pandano

Pandano refers to a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Pandanaceae. These plants are commonly known as screw pines or screw palms, although they are not true palms. Pandano species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, spanning from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia to the Pacific Islands. They are characterized by their distinctive spiral arrangement of leaves, which grow from the stem in a whorl-like pattern, resembling a screw. These leaves are often long, narrow, and stiff, with serrated or spiny margins in many species.

Many pandano plants are shrubs or small trees, with some varieties growing as epiphytes or climbing plants. They typically have aerial prop roots that emerge from the trunk, providing structural support in sandy or marshy soils. The flowers of pandano plants are inconspicuous and unisexual, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. The fruits can vary significantly in appearance, from fleshy berries to fibrous drupes, and are often a food source for wildlife. Various species of Pandanus are used for a range of purposes, including weaving materials for mats and baskets, as sources of fragrance, and for their edible fruits or young shoots.