Common Name: Faket

General Information

Pandanus castaneus is an evergreen tree with a branched crown growing around 7 - 9 metres tall. The short trunk is supported by a few short prop roots up to 100cm long. The long, prickly, sword-shaped leaves are around 190 - 280cm long (to 400cm in young plants), and are produced in clusters at the apex of the branches[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of oil.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - New Guinea

Habitat

Submontane rain forest; at elevations around 900 - 1,400 metres[]. An understorey tree in mixed Castanopsis/Oak forest.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[]
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - fleshy and fibrous, it is a rich source of oil[, ]. Wrapped in leaves and baked in a hot stone oven, the solid fat in the fruit liquifies to become oil. This oil is expressed by hand to make a sauce that is spread over foods such as leafy greens or baked taro[].
The cylindrical cephalium (fruiting body) is rounded at both ends, around 25cm long and 8cm wide, composed of numerous drupes. The drupes are crowded around a fleshy mass (the mesocarp)[].

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[].

Propagation

Seed -

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