Does this more properly belong with Pandanus monticola in the genus Benstonea?

Common Name: Pup Pandan

General Information

Pandanus gemmifer is a spiny, evergreen tree with branches that are somewhat erect; it can grow up to 10 metres tall.
The trunk is up to 15cm in diameter, with scattered spiny conical nodules (warty) and well-developed prop roots 30 - 50cm long and 3 - 4cm wide. The sword-like leaves are up to 250cm long and5cm wide, spirally arranged in clusters near the branch apices[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - northern Queensland

Habitat

Rain forest and vine thickets; at elevations from 10 - 760 metres[]

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[]
The plant produces axillary buds along the stems. The larger of these are easily detached from the stems and, when they fall to the ground will usually form roots and grow vigorously to develop into a new plant. By this means the species will often develop into thickets in the wild[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms are required if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The red fruit is about 20 - 25cm long and 10 - 18cm in diameter. It is a multiple fruit, comprised of about 30 - 40 segments (phalanges), each segment is around 30 - 60mm x 30 - 40mm and contains 8 - 17 spindle-shaped seeds each up to 15 x 4mm[]

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves can be used to make Dilly (string) bags, sieve bags, mats, armbands and baskets[].

Although we have seen no other 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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