Home > Herbs > Pandanus Tectorius

Thatch Screwpine

Pandanus tectorius · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (16 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

Thatch Screwpine, scientifically known as Pandanus tectorius, is a versatile coastal plant valued for its medicinal and structural properties. Traditionally used in tropical wellness practices, its leaves and fruits offer bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic benefits. This resilient species remains a vital resource in Southeast Asian ethnobotanical traditions.

Family
Pandanaceae
Native range
Africa
Parts used
Fruit
Common names
Beach Pandanus · Veitch Screw-Pine · 9 more
Scientific synonyms
Corypha Laevis · Pandanus Fischerianus Var. Rockii · 324 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Pandanus tectorius

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • bacua
  • Palma australiana de hala
  • Pandano asiático

German:

  • Pandanuspalme

French:

  • Vacouet
  • baquois
  • vacquois

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its descent through the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Pandanales, it is a member of the family Pandanaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Pandanus.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Pandanales
Family Pandanaceae
Genus Pandanus

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several key regions across the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found inhabiting the Seychelles and the Chagos Archipelago. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, its distribution includes the Laccadive Islands and the nation of Bangladesh. Additionally, its presence extends into the Indo-China region, specifically covering the Andaman Islands. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive across various tropical island ecosystems.

Region Area
Western Indian Ocean Chagos Archipelago
Western Indian Ocean Seychelles
Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh
Indian Subcontinent Laccadive Is.
Indo-China Andaman Is.
Indo-China Thailand
Malesia Cocos (Keeling) Is.
Malesia Jawa
Malesia Lesser Sunda Is.
Malesia Malaya

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pandanus tectorius is characterized by its preference for coastal environments, specifically thriving within beach forest habitats. It occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:
1500 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
0 m AMSL
Habitat :
beach forest

Genetics

The genetics of Pandanus tectorius are characterized by notable chromosomal variability and specific ploidy levels. Cytogenetic analyses of the species have revealed a fluctuating chromosome number, with documented values of 51, 54, and 60. This variation in the number of chromosomes within the species suggests a complex genomic structure, potentially influenced by evolutionary processes or intra-specific polymorphisms. Despite this numerical variation, the plant is identified as having a ploidy level of 2, indicating that it maintains a diploid state relative to its fundamental chromosomal base.

Chromosome number :
51, 54, 60
Ploidy :
2

Life history

The life history of Pandanus tectorius is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to maintain a stable presence within its tropical ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, often developing into a large, woody shrub or small tree with a distinctive structural form. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its lush, functional foliage throughout the year without a seasonal shedding period. Its growth strategy as a phanerophyte ensures that its vital parts are held above the ground level, facilitating efficient light capture and survival in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :
evergreen
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pandanus tectorius is characterized by a woody, tree-like growth form that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism rather than a climber, vine, or parasite. It typically exhibits an erect shoot orientation and grows in terrestrial environments, rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. The plant's stature is significant, with a height that can range from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 5 meters.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
tree
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
15 m
Plant height mean:
5 m
Plant height min:
4 m
Shoot orientation :
erect
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pandanus tectorius is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific morphological dimensions in its foliage, with leaf lengths typically averaging 80 cm, though they can reach a maximum of 180 cm, while the minimum recorded length is also 80 cm. The leaves maintain a width that generally averages 4 cm, with a minimum measurement of 4 cm and a maximum width extending to 8 cm. Regarding water storage and nutrient acquisition, the species does not exhibit succulence and does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf length max:
180 cm
Leaf length mean:
80 cm
Leaf width max:
8 cm
Leaf width mean:
4 cm
Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Succulence :
no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pandanus tectorius is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures and specific dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces a fruit type classified as a drupe, which is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits vary in size, with a minimum length of 10 cm, a mean length of 17 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 20 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a consistent volume of 38,000 mm³, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 mm to a maximum of 15 mm. To facilitate the spread of the species, the plant utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water currents to transport its fruit and seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :
indehiscent
Dispersal syndrome :
hydrochorous
Fruit length max:
20 cm
Fruit length mean:
17 cm
Fruit length min:
10 cm
Fruit type :
drupe
Fruit width max:
18 cm
Fruit width min:
10 cm
Seed length max:
15 mm
Seed length min:
8 mm
Seed volume max:
38000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pandanus tectorius has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Plant parts reported in Pandanus tectorius
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Fruit 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆

Fruit

  1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
  2. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry
  3. PloS one

Chemicals

Pandanus tectorius has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeoylquinic acid, phenylalanine, polyphenols.

Chemicals reported in Pandanus tectorius
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
caffeoylquinic acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
phenylalanine 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
polyphenols 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

caffeoylquinic acid

  1. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry

phenylalanine

  1. RSC advances

polyphenols

  1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Pandanus tectorius has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antihyperlipidemic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic.

Activities reported in Pandanus tectorius
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antihyperglycemic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antihyperlipidemic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hypolipidemic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antihyperglycemic

  1. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry

Antihyperlipidemic

  1. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry

Antimicrobial

  1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antioxidant

  1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hypolipidemic

  1. RSC advances

Medicinal Uses

Pandanus tectorius has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinism.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
hyperlipidemia The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
dyslipidemia The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
hyperglycemia The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
hyperinsulinism The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
fruit extract Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆