Pandanus tectorius Parkinson

Shrub or tree to 8 (–12) m high; prop roots usually numerous, to 1 (–1.7) m long; trunk and prop roots with warty nodules. Leaves erect, to 1.5 (–1.7) m long, (5–) 6–10 cm wide, sometimes glaucous; margins usually armed with prickles throughout, sometimes absent towards middle of leaf; midrib often without prickles in lower half, usually prickly above. Male flowers: stemonophores with c. 15 stamens; anthers c. 2 mm long. Fruiting head solitary, pendent, ellipsoid to broadly ovoid, 15–30 cm long, 10–20 cm diam., with up to 80 phalanges, orange-red. Phalanges with (5–) 8–15 (–20) carpels, ± globose, ± compressed, 3.8–6.5 cm long, 2–6.8 cm wide, (4–) 5 or 6 (–8)-angled, ± truncate to convex apically, smooth and ± shining on side faces, with sutures absent or sometimes visible in upper part. Carpel apices ± pyramidal, (0–) 2–6 (–8) mm high, ± equal or marginal ones larger; stigmas usually oblique. See also Stone (1993: 436), Cooper & Cooper (2004: 390), Thomson et al. (2006).

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows on the sandy edges of mangroves and along rivers. They are very common along the seashore throughout the islands of the Philippines. They are never found very far inland. It usually grows from sea level to 20 m altitude. In Samoa it grows to 300 m altitude. It usually grows in places with an average annual temperature range of 24-28°C. The rainfall is usually between 1500-4000 mm per year. It can grow in soils with a pH between 6-10. It can grow in salty soils. It grows on coral atolls. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

The fleshy portion of the lower part of the mature fruit is eaten raw. It can be cooked or made into flour. The seeds are eaten cooked. CAUTION: The seeds can contain calcium oxalate crystals. These can be removed by cooking and straining. They irritate the mouth. The tender shoots or terminal buds are eaten as a vegetable. Flowers and pollen are edible. The tip of the aerial root is eaten raw or roasted. They can be processed into a drink. The leaves can be used to flavour sweet dishes.

Plants are normally self sown. They can be grown from fresh seed. They are best sown in waterlogged soil. The preferred kinds are grown from cuttings. Cuttings of 30-40 cm are suitable. Seeds can float on ocean currents and still germinate after several months. It is used as a hedge or fence.