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Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze

Family Name:	Pandanaceae
Synonyms:	Pandanus odoratissimus L.f.
Common Name:	Fragrant Screw Pine, Screw Pine, Pandan Laut, Mengkuang Laut

Pandanus odorifer or Fragrant Screw Pine is a small tree that is native to Singapore. Growing up to 9 m in height, it has blade-like leaves with spines along the margins and midrib. It produces dioecious flowers of which the male inflorescence are strongly fragrant and larger compared to the female inflorescence which are scentless and smaller. The male flowers last up to a day while the female flowers are persistent, eventually develops into a large, pineapple-shaped fruit which consist of numerous orange-red, angular, smooth drupes.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Coastal Plant

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Maximum Height	9 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	South Asia, the Philippines, Polynesia, and tropical Australia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Mangrove Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a small tree sometimes a large shrub, that can reach to a height of 9 m tall. It produces multiple screw-like branching and aerial prop roots resulting in a thick vegetation.
Foliage	The leaves are long, blade-like, dark green to bluish green coloured measuring up to 200 cm long and 4 - 7 cm wide. The margins and midrib are covered in yellow, sharp, curved spines.
Flowers	Flowers are borne on a spike inflorescence at the tips of the branches. The spike is shielded by a spathe of 80 - 100 cm long and numerous yellow, papery, linear to lance-shaped bracts. The female inflorescence is scentless, 6 - 10 cm long, 2- 3 cm wide while the male inflorescence is larger, strongly fragrant, 25 - 30 cm long, 18 - 25 cm wide, woody, oblong-round shaped lasting only up to a day.

Fruit	Fruit is a large, pineapple shaped, multiple fruit (syncarp) consist of angular, smooth, buoyant drupes measuring 40 - 50 mm long, 25 - 35 mm wide, tightly crowded together. Each drupe starts off greenish, gradually turn yellow and orange-red when matured. Seed is 10 - 12 mm long, 2 - 3 wide, reddish-brown coloured.
Habitat	Occurs in beaches and margins of mangrove habitat, coastal belts, riverbanks and canals.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The species epipthet, 'odorifer' meant fragrant, sweet-scented, bearing perfume in reference to the strongly fragrant flowers.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The trunk and large branches are often used as building materials for houses, branches are also used as wood fuel and to make compost. Others: In Sri Lanka, the fresh leaves, tender white base of the leaves are eaten as vegetables. In India, the plant is valued as a key natural bioresource particularly for perfumery especially within the coastal district of Orissa. <1,2>

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	Due to their dense and complex root structures, they are actively planted as hedges to barricading fields against entry of wild animals and provide protection against tsunami damage in Kerala. <1>
Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses	Beachfront / Shoreline, Coastal

Usage Hazard - Cons

Spines/Thorns - Leaf

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Wind), Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Water), Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green, Green - Bluish Green
Foliar Modification	Spine (marginal)

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Sessile
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Linear)
Foliar Venation	Parallel
Foliar Margin	Spiny
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Inflorescence Type	Spike
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Orange, Red
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Smooth
Fruit Classification	Aggregate Fruit (Syncarp)

Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe
Mature Seed Colour(s)	Brown
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Nadaf, A. & Zanan, R. (2012). Indian Pandanaceae - an overview. India: Springer. pp. 81-84. <2> Raju, A.J. S. et. Al. (2020). Pollination and fruit dispersal in the Fragrant Screw Pine, Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze (Pandanceae), Species 21(67): 113-118.

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Master ID	1953
Species ID	3245
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.