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Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze
| Family Name: | Pandanaceae |
| Synonyms: | Pandanus odoratissimus L.f. |
| Common Name: | Fragrant Screw Pine, Screw Pine, Pandan Laut, Mengkuang Laut |
Pandanus odorifer or Fragrant Screw Pine is a small tree that is native to Singapore. Growing up to 9 m in height, it has blade-like leaves with spines along the margins and midrib. It produces dioecious flowers of which the male inflorescence are strongly fragrant and larger compared to the female inflorescence which are scentless and smaller. The male flowers last up to a day while the female flowers are persistent, eventually develops into a large, pineapple-shaped fruit which consist of numerous orange-red, angular, smooth drupes.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Maximum Height | 9 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South Asia, the Philippines, Polynesia, and tropical Australia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a small tree sometimes a large shrub, that can reach to a height of 9 m tall. It produces multiple screw-like branching and aerial prop roots resulting in a thick vegetation. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are long, blade-like, dark green to bluish green coloured measuring up to 200 cm long and 4 - 7 cm wide. The margins and midrib are covered in yellow, sharp, curved spines. |
| Flowers | Flowers are borne on a spike inflorescence at the tips of the branches. The spike is shielded by a spathe of 80 - 100 cm long and numerous yellow, papery, linear to lance-shaped bracts. The female inflorescence is scentless, 6 - 10 cm long, 2- 3 cm wide while the male inflorescence is larger, strongly fragrant, 25 - 30 cm long, 18 - 25 cm wide, woody, oblong-round shaped lasting only up to a day. |
| Fruit | Fruit is a large, pineapple shaped, multiple fruit (syncarp) consist of angular, smooth, buoyant drupes measuring 40 - 50 mm long, 25 - 35 mm wide, tightly crowded together. Each drupe starts off greenish, gradually turn yellow and orange-red when matured. Seed is 10 - 12 mm long, 2 - 3 wide, reddish-brown coloured. |
| Habitat | Occurs in beaches and margins of mangrove habitat, coastal belts, riverbanks and canals. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | The species epipthet, 'odorifer' meant fragrant, sweet-scented, bearing perfume in reference to the strongly fragrant flowers. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: The trunk and large branches are often used as building materials for houses, branches are also used as wood fuel and to make compost. Others: In Sri Lanka, the fresh leaves, tender white base of the leaves are eaten as vegetables. In India, the plant is valued as a key natural bioresource particularly for perfumery especially within the coastal district of Orissa. <1,2> |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Due to their dense and complex root structures, they are actively planted as hedges to barricading fields against entry of wild animals and provide protection against tsunami damage in Kerala. <1> |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) |
| Landscape Uses | Beachfront / Shoreline, Coastal |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Leaf |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Abiotic (Wind), Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Water), Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Bluish Green |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (marginal) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Spiny |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Aggregate Fruit (Syncarp) |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | <1> Nadaf, A. & Zanan, R. (2012). Indian Pandanaceae - an overview. India: Springer. pp. 81-84. <2> Raju, A.J. S. et. Al. (2020). Pollination and fruit dispersal in the Fragrant Screw Pine, Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze (Pandanceae), Species 21(67): 113-118. |
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Others
| Master ID | 1953 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3245 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
