Trees & Plants

Tahitian screw pine

Boa kashikeyo

Pandanus tectorius Parkinson

Common in natural habitats A multipurpose tree second only to coconut. It can withstand drought, strong winds and salt spray and hence used in shoreline restoration. Fruits is one of the traditional foods in Maldives. The leaves are used to make baskets, mats, thatch roofs a and

Details

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uses: A multipurpose tree second only to coconut. It can withstand drought, strong winds and salt spray and hence used in shoreline restoration. Fruits is one of the traditional foods in Maldives. The leaves are used to make baskets, mats, thatch roofs a and grass skirts. The stem and branches are used for house construction and as firewood. A decoction of the leaf is used to treat headache, arthritis, and stomach spasms. The root decoction is believed to have aphrodisiac and cardiotonic properties.
family: Pandanaceae
synonym: Pandanus absonus H. St. John, Pandanus adscendens H. St. John
description: Evergreen, coarsely branched palmaceous trees with hollow stem. Prop roots are numerous, thick and originate from the base of the trunk. Exposed stems grossly ringed by leaf scars. Leaves linear, × 100-200 4-7 cm wide, arranged spirally in three rows at the tips of the branches, leaf apex, long, flagella like; margin and midrib prickled. Dioceous; male inflorescence a raceme of spikes, flowers tiny, white, and fragrant with large showy bracts. Female fiinflorescence a condensed head. Fruits to ovoid, ellipsoid, sub-globose or globose with tightly bunched, wedge shaped, fleshy ex Du Roi drupes; seed hard and stony.
native range: Indo-Malaysia and Australia (Queensland)
distribution: In coastal habitats throughout the tropics.
english names: Tahitian screw pine · Th atch screw pine
flowering fruiting: Th roughout the year
occurrence maldives: Common in natural habitats