This species might only represent a cultivar or cultivar group descended from the wild species Pandanus brosimos. Another relative, Pandanus iIwen, which is reported to be cultivated in Papua New Guinea, might only be a cultivar of the so-called Pandanus brosimos/julianetti complex. The whole needs taxonomic revision[].

Common Name:

General Information

Pandanus julianettii is an erect, evergreen shrub or small tree, often unbranched when young, becoming sparsely branched with age. It can reach a height of 1 - 20 metres. The prickly, sword-shaped leaves can be around 3 metres long, they are produed in clusters at the apices of the branches[, ].
The plant is cultivated, semi-cultivated and harvested from the wild for its edible seeds, which have had a special significance for the nutrition of the native population of New Guinea[]. It is said to have significant commercial potential as a food crop[]. Both this species, plus the related Pandanus brosimos and Pandanus antaresensis, have had an important role in the history of the human society of the highlands of New Guinea[]. The plant is also grown for the production of textile fibres[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - New Guinea.

Habitat

Elevations from 1,500 - 2,900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pandanus julianettii is a plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations from 1,700 - 2,900 metres[]. Plants grow best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 13 - 24°c, but are able to tolerate 6 - 30°c[]. They may tolerate temperatures as low as 0°c for short periods and down to 3°c for prolonged periods[]. They prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 4,000mm[].
Succeeds in sunny positions and in light shade, growing best in forest clearings[, ]. Prefers a well-drained, humus-rich, light to medium soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5.5, but tolerates 3.5 - 5.6[].
Plants can be harvested for their fibre and fruit around 6 - 8 years from planting, with an economical life of 20 - 40 years and with a total lifespan of up to 70 years[, ].
Plants require 90 - 120 days from flowering to fruiting and have no obvious seasonality[]. Fruit production usually occurs every two ears[].
An average fruit can weigh about 6 kilos. It is about 25cm long and 20cm wide, containings about 1,000 separate nuts. After burning off the outside and removing the stalk, the weight is about 5 kilos. A single kernel weighs about 0.5g. The weight of edible kernels in a fruit is about 8% of the total fresh weight or about 0.5 kilos[].
This species has potential for commercial use[].
Branches do not have dormant buds and so will not resprout if cut back into the old wood[]. However, plants are often propagated by means of cuttings - this works well on old trees with a number of branches since these trees tend to have smaller clusters of fruit because the fruit are competing on the same plant for their requirements Taking cuttings is also a form of pruning that improves the size of fruit clusters on the parent tree[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruits and seed are required. Male forms of this species are rare[].

Edible Uses

Seeds - raw or cooked[, ]. The seeds are oily and contain a fair amount of protein[]. The shell is quite thin and can be cracked with the teeth[].

Fruit - cooked[]. Rich in oil The infructescence is a multiple fruit comprising several hundred seeds and known as a cephalium. The yellowish pulp (mesocarp) that forms in the centre of the cephalium is eaten[].

Sometimes the inner leaves and the tips of the aerial roots are eaten cooked[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the plant (?leaves) is used for making textiles[].

Propagation

Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing[]. It can be slow to germinate.
Cuttings from the top section of a branch usually root well when planted in a moist, fertile, well-drained soil[].

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