Re: Pandanus

I found the seedlings of the Himalayan Pandanus in the
nursery greenhouse at Strybing Arboretum, San
Francisco, this weekend, and the species name is
*Pandanus furcatus*. Too young so far to plant out,
but has potential, judging from its altitude of origin
(6000 feet).
I believe, too, that there may be a few seedlings of
the NZ Freycinetia around, but I've not seen them
outdoors yet in the Arboretum.
Cheers,
Jason
San Francisco


--- Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
> 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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