Pandanus spiralis
| Pandanus spiralis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Growing in Kakadu National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Pandanales |
| Family: | Pandanaceae |
| Genus: | Pandanus |
| Species: | P. spiralis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pandanus spiralis | |
Pandanus spiralis is a small tree in the family Pandanaceae native to northern Australia. It is commonly called pandanus, spring pandanus, screw palm or screw pine, although it is neither a palm nor a pine.
Description[edit]
Pandanus spiralis is a small tree growing up to 10 m tall with a slender trunk, and often with a clumping habit. Prop roots may be present, but are more often absent. The leaves are 1–2 m long and 4–7 cm wide, and they may or may not have sharp spines along the leaf margins and midrib. They are arranged spirally on the trunk and branches, and crowded towards their tips. As the leaves die they can form a dense pendant skirt around the trunk below the growing part, and lower down on the trunk the leaf bases often persist, forming a conspicuous spiral.[4][5]
The inflorescences are terminal—on the male plants it is a pendant string of several spadices each about 5 cm long, while on the female plants it is a single head about 20–30 cm long shrouded by large leafy bracts.[4][5]
The fruit is a multiple fruit consisting of 10–25 segments measuring 8–10 cm long and 5–8 cm wide, known as "phalanges". The phalanges are composed of a dense fibrous material with 5–7 seeds embedded in it. The fruit is initially green and turn orange or red when ripe.[4][5]
Taxonomy[edit]
This species was first described by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown in his book Prodromus floræ Novæ Hollandiæ et Insulæ Van-Diemen, published in 1810.[6]
Infraspecies[edit]
Five varieties are recognised as of June 2024[update], as follows:[3]
- Pandanus spiralis var. convexus (H.St.John) B.C.Stone – synonyms P. convexus H.St.John and P. integer H.St.John
- Pandanus spiralis var. flammeus B.C.Stone
- Pandanus spiralis var. multimammillatus B.C.Stone
- Pandanus spiralis var. spiralis – autonym
- Pandanus spiralis var. thermalis (H.St.John) B.C.Stone – synonym P. thermalis H.St.John
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This species occurs in northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and the extreme north of Western Australia. It grows in savannah woodlands and poorly drained areas such as alongside creeks and rivers, the margins of floodplains, and coastal dunes, on various substrates including sand, alluvium and clay.[4][5][7][8][9]
Ecology[edit]
The dense skirt of old leaves provides a refuge for many forms of wildlife including birds, bats, rodents and lizards. The seeds within the fruit are eaten by cockatoos and possums.[10][11]
Uses[edit]
The leaves of this tree are used to weave various products such as neckbands, armbands, baskets, mats, fish traps and shelters, and the fibre can be stripped out to make string for dillybags and other uses. The trunks are used to build rafts.[4][5][10][12][13] The plant has a number of medicinal uses, including as an antiseptic, analgesic and to treat disentery and diarrhoea.[4][5][14] The leaf bases are eaten and the seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, and may be ground to make flour.[4][5][11]
Gallery[edit]
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Trunk with persistent leaf bases -
Ripening fruit -
A segment (phalange) of the fallen fruit -
Growing on a coastal sandbank -
Detail of spines on the leaf margin -
Spiral arrangement of the leaves
References[edit]
- ^ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2021). "Pandanus spiralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T192234266A192234268. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T192234266A192234268.en. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Pandanus spiralis". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Pandanus spiralis R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wilson, A.J.G. (2022). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Pandanus spiralis". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lim, T. K. (13 June 2012). "Pandanus spiralis". Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 4, Fruits. Springer. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-94-007-4052-5.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen (in Latin). London: R. Taylor and associates. p. 341.
- ^ Cowie I, Lewis D, et al. "Pandanus spiralis". FloraNT, Northern Territory Herbarium. Northern Territory Government, Darwin. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Pandanus spiralis". Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Government of Western Australia. 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Search: species: Pandanus spiralis | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Pandanus". Kakadu National Park. Parks Australia, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Flora and Fauna". Thuringowa Riverway. Thuringowa City Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2006.
- ^ Hamilton, Phillip (1996). "Pandanus". Uw Oykangand and Uw Olkola Multimedia Dictionary. Archived from the original on 9 April 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2006.
- ^ "Pandanus spiralis (R. Br.) Screw palm". Top End Native Plant Society. Retrieved 22 November 2006.
- ^ Lassak, E.V.; McCarthy, T. (1990). "Table of plant uses". Australian Medicinal Plants. Illustrated by Betty Hinton. Melbourne: Mandarin Publishing. pp. 209, 218. ISBN 1-86330-061-9.
External links[edit]
- View a map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- See images of this species on Flickriver.com