Pandanus odorifer | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Pandanales |
Family: | Pandanaceae |
Genus: | Pandanus |
Species: | P. odorifer |
Binomial name | |
Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
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. [2] It is commonly known as fragrant screw-pine.
In addition to screw-pine, other common English names for the tree include kewda, fragrant screwpine, umbrella tree and screw tree. [3]
In India, the tree goes by a variety of names, many deriving from the Sanskrit kētakī. [3] in Kannada called ‘’ ಕೇದಿಗೆ’’ [3] 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. It is called mogali (మొగలి) in Telugu. In Arabic-speaking countries, the tree is referred to as al-kādī (Arabic : الكادي). [4] In Japan, the tree is called adan (アダン [阿檀]) 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.
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. [5] In Yemen, they are predominantly found alongside flowing streams in the western escarpment foothills; Most common in high rainfall areas. [6] The fragrant male flowers are wrapped in leaves and sold on roadsides and in markets. Only male plants seem to occur in Yemen. [4] Some suggest that it was introduced into Yemen from India where its flowers are used chiefly to make perfume.
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. [7]
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 ). [8]
An aromatic oil called kewra and a fragrant distillate called keorra-ka-arak are extracted from the male flowers. [9] 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.
Pandanales, the pandans or screw-pines, is an order of flowering plants placed in the monocot clade in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group and Angiosperm Phylogeny Web systems. Within the monocots Pandanales are grouped in the lilioid monocots where they are in a sister group relationship with the Dioscoreales. Historically the order has consisted of a number of different families in different systems but modern classification of the order is based primarily on molecular phylogenetics despite diverse morphology which previously placed many of the families in other groupings based on apparent similarity. Members of the order have a subtropical distribution and includes trees, shrubs, and vines as well as herbaceous plants. The order consists of 5 families, 36 genera and about 1,610 species.
Cananga odorata, known as ylang-ylang or cananga tree, is a tropical tree that is native to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Queensland, Australia. It is also native to parts of Thailand and Vietnam. It is valued for the essential oils extracted from its flowers, which has a strong floral fragrance. Ylang-ylang is one of the most extensively used natural materials in the perfume industry, earning it the name "Queen of Perfumes".
Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 578 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. The greatest number of species are found in Madagascar and Malaysia. Common names include pandan, screw palm and screw pine. They are classified in the order Pandanales, family Pandanaceae.
Pandanus tectorius is a species of Pandanus (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English include thatch screwpine, Tahitian screwpine, hala tree and pandanus. The fruit is edible and sometimes known as hala fruit.
Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak, is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. It was previously classified as Michelia champaca. It is known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking.
Pandanus amaryllifolius is a tropical plant in the Pandanus (screwpine) genus, which is commonly known as pandan. It has fragrant leaves which are used widely for flavouring in the cuisines of Southeast Asia. It is also featured in some South Asian cuisines and in Hainanese cuisine from China.
Pandanus spiralis is a small tree in the family Pandanaceae native to northern Australia. It is commonly called pandanus, spring pandanus, screw palm or screw pine, although it is neither a palm nor a pine.
Pandanus utilis, the common screwpine is, despite its name, a monocot and not a pine. It is native to Madagascar and naturalised in Mauritius and the Seychelles.
This is a list of plants commonly found in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory of Australia. Where known, common names are given in English and in Gun-djeihmi, a commonly spoken indigenous language in the area, are given in parentheses.
Attar, also known as ittar, is an essential oil derived from botanical or other natural sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydrodistillation or steam distillation. The Persian physician Ibn Sina was the first to derive the attar of flowers from distillation. Attar can also be expressed by chemical means but generally natural perfumes which qualify as attars are distilled with water. The oils are generally distilled into a wood base such as sandalwood and then aged. The aging period can last from one to ten years depending on the botanicals used and the results desired. Technically attars are distillates of flowers, herbs, spices and other natural materials such as baked soil over sandalwood oil/liquid paraffins using hydrodistillation technique involving a still and receiving vessel. These techniques are still in use at Kannauj in India.
Kewra, keora or kewda is an essential oil distilled from the male flower of the fragrant screwpine. The plant is native to Tropical Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia, and the oil is used as a flavoring agent throughout much of these regions.
Pandanus furcatus Roxb., also known as korr, pandan or Himalayan/Nepal screw pine, is native to the Sikkim Himalaya of Northeast India, Bhutan and Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia and West Africa, and occurs on moist and shady slopes of ravines between 300 and 1500 m. As might be expected it is cold-resistant and able to tolerate occasional light frost, slowly growing to a tall branched tree - about 17 m at maturity - and perched on stilt-like aerial roots. The crown is made up of 5 m long, pale-green leaves, with finely toothed margins, while its fruits are sweet-tasting and edible. The leathery flower spathes are golden-yellow, the lowermost are largest and about 1m in length. These give rise to cone-like fruits, 15–25 cm long, that are bright orange to red when mature and consist of 5-6 angled drupes.
Pandanus livingstonianus Rendle is one of some 752 palaeotropical species of dioecious tree in the genus Pandanus, popularly known as Screw pines, and occurs from Angola eastwards across tropical Africa and down the east coast of Southern Africa.
Ganjam Kewda Rooh is a plant native to the Indian state of Odisha primarily in the Ganjam district. Kewda has been identified as a Geographical Indications in India.
Ganjam Kewda is a male flower of the fragrant screwpine plant used for extracting kewda oil in India. A native to the tropics, it is registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods Act by Government of India. Kewda scent is produced in Chhatrapur, Brahmapur, Gopalpur and Jagannathpur in district of Ganjam, Odisha. Although kewda plants can be found through most of India, 90% of the commercial production of the kewda flower is estimated to occur in the Odisha state.
The history of spices reach back thousands of years, dating back to the 8th century B.C. Spices are widely known to be developed and discovered in Asian civilizations. Spices have been used in a variety of antique developments for their unique qualities. There were a variety of spices that were used for common purposes across the ancient world. Different spices hold a value that can create a variety of products designed to enhance or suppress certain taste and/or sensations. Spices were also associated with certain rituals to perpetuate a superstition or fulfill a religious obligation, among other things.
Pandanus heterocarpus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae. It is commonly called the "Rodrigues screwpine", known locally as "vacoa parasol" or "vacoa cale rouge". It is endemic to the island of Rodrigues.
The karuka is a species of tree in the screwpine family (Pandanaceae) and an important regional food crop in New Guinea. The nuts are more nutritious than coconuts, and are so popular that villagers in the highlands will move their entire households closer to trees for the harvest season.
Pandanus whitmeeanus, commonly known as the Samoan pandanus, is a species of Pandanus (screwpine) believed to be native to Vanuatu. It has been introduced to Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and the Hoorn Islands by Austronesian voyagers. It is also known in Samoan and Tongan as ‘ara ‘āmoa or paogo.
Pandanus leram is a pandan or screw pine, belonging to the family Pandanaceae. It is native to the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands south of Myanmar, and the southern coasts of Sumatra and western Java, in Indonesia.