Common Name: Kaun

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[].
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[], and the plant is said to have significant commercial potential as a food crop[].

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
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[]
Fruiting is seasonal, often with good crops occurring every second year[].
Branches do not have dormant buds and so will not resprout if cut back into the old wood[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruits and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Seeds - raw or cooked[, ]. Rich in oil[].

Fruit[]. The soft mesocarp is used as food[].
The cylindrical fruit is a syncarp made up of a number of individual drupes[]. Individual drupes are hard, woody wedges - each containing a few, slender seeds[]. Each wedge has a fleshy base imbued with a sweet-smelling, orange pulp that in many species has a delicious flavour[]. This pulp needs to be cooked in order to destroy a deleterious substance[].

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[].
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[].

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