Nicobar breadfruit
Pandanus leram

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

A large branched tree. It has aerial prop roots. The leaves are very large. They can be 10-15 cm wide. There are prickles along the edges and midrib. The bracts around the flower are cream. Trees are separately male and female. The male tree has a very large flower. The female flower develops a large round head made up of individual nuts. These are clustered in groups. These can be 12-15 cm long. The outside is yellow or orange.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the lowlands. It grows in coastal areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nicobar Islands, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The fruit is normally eaten cooked. It is boiled. The lower portion of the fruit is used for making flour for bread.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit

How it is grown

They are grown from stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Pandan wong, Larohm, Melori

Synonyms

Pandanus indicus (Gaudich.) Warb.; Pandanus leram var. macrocarpa Kurz; Pandanus mellori Boden-Kloss; Roussinia indica Gaudich.;