April 2006 Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry ver. 1.1 www.traditionaltree.org Pandanus tectorius (pandanus) Pandanaceae (screwpine family) ajbwirōk, anewetāk (Pingelap Atoll, Pohnpei), binu (Kapingamarangi Atoll, Pohnpei); bōb (Marshall Islands); choy, fach, far (Yap); deipw, fach, far (Chuuk); deipw, kipar (Pohnpei); épo (Nauru); fa, fafa, laufala, falahola, kuku- valu, lou‘akau (Tonga); fala, lau fala (Samoa, Tuvalu); hala (Nukuoro Atoll, Pohnpei); hala, pū hala (Hawai‘i); kafu (Guam); mweng (Kosrae); ongor (Palau); pandanas (Vanuatu: Bislama); pandanus, vacouet (French); pandanus, screw pine (English); te kaina (Kiribati); vadra, voivoi (Fiji) Lex A.J. Thomson, Lois Englberger, Luigi Guarino, R.R. Thaman, and Craig R. Elevitch h C vit E photo: C. El C. photo: Pandanus growing along the southern coast of ‘Upolu, Samoa. IN BRIEF Growth rate Stem growth is slow to moderate, 2–80 cm Distribution Native throughout the Pacific islands and [0.8–31 in] per year. parts of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Main agroforestry uses Coastal protection, windbreak, homegardens. Size Reaches 4–14 m (13–46 ft) in height, with about the Main uses Food, weaving, thatch. same canopy diameter. Yields 10–300 leaves per tree per year or 8–12 fruits. Habitat Usually elevations of sea level to 20 m (66 ft), but can grow at elevations of 600 m (1970 ft) or higher. Intercropping Often planted in and around mixed agro­ forests in the Pacific. Vegetation Associated with species of coastal forests. Invasive potential Naturally spreads into coastal plant Soils Adapted to a very wide range of light to heavy soil communities. Since it is native to Pacific islands, the tree is types. not considered to be invasive. INTRODUCTION wild plants in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. These have sometimes been widely planted as aboriginal intro­ Pandanus (P. tectorius) is a large shrub or small tree of im­ ductions to many islands. Additionally, new variants may mense cultural, health, and economic importance in the be selected from seedling progeny or mutations in culti­ Pacific, second only to coconut on atolls. A highly vari­ vated varieties. able species complex, it grows wild mainly in semi­natural vegetation in littoral habitats throughout the tropical and subtropical Pacific, where it can withstand drought, strong BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION winds, and salt spray. It propagates readily from seed, but it is also widely propagated from branch cuttings by local Preferred scientific name people for farms and homegardens. It grows fairly quickly, and all parts are used, from the nutritious fruits of edible Pandanus tectorius Parkinson varieties, to the poles and branches in construction, to the leaves for weaving and garlands. The plant is prominent Family in Pacific culture and tradition, including local medicine. Pandanaceae (screwpine family) Hundreds of cultivated varieties, collectively recognized in the Pacific but specific to numerous independent cultural Non-preferred scientific names traditions, are known by their local names and character­ In this treatment, P. tectorius is recognized as a highly vari­ istics of fruits, branches, and leaves. At present, there is able species complex that is widespread on strandline and evidence that this diversity is declining, with certain va­ coastal forest communities throughout the tropical and rieties becoming difficult to find. The reasons include less subtropical Pacific Ocean. Numerous, often minor, mor­ replanting, deforestation, fire, flagging interest by the new phological variants of pandanus have been recognized and generation, and rapid population growth leading to urban­ formally described as species, mainly by St. John. Some ization. Planting pandanus should be promoted in both of the more widely used and important synonyms encom­ rural and urban areas. For example, small shrubby varieties passing entities within the P. tectorius complex include P. could be planted along boundaries or borders. Plantings pedunculatus R. Br., P. pyriformis (Martelli) St. John, and should be encouraged in protected areas and in well main­ P. spurius Miquel. The concept of variety is useful to des­ tained public areas. For example, in Hawai‘i plantings of ignate socio­economically important, and/or striking and pandanus on hotel grounds were utilized and greatly ap­ unusual forms. preciated by local weavers, due to good access and ease of harvesting. Special attempts should be made to collect and Common names replant endangered varieties that are valued for their edible ajbwirōk, anewetāk (Pingelap Atoll, Pohnpei) fruits and other uses. binu (Kapingamarangi Atoll, Pohnpei) bōb (Marshall Islands) DISTRIBUTION choy, fach, far (Yap) deipw, fach, far (Chuuk) Native range deipw, kipar (Pohnpei) épo (Nauru) Pandanus tectorius naturally occurs in strandline and near­ fa, fafa, laufala, falahola, kukuvalu, lou‘akau (Tonga) coastal forests in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines fala, lau fala (Samoa, Tuvalu) and Indonesia, extending eastward through Papua New hala (Nukuoro Atoll, Pohnpei) Guinea and northern Australia, and throughout the Pacif­ hala, pū hala (Hawai‘i) ic islands, including Melanesia (Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, kafu (Guam) New Caledonia, and Fiji), Micronesia (Palau, Northern mweng (Kosrae) Marianas, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall ongor (Palau) Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Nauru), and Polynesia (Wal­ pandanas (Vanuatu: Bislama) lis and Futuna, Tokelau, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, pandanus, vacouet (French) Niue, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Hawai‘i). pandanus, screw pine (English) te kaina (Kiribati) Current distribution vadra, voivoi (Fiji) Many traditionally recognized and named varieties have In the atoll island countries of the central and northern originated through selection and vegetative propagation of Pandanus tectorius (pandanus) Pacific, several hundred traditional varieties (many used by in racemes or branched in clusters, with large white showy people for food) are recognized and given individual names bracts. Male flowers only last for about a day, with the in­ in the local languages and maintained largely through veg­ florescence decaying within 3–4 days (Brink and Jansen etative propagation. 2003). Female flowers are pineapple­like. Size and form Leaves Pandanus tectorius is a stout, branching, often multi­stemmed, There is considerable variation in leaf shape and size, both large shrub or small tree (2–) 4–14 (–18) m ([6.6–]13–46[–59] on and among trees. Leaves are spirally­arranged in three ft) in height, with about the same canopy spread. Plants of rows and clustered at branch apices, dark green, 1–3 m (3.3– most varieties have numerous aerial and prop roots and thick, 10 ft) long by 11–16 cm (4.3–6.3 in) wide, V­ to Y­shaped in forking, often spiny trunks. Wild seedling­derived plants section, with spiny/prickly margins and midribs. Marginal often have a single bole or trunk for 4–8 m (13–26 ft) before prickles are usually 0.8–2.5 mm (0.03–0.1 in) long. A few forking. Maximum stem diameter is 12–25 cm (4.7–10 in). traditionally recognized and named varieties have leaves with smooth margins, e.g., ‘Tutu‘ila’ in Tonga, ‘Nei Naobua’ Flowers in Kiribati, ‘Lau fala’ in Samoa, and at least one variegated The species is dioecious—there are separate male and fe­ form in Fiji. male plants. Flowers are borne in heads at the shoot apex. In fully expanded leaves, the midrib is bent, and the up­ Male flowers are fragrant, tiny, white, pendant, arranged Top left: Male inflorescence. photo: C. ElEvitCh Top right: Female inflorescence. photo: C. ElEvitCh Bottom: Fruit heads comprise an aggregate of many tightly bunched wedge-shaped phalanges or drupes; these are also called “keys,” as removing one will allow the rest to come apart easily. photos: l. thomson Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry (www.traditionaltree.org) per third (or so) of the leaf hangs down, giving pandanus mesocarp is fibrous and fleshy, about 10–30 mm (0.4–1.2 plants their characteristic drooping appearance. in) long. This is the portion of the fruit that is chewed and eaten in edible varieties. At maturity the color of the basal Fruit section of the phalanges varies from pale yellow to dark The multiple fruit head displays considerable plant­to­ yellow, orange, and orange/red. For intact fruiting heads plant variation in morphology, size, and color, and many of the visible apical portion of the phalange is typically green the traditionally named varieties (females) are recognized with brown markings at maturity, turning yellow with age, by their particular combination of fruit head characteris­ after falling. In some varieties the apical portion may be tics (Hiyane 1971). colored dark orange at maturity, e.g., ‘Fala‘hola’ in Tonga. The shape of the fruit head may be ovoid, ellipsoid, sub­ The apical profile of individual phalanges ranges from globose or globose, with overall dimensions of 8–30 cm (3– truncate and sub­truncate to convex. There are 1–15 carpels 12 in) long by 4–20 cm (1.6–8 in) diameter. Fruit heads are per phalange, and these are arranged either radially or in made up many (38–200) tightly bunched, wedge­shaped parallel rows. The central apical sinuses range from 1–28 fleshy phalanges or drupes (also referred to as keys). mm (0.04–1.1 in) deep. Individual phalanges are narrowly oblong to ovoid and Seeds 2.5–11 cm (1–4.3 in) long by 1.5–6.7 cm (0.6–2.6 in) wide (at widest point). The endocarp (internal tissue surrounding The seeds are obovoid, ellipsoid, or oblong; 6–20 mm (0.25– the seeds) is dark reddish­brown, hard/bony, and 15–35 mm 0.8 in) long; red­brown and whitish/gelatinous inside. The (0.6–1.4 in) long. The mesocarp comprises apical and basal small (10 mm [0.4 in] long) white seeds of pandanus found sections. The apical mesocarp formed in the apex of each in some varieties have a coconut­like taste.