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Useful Tropical Plants

Pandanus spiralis

R.Br.

Pandanaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

Pandanus spiralis
Plant growing on a coastal cliff. Darwin, Northern Territory. Note the prop roots
Photograph by: Bidgee
Creative Commons License
Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis Pandanus spiralis

General Information

Pandanus spiralis is an evergreen tree growing up to 10 metres tall.
The edible fruits, seeds and leaves are gathered from the wild and used locally. The leaves are also used locally for making mats, bags, cloaks etc.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Australia - Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Habitat

Creeks, rivers, valleys, beaches and coastal dunes, on sandy, loamy, clay, alluvium and sandstone soils[
285
Title
Florabase
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database of Western Australian plants
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height8.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generally grow well in most moist, well-dained soils and a sunny position[
974
Title
Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
Publication
 
Author
Ahmed Fayaz
Publisher
Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
Year
2011
ISBN
978-1-55407-489
Description
A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
]
Branches do not have dormant buds and so will not resprout if cut back into the old wood[
423
Title
Desert Tropicals
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruits and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The cylindrical fruit is a syncarp made up of a number of individual drupes[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Individual drupes are hard, woody wedges - each containing a few, slender seeds[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Each wedge has a fleshy base imbued with a sweet-smelling, orange pulp that has a strong, sweet flavour of custard apple[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. This pulp needs to be cooked in order to destroy a deleterious substance[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

The seed often has a delicious nutty flavour when eaten raw or cooked, though it is fiddly to extract[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. Seeds contain 44 - 50% fat and 20 - 34% protein[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Inner base of young leaves - raw[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The tough, fibrous leaves are used for weaving bags, cloaks etc[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
]. The leaves, which are usually tough and fibrous, are long, narrow and sword-shaped and can easily be split into strips for weaving[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

The soft trunks have been lashed together to make rafts[
193
Title
Wild Food Plants of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Low. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson.
Year
1989
ISBN
0-207-14383-8
Description
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
].

Propagation

Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pandanus+spiralis>

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