Pandanus spiralis

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Pandanus spiralis
Pandanus spiralis, leaf.

Pandanus spiralis , leaf.

Systematics
Class : Bedecktsamer (Magnoliopsida)
Monocots
Order : Screw tree-like (Pandanales)
Family : Screw tree plants (Pandanaceae)
Genre : Screw trees ( pandanus )
Type : Pandanus spiralis
Scientific name
Pandanus spiralis
R.Br.
Fruit of Pandanus spiralis

Pandanus spiralis is a species of screw trees ( Pandanus ) in the screw tree family(Pandanaceae).

description

Pandanus spiralis is an evergreen plant that forms a trunk up to 10 meters high.

The leaves are arranged in a spiral. They are heavily reinforced with thorns; the thorns sit on the leaf margins and on the midrib. The leaves are stiff and striped.

The fruits are stone fruits that are somewhat similar to the fruits of the pineapple . When ripe, they turn orange to orange-red. The seeds contained are edible.

Distribution and location

The home of Pandanus spiralis is in northern Australia . Their distribution area extends over the northern parts of the Australian states of Western Australia , Northern Territory and Queensland .

The plant prefers to grow along streams and rivers as well as on beaches and on dunes in the coastal area.

Systematics

The first description by the English botanist Robert Brown was published in 1810. There are five varieties. Here is a list of the varieties with information on the initial description:

  • Pandanus spiralis var. Convexus (H.St.John) BCStone , Nuytsia 2: 245 (1978).
  • Pandanus spiralis var. Flammeus B.C. Stone , Nuytsia 2: 245 (1978). It occurs in northern Western Australia .
  • Pandanus spiralis var. Multimammillatus B.C.Stone , Nuytsia 2: 247 (1978). It occurs in northern Western Australia .
  • Pandanus spiralis var. Spiralis .
  • Pandanus spiralis var. Thermalis (H.St. John) BCStone , Nuytsia 2: 247 (1978).

use

The leaves can be used for braiding. In Australia, the Aborigines in particular weave fish traps, baskets and mats as well as necklaces and bracelets.

The seeds contained in the stone fruits are edible. In order to get to the seeds, the somewhat lignified collective crop must be cut up. The seeds can be ground into a nutritious flour.

ecology

Various animals, including bird species, stay in the plant to benefit from the protection from predators that the heavily reinforced foliage offers.

Sources and further information

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b See entry in GRIN Taxonomy for Plants .
  2. ↑ Brief description at rarepalmseeds.com ; see web links.
  3. ↑ a b c Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Pandanus spiralis. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved June 25, 2018.

Web links

Commons : Pandanus spiralis  - Collection of images, videos and audio files