Mace Screw Pine
Pandanus conicus

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

A tree which grows up to 6-10 m high and spreads 3-5 m wide. It has a few branches. The trunk is covered with flat spines. It has prop roots. The leaves are simple and about 3 m long by 4-6 cm wide. The edges of the leaves have teeth. There are also teeth on the midrib towards the end of the leaf. The male flower is branched. It is 30-40 cm long. It hangs over and has white bracts. The male spike is 8-10 cm long. The female flowering stalk is not branched. The fruiting heads are 15-24 cm long by 11-16 cm wide. They occur singly and hang down. It ripens to orange or red. The fruit is edible. The seeds are 1.2-1.4 cm long.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in rainforests in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows near mangroves and up to 400 m altitude. In Townsville Anderson BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are edible but can irritate the throat and mouth.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed and from stolons or runners.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Pandanus cochleatus H. St John; Pandanus sphaericus H. St John;