Pandanus Odorifer

''Pandanus odorifer'' is an aromatic monocot species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, native to Polynesia, Australia, South Asia (Andaman Islands), and the Philippines, and is also found wild in southern India and Burma. It is commonly known as fragrant screw-pine.

Names

In addition to screw-pine, other common English names for the tree include ''kewda'', ''fragrant screwpine'', ''umbrella tree'' and ''screw tree''."Kewda".
FlowersOfIndia.net. Retrieved 25 July 2016.

In India, the tree goes by a variety of names, many deriving from the Sanskrit ''kētakī''. in Malayalam called ''pookkaitha'' and its flower known as ''thaazhampoo'', In Tamil, it is called ''kaithai'' ( கைதை) and ''tāḻai'' ( தாழை) and both are mentioned in Sangam literature. In Arabic-speaking countries, the tree is referred to as ''al-kādī'' ( ar, الكادي).J.R.I. Wood, ''A Handbook of the Yemen Flora'', Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1997, p. 315 In Japan, the tree is called ''adan'' () and grows on Okinawa Islands, as well as the Tokara Islands, Amami Ōshima and Kikaijima.

P. odorifer grows widely at the St. Martin's Island of Bangladesh, although many have been destroyed by mass tourism initiatives.

Description

It is a small branched, palm-like dioecious tree with a flexuous trunk supported by brace roots. The tree can grow to a height of 4 meters. Leaves grow in clusters at the branch tips, with rosettes of sword-shaped, stiff (leather-like) and spiny bluish-green, fragrant leaves. Leaves are glaucous, 40–70 cm. long. In summer, the tree bears very fragrant flowers, used as perfume. Interestingly, Pandanus lacks a common callose wall around microspore tetrads during pollen development. In Yemen, they are predominantly found alongside flowing streams in the western escarpment foothills; Most common in high rainfall areas. The fragrant male flowers are wrapped in leaves and sold on roadsides and in markets. Only male plants seem to occur in Yemen. Some suggest that it was introduced into Yemen from India where its flowers are used chiefly to make perfume.

Propagation

The tree is propagated vegetatively, by the offshoots of young plants that grow around the base of the trunk, but may also be increased by seed. If by the former method, the offshoots should be cut off and set in sand, at a temperature of 65° to 70°F. The cuttings root slowly, and the plants for a time grow very slowly. The general treatment required for culturing the screw-pine is similar to that of palms. Trees require an abundance of water in summer.

According to Ibn al-'Awwam's 12th-century treatise on agriculture, the ''kadi'' is cultivated in a manner similar to that of the Judas tree (''Cercis siliquastrum''). (p
304
Article XXXV). For the cultivating method of the Judas tree, see pp
303
��304.

Other uses

An aromatic oil called kewra and a fragrant distillate called ''keorra-ka-arak'' are extracted from the male flowers. They are almost exclusively used in the form of a watery distillate called kewra water. Its flowers have a sweet, perfumed odor that has a pleasant quality similar to rose flowers, although ''kewra'' is considered more fruity. The watered-down distillate is quite diluted; it can be used by the tablespoon, often even by the teaspoon.

The ketaki tree's flower is never used as an offering to the god Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva cursed the flower that it will never be used to worship him for helping Brahma lie against him, and then to Brahma that he will not be worshipped by people.

On Ishigaki Island, south-west of Okinawa, it is customary to use parts of the plant during Bon festivities as an offering. The soft shoots can also be eaten, although the taste is very astringent and the shoots are considered inedible without blanching them first. When they are properly treated however, the taste is similar to that of bamboo shoots.

Despite the pineapple-like appearance of the fruit and its sweet aroma, it is very fibrous and while being non-toxic, is generally not considered for consumption.

Gallery

File:Pandanus odoratissimus in MIyako-jima IMG 4424.jpg, Pandanus odoratissimus on Miyako-jima, Okinawa prefecture
File:Adan 2.png, Adan on Takarajima (Southern Tokara Islands), Kagoshima prefecture.
File:Adan phil.png, Ripe fruit of Pandanus odoratissimus. Iloilo City, The Philippines.

See also

* Domesticated plants and animals of Austronesia

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15578898

odorifer