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Useful Tropical Plants

Pandanus aquaticus

F.Muell.

Pandanaceae

+ Synonyms

Pandanus delestangii Martelli

Pandanus kimberleyanus H.St.John

Pandanus oblanceoloideus H.St.John

Pandanus spechtii H.St.John

Common Name:

Pandanus aquaticus
Plant growing in native habitat
Photograph by: Fagg, M.
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus Pandanus aquaticus

General Information

Pandanus aquaticus is an evergreen tree growing around 4 - 7 metres tall. The slender stem has prop roots. The sword-shaped leaves are around 130cm long and 6cm wide, arranged in clustes at the ends of the branches[1823
The tree provides edible fruits, seeds and leaves, as well as material for making mats, bags etc. It is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1823
Title
Revision of the Genus Pandanus Stickman, Part 2 Pandanus in Western Australia and Notes on the Section Foullioya
Publication
Pacific Science (1961) Vol. 15, No 2, pp 180-185
Author
St.John H.
Publisher
 
Year
1961
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Australia - Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Habitat

Mainly on riverbanks.

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height6.00 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[
974
Title
Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
Publication
 
Author
Ahmed Fayaz
Publisher
Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
Year
2011
ISBN
978-1-55407-489
Description
A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]
Branches do not have dormant buds and so will not resprout if cut back into the old wood[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruits and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - it needs to be cooked to destroy a deleterious substance[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. The cylindrical fruit is a syncarp made up of a number of individual drupes[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Individual drupes are hard, orange woody wedges 5 - 10cm long - each containing a few, slender seeds[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Each wedge has a fleshy base imbued with a sweet-smelling, orange pulp[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Seed - raw or cooked[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. A delicious nutty flavour when eaten raw or cooked, though they are fiddly to extract[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Seeds contain 44 - 50% fat and 20 - 34% protein[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Inner base of young leaves - raw[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tough, fibrous leaves are used for weaving bags, cloaks etc[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. The leaves, which are usually tough and fibrous, are long, narrow and sword-shaped and can easily be split into strips for weaving[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

The soft trunks have been lashed together to make rafts[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Propagation

Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pandanus+aquaticus>

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