3 minute read
Pandanus
Panadnus at sunset
Tom Collis
Pandanus trees are one of the most recognisable plants in the tropics, often featuring in postcards, photographs, artworks and tourist brochures. They have a palm-like appearance with long graceful leaves, straight trunk and stilt roots leading to the alternate name Screw Palm. Although they look like palm trees, they are not related but belong to the Pandanaceae family. There are 14 species of Pandanus in North Queensland, growing in a variety of habitats including rainforest, wetlands and beaches. Most species tend to be absent from drier inland places. Two common species seen on beaches and headlands of North Queensland are Beach Pandan, Pandanus tectorius, and Cook’s Pandanus, Pandanus cookii. The latter species is easily recognised by the corkscrew appearance of the old leaves on the trunk. Several pandanus species prefer rainforest such as the Scrub Breadfruit, Pandanus monticola. When fruiting, this species produces large red fruits that look similar to breadfruit. Pup Pandanus, Panandus gemmifer is a rainforest species that forms plantlets (pups) along branches that eventually fall to the ground and take root. Swamp Pandan, Pandanus solms-laubachii is mostly found in wetland areas such as paperbark swamp, where it can survive in water that is inundated for several months each year. Swamp Pandan is supported by prop roots and is one of the tallest pandanus species growing to a height of 20m. It is common near the boardwalk through the wetlands at the Centenary Lakes. Some pandanus species have large, heavy fruits that consist of multiple woody segments each containing edible seeds. Native rodents such as Black-footed Tree Rats are able to chew through the tough fruit and retrieve the highly nutritious seeds. Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are occasionally observed extracting seeds with their powerful bills. In the Wet Tropics, several rainforest pandanus species are host to the unusual Peppermint Stick Insect. Unlike other stick insects this species is green so that it is camouflaged in the pandanus leaves where it shelters, feeds and lays eggs. If disturbed from its hiding spot it releases a milky fluid that smells strongly of peppermint, presumably to warn off predators. Indigenous people in Australia and throughout the South Pacific have a long tradition of using pandanus. The long leaves are well suited for weaving and are used to make pandanus mats, sails, baskets, dilly bags, hats and arm bands. Dried leaves are often coloured with natural dyes before weaving to enhance the patterns in woven items. Other parts of pandanus provide materials for building, food, medication and decoration. Beautiful handmade coiled pandanus baskets and woven mats for the tourist trade and art markets are a source of income for some communities. A woven pandanus sail (dhomala) by Margaret Garrawurra, an artist from Arnhem Land, was a winner in the 2022 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. Native pandanus are relatively easy to grow but are not often seen in suburban gardens probably because of the sharp spines along the edges of the leaves. There are some magnificent pandanus trees with impressive stilt roots growing in Cairns City along Shield Street that have feature lighting to highlight the trees at night.
Scrub Breadfruit, Pandanus monticola
Pup Pandanus, Pandanus gemmifer
Fruit of the Swamp Pandanus, Pandanus solms-laubachii. Swamp Pandan, Pandanus solms-laubachii
