Common screwpine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common screwpine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pandanus mauritianus
• Pandanus distichus
• Pandanus utilis var. stephanocarpa
• Vinsonia utilis
• Vinsonia stephanocarpa
• Pandanus flabelliformis
• Pandanus nudus
• Pandanus elegantissimus
• Marquartia globosa
• Hasskarlia globosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Pandanales and the family Pandanaceae, it is classified under the genus Pandanus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several remote island territories. In the Middle Atlantic Ocean, its presence can be documented on the island of Ascension. The species is also widely spread throughout the Western Indian Ocean. Specifically, it is found inhabiting the islands of Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion. Additionally, the plant extends its range to the island of Rodrigues within the same oceanic region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pandanus utilis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, specifically classified within the phanerophyte life forms which utilize woody structures to support its growth. It maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and lush throughout the year without the need for seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pandanus utilis is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree that can reach an average height of approximately 6 m. As a terrestrial species, it maintains an independent life cycle, neither acting as a parasite nor exhibiting epiphytic tendencies. Its structural development is strictly self-supporting, lacking the climbing or vining habits of lianas, and it thrives in non-aquatic, terrestrial environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pandanus utilis is characterized by its specialized adaptations to tropical environments, primarily through its structural and metabolic processes. Regarding its water management and tissue composition, the plant exhibits no evidence of succulence, meaning it does not possess thickened, fleshy parts designed for significant water storage; instead, it relies on its extensive adventitious prop roots to maintain stability and facilitate efficient nutrient and water uptake from the soil. In terms of its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria typically found in the root nodules of certain legume species. Instead, it functions as a consumer of available soil nutrients, utilizing a robust vascular system to transport minerals and water through its long, fibrous leaves to support its rapid growth and photosynthetic activity.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pandanus utilis is characterized by the production of fruits that possess a distinct texture, described as being both dry and fleshy. The seeds produced during this process are substantial in size, maintaining a consistent seed volume with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 4600 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is facilitated through a diverse array of syndromes, indicating a highly versatile reproductive strategy that includes anemochorous, anthropochorous, autochorous, endozoochorous, epizoochorous, hydrochorous, myrmecochorous, unspecialized, and zoochorous methods.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

4600 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pandanus utilis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Root

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Activities

Pandanus utilis has 7 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimitotic, Antioxidant, Aphrodisiac, Apoptotic.

Anticancer

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antimitotic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antioxidant

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Aphrodisiac

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Apoptotic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Cardiotonic

1. Advances in pharmacological sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Preparations