Common Name:

General Information

Pandanus kirkii is an evergreen tree growing up to 15 metres tall with stilt roots clustered around the base[]. It has a few blunt knobs on the bole, and sharp spines on the stilt-roots[].
The leaves are harvested from the wild for local use in thatching etc. It is quite likely that the fruit and seed are edible. The plant is also grown as an ornamental[].
Pandanus kirkii is widespread and fairly to very common in places, it is under no major threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania.

Habitat

Sandy beaches and on coral near the sea[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[]
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

Although no specific records have yet been seen for this species, most members of this genus have more or less edible fruits, seeds and inner leaf bases[].
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[].
The syncarp of this species is about 8 - 18cm x 5 - 16cm[].
The seed often has a delicious nutty flavour when eaten raw or cooked, though it is fiddly to extract[]. Seeds contain 44 - 50% fat and 20 - 34% protein[].
Inner base of young leaves - raw[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching[].
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 are 90 - 300cm long, 47 - 66mm wide at the base, toothed along the margins and midrib[].

Propagation

Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing[].

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