A remarkable feature of Australia’s more northern region – noticeable due to their almost prehistoric appearance; and by the very way they grip onto the sand of the beaches, hang off the edge of escarpments, and onto dunes – is the Pandanus Tree (Pandanus tectorius) – often referred to as the Beach Pandanus . . .
Initially, when observing the tree, one could easily believe that the fruit is the pineapple – so similar is the appearance. It is the female Pandanus that produces the fruit.
The tree is generally of medium size, with, proportionally, an enormous canopy of long strap-like, spiky leaves. Typically, they have slender palm like stems together with terminal crowns of sword like leaves, which gives the plants a distinctive appearance.
And then there are the ‘feet’ that protrude from the trunk into the soil (usually sand) below.
It is a stunning tree, surrounded in intrigue. Further research reveals that the Pandanus is native to the northern reaches of Australia. The are found on the east coast of Australia from the Port Macquarie region of New South Wales up to Townsville in northern Queensland, though in tropical regions of north Queensland, they are found inland too. They are generally found at an attitudinal range of sea level to 300 m above the same – in littoral rainforests, sand dunes, coastal sandy areas, beaches, and in microphyll vine forests.
They are incredibly hardy, surviving full sun, salt, wind, and sand; however, frosts will severely challenge them.
The Pandanus tectorius has a stout trunk sporting spiny conical nodules – resembling a warty appearance. It supports a wide branching, thick canopy of leaves – often the Pandanus grows as wide as it is tall, hence, the need for its prop like roots which extend from the trunk, acting like buttresses, anchoring and supporting the heavy canopy in the usually unstable soils . . .
The strap like leaves are generally between 90 to 150 cm long and 5 to 7 cm wide. Numerous long narrow parallel-veined palm like leaves with spiny margins and midribs are produced in tufts at the branch tips in three or four close twisted ranks around the stem, forming the screw like helices of leaves that give the common name ‘Screw Pine’. The trunk and branches are ringed with distinct leaf ‘scars’.
The Pandanus consists of individual male or female trees. The males have fragrant flowers, some 2 to 3 cm in length, forming in clusters, however, only lasting but a single day . . . The female Pandanus can take up to 20 years before she bears fruit, but once she does, the fruit which resembles a pineapple, can stay on the tree for around an entire year !!! The fruit are generally 10 to 15 cm in diameter and 15 to 25 cm long and changes from green to bright orange or red in colour as it matures. The fruit has 38 to 200 segments, each of which contains an average of two seeds. These segments are buoyant and can support the seeds for many months as they are designed to be transported by rivers or ocean currents – most Pandanus seeds are dispersed via water.
The fruit of the Pandanus which generally ripens between August to January, is eaten by some animals including bats, rats, crabs, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and some lizards. The Aboriginal People used the edible fruits as medicine and as food. The ripe red segments of the fruit are roasted and lower fibrous parts are eaten. Seeds are found within the woody cavities of each segment. Once the fruit has turned brown in colour, a vice and a saw will be required to reach the seed – a tough nut to crack but apparently well worth it as the seed is a delightful combination of peanut and coconut in flavour.
A gargle for sores in the mouth can be made from the juice of the pounded inner core of the growing tip.
The strong leaves of the Pandanus are also used by indigenous people for clothing, hats, necklaces, mats, bags, baskets, ropes, twine, thatching, fishing and as decorations. The white base of the of the leaves are edible – tasting of cabbage or silverbeet – can be eaten raw or cooked. It is also chewed to relieve sore throats, scabies, eye problems, and, is pounded into a paste for use as an antiseptic ointment for wounds
Didgeridoos were made from the dead, hollowed trunks or stems. Aborigines also used the dead branches as fire carriers, as the fibrous interior of the branch would slowly smolder, similar to a large cigar, thereby transporting the fire from camp to camp, as they travelled.
