**Description of Pandanus:**
– Aerial, prop roots
– Vary in size from small shrubs to medium-sized trees
– Trunk is stout, wide-branching, and ringed with leaf scars
– Roots form a pyramidal tract to hold the trunk
– Top of the plant has strap-shaped leaves and may be spiny
**Taxonomy and Classification of Pandanus:**
– Often called pandanus palms, not closely related to palm trees
– Genus named after the Malay word ‘pandan’
– Oldest fossil of the genus known from Queensland, Australia
– Fossil dated to the Oligocene epoch around 32–28 million years ago
– Genus of monocots with 578 accepted species
– Palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics
– Classified in the order Pandanales, family Pandanaceae
**Ecology and Uses of Pandanus:**
– Grow from sea level to an altitude of 3,300m
– Important in the Pacific for cultural, health, and economic purposes
– Grow mainly in semi-natural vegetation in littoral habitats
– Stilt roots as anchors in loose sand on coastal headlands and beaches
– Source of food, raw material for clothing, basket weaving, and shelter
– Leaves used for handicrafts like weaving mats and ropes
– Leaves used in cuisines for aroma and flavor
– Pandan leaves used in Southeast Asian and South Asian cuisines
**Selected Species of Pandanus:**
– Pandanus aldabraensis H.St.John
– Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. ex Lindl.
– Pandanus atrocarpus
– Pandanus balfourii Martelli
– Pandanus barkleyi Balf.f.
**Significance and Conservation of Pandanus:**
– Pandanus plants hold cultural significance in various societies and are used in rituals
– Pandanus forests are essential for maintaining the balance of coastal ecosystems
– Several Pandanus species are listed as threatened or endangered due to habitat loss
– Conservation efforts are needed to protect Pandanus species and their ecosystems for future generations
– Pandanus species are indicators of environmental health in certain regions