Screw Pine


Screw Pine

This large genus includes about 250 species of evergreen trees, shrubs, and scramblers, which occur in tropical Africa, India, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Various species are grown for their architectural appearance, either as landscape plants or as ornamentals under cover. They resemble pineapple plants (Ananas species) and are known as screw pines because the strap-shaped leaves are arranged spirally. Pandanus tectorius is widely grown int he tropics, often to prevent erosion; the non-spiny var. laevis is preferred for weaving and thatching. The essential oil in the fragrant male inflorescences of both P. fascicularis and P. tectorius is extracted, using sesame oil to produce kewda or kevda otto, and distilled to make a water or essence. These products are used locally as perfumes, flavorings, and medicines. Pandanum amaryllifolius is a characteristic herb of SE Asia cuisines, though seldom seen elsewhere. Synthetic pandan essence is available in Malaysia.

Upright small, much-branched tree with a stout trunk and prop roots, and stiff, leathery, blue-green leaves, 1-1.5m (3-5ft) long, which have spiny margins and a lower midrib. Male and female flowers appear separately; males in a spike, 20-30cm (8-12in) long, enclosed by a fragrant white spathe; and females solitary, to 5cm (2in) across, followed by rounded, red-flushed, yellow to light green fruits, 15-25cm (6-10in) long.


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