Pandanus spiralis R.Br.

Small tree to 10 m high, sometimes stoloniferous, sometimes clumping; prop roots usually absent, sometimes present, short; trunk usually with prominent leaf scars, or with persistent leaf bases forming a distinct spiral below leaves, sometimes with nodules or ascending rootlets. Leaves erect, 1–2 m long, (4–) 5–6.5 cm wide, ± glaucous; margins with or without prickles; midrib with or without prickles. Male flowers: stemonophores to 7 mm long, with up to 14 stamens; anthers c. 4 mm long. Fruiting head terminal, pendent, 20–30 cm long, ovoid to subglobose, with 20–35 (–48) phalanges, orange to red when ripe. Phalanges with 8–20 carpels (rarely more), very broadly cuneate to suborbicular, often ± compressed, 5–7 (–8) cm long, 5–7.5 (–8.5) cm wide, truncate to high-convex; sides usually smooth and ± shiny on sides, with lateral sutures sometimes present, occasionally interlocking with adjacent phalanges. Carpel apices low-concave to sharply convex; central apices ± symmetric, marginal ones very irregular; stigmas horizontal to oblique.

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It grows in a range of different sites. Often they are near the edges of swamps and ponds or along streams. It can grow in sun or light shade. It can tolerate salty locations. It does well in a humid climate. They are sensitive to frost. They can tolerate a wide range of pH values. In Townsville palmetum.

This species is used in a variety of ways by Aboriginal people: the fruit, seeds and leaf bases are eaten; the leaves, trunk and prop roots are used medicinally; trunks are used to build rafts; and the leaves are stripped and used for weaving and string baskets (Smith 1991: 45–46); see also Cowie (2000: 214) and references therein.

Plants can be grown from fresh seed. They grow best if removed from the woody shells and soaked for 24 hours. Plants can be grown by removing suckers.