Pandanus castaneus

Botanical Description

Pandanus castaneus is an evergreen tree with a branched crown growing around 7 - 9 metres tall. The short trunk is supported by a few short prop roots up to 100cm long. The long, prickly, sword-shaped leaves are around 190 - 280cm long (to 400cm in young plants), and are produced in clusters at the apex of the branches[ 1820 Title The New Guinea species of Pandanus section Maysops St.John (Pandanaceae) Publication Blumea 37 (1992) 31-61 Author Stone B.C. Publisher Year 1992 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of oil.