Slender Climbing Pandan
Freycinetia excelsa

Family: Pandanaceae

What it is like

It partly attaches to and grows from other plants. It is an evergreen vine. It climbs to a height of 30 m. The stem is vigorous with many branches. It scrambles over logs and rocks. The stem is less than 1 cm across. The leaves are fairly rigid and curve and have spiny edges. They are 30-50 cm long and 0.6-0.8 cm wide. The form a short sheath around the stem at their base. The flowers are small and have red bracts around them. The bracts are 5-7 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide. The female heads are in groups of 1-4 and are 3-4 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The male spikes are in groups of 1-3 and are 2-3 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The fruit is a cluster of berries. Each berry is 0.7 cm across and they are bright red. The fruit are produced at the stem tips. The fruit are edible

There are about 100-175 Freycinetia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1250 m altitude. It needs a protected, partly shady position. It is damaged by drought and frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten but burn the back of the throat possibly due to oxalates.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is grown by dividing the stem. They can be grown from seed.

In Australia, fruit occur from January to April.

Its other names

Local names

Giant climbing pandan

Synonyms

Freycinetia gladiifolia Martelli;