Common Name:

General Information

Pandanus polycephalus is a spiny, evergreen, clump-forming shrub or small tree growing around 2 - 5 metres tall with a branched stem and slender prop roots. Rosettes of sword-shaped leaves are produced at the ends of each branch[]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea to the Solomon and Caroline Islands in the Pacific.

Habitat

Beaches[]. Thickets near the seashore[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[]. Littoral species, such as this one, are usually very tolerant of strong, salt-laden winds and somewhat saline soil conditions.
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

Young leaves - raw[]. The young leaves and bract are used as vegetable and eaten raw[]. It is probably the inner portion at the base of the leaf that is eaten[].

The leaves are mixed with betel nut (Areca catechu) and pepper leaves (Piper betle) and are then chewed, where they act as a mild narcotic[].

Although no specific records have yet been seen for this species, most members of this genus also have more or less edible fruits and seeds[].
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 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[].

Medicinal

The leaves are used as a treatment against food poisoning, especially from seafood (such as fishes and crabs)[].

Other Uses

Older leaves are used for making mats[]
The sword-shaped leaves of this species are about 60 - 85cm long by 25 - 40mm wide at the base[].

Propagation

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

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