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Useful Tropical Plants

Pandanus brosimos

Merr. & L.M.Perry

Pandanaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Kaun

No Image.

General Information

Pandanus brosimos is an evergreen tree, sometimes unbranched otherwise with a few branches near the top; it can grow up to 25 metres tall. The stem is very straight, around 35cm in diameter, and there is a cluster of slender prop-roots up to 1 metre long at the base. Clusters of erect, prickly, sword-like leaves are produced near the tops of stems[
658
Title
Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
French. B.R.
Publisher
Author.
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
].
The plant is sometimes cultivated in the highlands of New Guinea at elevations between 1,700 - 3.100 metres, and is also harvested from wild populations as a local source of food. Wild forms of this species are particularly valued as a food in New Guinea[
1819
Title
Ethnobotany of Wopkaimin Pandanus: Significant Papua New Guinea Plant Resource
Publication
Economic Botany, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1984), pp. 287-303
Author
Hyndman D.C.
Website
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4254642
Publisher
 
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
 
], and the plant is said to have significant commercial potential as a food crop[
1817
Title
South Pacific Indigenous Nuts. ACIAR Proceedings No 69
Publication
 
Author
Stevens M.L.; Bourke R.M. & Evans B.R.
Publisher
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Canbe
Year
1996
ISBN
1 86320 175 0
Description
Proceedings of a workshop held from 31 October to 4 November 1994 at Le Lagon Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Australasia - New Guinea.

Habitat

Forests, often semi-cultivated, usually at elevations from 2,400 - 3,100 metres but sometimes descending to 1,800 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

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.
]
Fruiting is seasonal, often with good crops occurring every second year[
658
Title
Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
Publication
 
Author
French. B.R.
Publisher
Author.
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
].
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

Seeds - raw or cooked[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
,
1819
Title
Ethnobotany of Wopkaimin Pandanus: Significant Papua New Guinea Plant Resource
Publication
Economic Botany, Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1984), pp. 287-303
Author
Hyndman D.C.
Website
http://www.jstor.org/stable/4254642
Publisher
 
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. Rich in oil[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Fruit[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. The soft mesocarp is used as food[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].
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, woody wedges - 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 that in many species has a delicious flavour[
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
]. This pulp needs to be cooked in order 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
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Although we have seen no specific records for this species, the leaves of most members of this genus are used locally for weaving a range of items such as mats, bags and baskets. 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 leaves of this species can be up to 3.5 metres long and 18cm wide at the base.

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. 2024-12-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pandanus+brosimos>

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