Pandanus heterocarpus

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Pandanus heterocarpus
Pandanus heterocarpus 01.JPG
Adult Pandanus heterocarpus growing on Rodrigues island.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Pandanales
Family: Pandanaceae
Genus: Pandanus
Species:
P. heterocarpus
Binomial name
Pandanus heterocarpus
Synonyms [1]

Pandanus ornatusW.Bull

Pandanus heterocarpus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae. [2] It is commonly called the "Rodrigues screwpine", known locally as "vacoa parasol" or "vacoa cale rouge". It is endemic to the island of Rodrigues.

Contents

Description

Juvenile plant growing at Anse Quitor Nature Reserve showing its clear, vigorous spiral Pandanus heterocarpus at Anse Quitor Nature Reserve 1.jpg
Juvenile plant growing at Anse Quitor Nature Reserve showing its clear, vigorous spiral
Fruit of the Rodrigues Screwpine, showing smooth, green pyramid-shaped drupes with purple margins Pandanus heterocarpus fruit Rodrigues 4.jpg
Fruit of the Rodrigues Screwpine, showing smooth, green pyramid-shaped drupes with purple margins

The Rodrigues screwpine grows to 7 meters in height, and branches from its thick trunk to form a wide umbrella shape. The many branches are thick and begin to grow from low on the trunk. The rosettes form with clear spirals. The leaves are up to a meter in length and have orange-red spines on their margins and keel. Young plants have large, long rosettes, with longer leaves. Older plants have smaller, shorter rosettes and shorter leaves. The fruit heads are very variable, but are typically rounded and up to 18 cm. Each fruit head has 70 to 95 drupes. The exposed tip of each drupe is a curved pyramid shape, with a green colour, but with purple colour around the base.[ citation needed ]

Habitat

This species is endemic to the island of Rodrigues. It occurs throughout the island and is one of the only species of that island that is still common. It is especially common on the lowlands and also near the coast. On the higher mountains it shares its habitat with another endemic, the slender Pandanus tenuifolius . Inhabitants of the island use the leaves of both species for the fibres, and for making roofs, hats or baskets.[ citation needed ]

The introduced exotic species Pandanus utilis , from Madagascar, is also found growing in Rodrigues, and can be confused with this species. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Pandanus</i> Genus of palm-like monocot trees and shrubs

Pandanus is a genus of monocots with some 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.

<i>Pandanus tectorius</i> Species of plant

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.

<i>Pandanus utilis</i> Species of tree

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.

The wildlife of Mauritius consists of its flora and fauna. Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar. Due to its isolation, it has a relatively low diversity of wildlife; however, a high proportion of these are endemic species occurring nowhere else in the world. Many of these are now threatened with extinction because of human activities including habitat destruction and the introduction of non-native species. Some have already become extinct, most famously the dodo which disappeared in the 17th century.

<i>Martellidendron hornei</i> Species of tree

Martellidendron hornei is a species of plant in the Pandan, or Screwpine family (Pandanaceae), one of several Pandanus species that are endemic to the Seychelles.

Pandanus microcarpus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus palustris</i> Species of flowering plant

Pandanus palustris is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius. It was once common in marshes and in the wetter highlands of Mauritius, but is now threatened by habitat loss.

Pandanus pyramidalis is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

Rhamnus pirifolia is a species of tree and shrub in the buckthorn family known by the common name island redberry. It is an island endemic which is known only from the Channel Islands of California and Guadalupe Island off Baja California. Its habitat consists of coastal sage scrub and chaparral.

<i>Pandanus odorifer</i> Species of flowering plant

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

<i>Pandanus vandermeeschii</i> Species of plant

Pandanus vandermeeschii is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae. It is endemic to the coastal areas of Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus iceryi</i> Species of plant

Pandanus iceryi ("Vacoas") is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae. It is endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus tenuifolius</i> Species of plant

Pandanus tenuifolius is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae. It is endemic to the island of Rodrigues.

<i>Pandanus drupaceus</i> Species of flowering plant

Pandanus drupaceus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus rigidifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

Pandanus rigidifolius is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

Pandanus prostratus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus eydouxia</i> Species of plant

Pandanus eydouxia is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Pandanus glaucocephalus</i> Species of flowering plant

Pandanus glaucocephalus is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

Pandanus barkleyi is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

Pandanus sphaeroides is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.

References

  1. ↑ "Pandanus heterocarpus Balf.f." Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Pandanus heterocarpus Balf.f." World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. n.d. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ Kirsakye, S. La Faune et la Flore de Rodrigues. Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. 2015. p.66.
  4. ↑ Strahm, W. Plant Red Data Book for Rodrigues Koeltz Scientific Books. 1989.
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