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pandanus
Scientific Name: Pandanus cominsii
Family: Pandanaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Pandanus is a fascinating genus of monocots, boasting around 750 accepted species. Often referred to as screw palms or screw pines, these plants add a touch of the tropics to landscapes worldwide.
Considerations for Pets and Children
- Some Pandanus species can develop into trees and shrubs.
- The leaves are described as sword-shaped, so exercise caution when handling.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Pandanus
- Common Names: pandan, screw palm, screw pine
- Order: Pandanales
- Family: Pandanaceae
- Synonyms: Pandanus leucanthus, Pandanus fatuhivaensis, Pandanus filiciatilis, Pandanus hivaoaensis.
Distribution and Habitat
- Pandanus species are native to the Old World tropics and subtropics.
- They are found from West Africa eastward to Hawaii.
- These plants thrive in diverse environments, from coastal areas to mountains, reaching altitudes up to 10,000 feet.
- Pandanus utilis is specifically native to Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
- Pandanus tectorius is native to the archipelagoes of Micronesia.
- They can be abundant along beaches.
Morphological Characteristics
- Pandanus are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs.
- Plants vary in size from small shrubs (less than 1 meter tall) to medium-sized trees (up to 20 meters tall).
- They have sword-shaped leaves arranged in a spiral.
- Some species have thick prop roots.
Quirky Facts
- Despite the common name "screw pine", Pandanus utilis is a monocot and not a pine.
- In the Marshall Islands, pandanus is second only to coconut trees in prevalence.
- Imported Pandanus leaves from Thailand are sometimes even more fragrant than fresh Hawaiian varieties.