Common Name: |
Screw Pine |
Other Names: |
Ketaki |
Botanical Name: |
Pandanus tectorius syn. P. odoratissimus |
Genus: |
Pandanus |
Family: |
Pandanaceae |
Native Location: |
W India to C Moluccas. |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, with moderate to high humidity. Plants take 3-4 years to flower. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown when ripe at 18°C (64°F), soaking for 24 hours before sowing; or by removal of suckers or offsets in spring. |
Harvest: |
All parts are collected as required and used fresh. |
Height: |
3-10m (10-30ft) |
Width: |
2-4m (6-12ft) |
Variations: |
Var. laevis Has spineless leaves. |
Hardiness: |
Min. 13°C (55°F) |
Parts Used: |
Aerial roots, leaf bud ("cabbage"), flowers, fruits, seeds, oil. |
Properties: |
A stimulant, diuretic herb (roots and leaf bud) with a hyacinth-ylang-ylang scent (flowers). It relaxes spasms and lowers fever. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally in folk medicine as a diuretic, depurative, and tonic (roots), for headache and rheumatism (oil, otto), and to treat sterility and threatened miscarriage (root). Externally as a poultice for boils (leaf bud), earache (oil), epilepsy (powdered anthers and bracts, taken as snuff). |
Culinary Uses: |
Fruits are eaten by Pacific Islanders; seeds are a staple food in parts of New Guinea. Otto (attar) is used to flavor betel nut (Areca catechu, See, betel nut). Kewra water and essence are used to flavor syrups, soft drinks, and Indian dishes, such as biryani, and rasgoola. |
Economic Uses: |
Oil is added to sandalwood oil for perfumery, and used in skin products. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 300-301 |