus utilis

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

A screw pine. It is a tall tree. It grows 12-18 m high. It forms many branches. It has aerial roots. The leaves are stiff and blue-green. They have red spines at the base. The leaves are arranged in spirals. The flowering head is made up of very small creamy white flowers. The fruit is a rounded compound head. The head is 15-20 cm across. It is made up of 100 long woody fruit. They are 25 mm long. They are edible when fully ripe.

There are about 600 Pandanus species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 1,800 m above sea level in East Africa. It needs a sandy, well-drained soil. It needs full sun. It is often in coastal areas. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, China, Colombia, Cuba, East Africa, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Mauritius, Mozambique, Pacific, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Tanzania, USA, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit yields a starchy food which is cooked and eaten. The male spadices are edible.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Palma de Cinta, Pandano, Pandan biasa

Synonyms

Hasskarlia globosa (Hassk.) Walp.; Marquartia globosa Hassk.; Pandanus distichus auct.; Pandanus elegantissimus auct.; Pandanus flabelliformis Carriere; Pandanus maritimus Thouars; Pandanus nudus Thouars; Pandanus odoratissimus Jacq. [Illegitimate]; Pandanus sativus Thouars; [Illegitimate]; Pandanus utilis var. stephanocarpa (Gaudich.) Brongn.; Pandanus vacqua Carmich. ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia consanguinea Gaudich ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia macrostigma Gaudich ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia media Gaudich. ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia propinqua Gaudich. ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia stephanocarpa Gaudich.; Vinsonia striata Gaudich. ex balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia thoursii Gaudich. ex Balf.f. [Invalid]; Vinsonia utilis Gaudich.;