We often see the large pineapple-like fruits. But what do the flowers of this pandan look like? Today at Pulau Semakau, we found out!
The Seashore pandan has a spiral of long leaves armed with wicked thorns. Usually forming an impenetrable thicket at ground level, it sometimes grows into a small tree, often with stilt roots around the central trunk.
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But what do the flowers look like? As we were all remarking that we've never seen a Seashore pandan flower, Suay Hwee said, "Let's look for them!" And he proceed to find one in the plant right in front of us!
The male and female flowers are found on different plants. The male flowers form a pendulous ‘cone’ (25-60 cm) comprising many small flowers.
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The female flowers have been described as "compact greenish heads with pistils densely crowded with colored scales."
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According to Little, the male and female plants have vastly different structures. Trunks of male trees are hard and solid throughout. The timber is yellow, strong and difficult to split. Trunks of female trees have a hard outer part, but soft inner pith. In fact, the trunks of female trees have used as water pipes after removal of the pith.
According to Burkill, the Seashore pandan is widely cultivated for various purposes. Each cultivated variety is different depending on the purpose, e.g., for making mats, for the fruits and so on. Up to 28 varieties of this plant have been described!
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The sweet smelling male flowers were used by women in their hair or to prepare scented oils. Medicinal uses include using the young leaves as an antidote for poisoning.
According to Hsuan Keng, the Seashore pandan was common along sandy shores in many parts of Singapore. According to Giesen, it is probably the most widespread Pandanus species as it is also widely cultivated. It is found on all tropical shores and throughout Southeast Asia. Its proper scientific name is Pandanus tectorius, although the old name P. odoratissimus is an accepted synonym. Another common name for it was "Screw pine" apparently for the way its leaves are arranged in a spiral and the evergreen leaves. I think Seashore pandan is a nicer common name.
References
- Giesen, Wim and Stephan Wulffraat, Max Zieren and Liesbeth Scholten. 2006. Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia (PDF online downloadable). RAP publication 2006/07 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok.
- Hala, screwpine (Pandanus tectorius) (PDF online downloadable) on the Common Forest Trees of Hawaii USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 679 Elbert L. Little Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, 1989
- Hsuan Keng, S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan.1998, The Concise Flora of Singapore II: Monoctyledons Singapore University Press. 215 pp.
- Burkill, I. H., 1993. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. 3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241-2444.