Re: Pandanus

Jason D wrote:
> 
> There are a couple of Pandanus with potential, one
> from the Himalayas near Darjeeling, the other from
> Lord Howe Island (whose species name I forget):
> http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/lhi.htm
> 
> -Jason Dewees
> SF
> 
> --- david feix <davidfeix@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Barry, They are all tropical species, and could be
> > grown as a very large houseplant in northern
> > California, and in fact some species are available
> > here, but would not like our wet cool winters at
> > all.
> >
> > The whorled growth habit of the foliage is also
> > interesting, in combination with the stilt roots,
> > and
> > most are commonly used as first zone of exposure
> > beach
> > plantings to protect other plants less tolerant of
> > salty winds in tropical places like Bali.
> >
> > One plant which for some reason reminds me of
> > pandanus
> > and that we can grow here is Astelia chathamica
> > 'Silver Spear'.  The foliage also takes on this sort
> > of whorled habit, and is coarse but without the
> > vicious spiny leaves.  It is not woody nor tree
> > like,
> > but the silvery foliage and ultimate size much like
> > a
> > Phormium might make this plant of interest for you
> > in
> > your own beach side garden there near Monterey.

Hi
Pandanus (popular name Screwpine). Pandanaceae (Old World tropics, no
New World species)"Palm-like evergreens" mostly tropical and commonly
with spiny leaves. Some may grow to around 50 feet but may appear
shorter as they tend to lean at an angle and some species grow prop
roots.

There are separate male and female trees. Male flowers may be showy, but
the females are small, though followed by striking fruits.
Characteristic fruits of pandanus are a round aggregate of red or yellow
berries as much a 12 inches across, looking quite a lot like a
pineapple, but as far as I can ascertain they are not edible.

One species is named odoratissimus and the flowers are made into a
perfume in India. This is the common species around the  tropical East
Pacific and a non-spiny sub species is used very like the NZ flax for
cordage, thatch, matting and fine weaving.

There is another species in Malaysia, which never flowers but has
scented leaves which are used in Potpourri

I can't find a reference to the Lord Howe Pandanus, but there is one
from the Australian mainland (P.pedunculatus) occurring in Queensland
and New South Wales. It won't take frost but will grow in warm temperate
conditions and take any amount of beach exposure. It grows up to around
15-20ft high, is very spreading and has spines on the leaves.

Botanica says any pandanus can be grown as a pot plant when young if
given ample water and groomed frequently to remove dead and damaged
leaves. Propagate by seed or rooted suckers.

Another member of the Pandanceae is Freyncintia of which  F banksii
(Kiekie) is named as "a hothouse plant from NZ" (This is British
publication speaking). It is a climber growing up supports by aerial
roots like an ivy and can apparently be grown indoors on a peat-covered
pillar. It is immensely common in our local forest park, where it grows
up any trees it fancies and is in time quite as enveloping to the poor
things as an ivy. I don't fancy it myself. I think it is possibly not
completely hardy even to our usually light local frosts, as one only
sees it where there is a substantial overhead canopy.

The same book tantalizingly mentions a species of Pandanus (P. veitchii)
as an ornamental having glossy dark green leaves a silvery white border,
but gives no other information.


-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
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