Pandanus leram

Voigt

Nicobar breadfruit

Pandanaceae Edible: Nuts, Fruit 5 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

Summary

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. The tree grows up to 21 m (69 ft) in height (exceeded only by Pandanus julienettei and Pandanus antaresensis, both of New Guinea). The linear leaves are up to 5.5 m (18 ft) long and 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in width (exceeded only by Pandanus laxespicatus). The fruit, termed a "syncardium", (a type of multiple fruit) weighs 14–18 kg (31–40 lb) and be up to thirty inches (76 centimeters) in length.

Description

A large branched tree. It has aerial prop roots. The leaves are very large. They can be 10-15 cm wide. There are prickles along the edges and midrib. The bracts around the flower are cream. Trees are separately male and female. The male tree has a very large flower. The female flower develops a large round head made up of individual nuts. These are clustered in groups. These can be 12-15 cm long. The outside is yellow or orange.

Edible Uses

The fruit is typically boiled and eaten cooked. The lower portion of the fruit can be processed into flour for making bread.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is normally eaten cooked. It is boiled. The lower portion of the fruit is used for making flour for bread.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The tender young leaves are pounded with coconut oil and rubbed on the body to remove fatigue

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits the lowlands. It grows in coastal areas.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nicobar Islands, SE Asia, Sri Lanka,

Cultivation

They are grown from stem cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - best pre-soaked for 24 hours prior to sowing. This species propagates readily from seed. Cuttings taken from side branches.

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching, making mats etc. The fibrous portions of the drupes are combed out into a kind of brush which is used for removing dust from the feet. The dried fruit with fibres are used as tooth brushes. The dissected split leaves are made into brooms

Notes

There are about 600 Pandanus species. They grow in the tropics.

Synonyms

Pandanus indicus (Gaudich.) Warb.Pandanus leram var. macrocarpa KurzPandanus mellori Boden-KlossRoussinia indica Gaudich.

Also Known As

Pandan wong, Larohm, Melori

References (14)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 423
Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 106
Asiat. Res. 3:163. 1792
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1673
Dobriyal, M. J. R. & Dobriyal, R., 2014, Non Wood Forest Produce an Option for Ethnic Food and Nutritional Security in India. Int. J. of Usuf. Mngt. 15(1):17-37

Show all 14 references

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 460
Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 49
Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 145
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South East Asia) handbook, Volume 2, 1991, Edible fruits and nut. p 240
PROSEA handbook Volume 9 Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. p 189
Purseglove, J.W., 1972, Tropical Crops. Monocotyledons. Longmans p 512
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 68
Walter, A. & Sam C., 2002, Fruits of Oceania. ACIAR Monograph No. 85. Canberra. p 218
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew