Pandanus columnaris

Pandanus columnaris is a dioecious tropical plant in the screwpine genus.[1] It is endemic to Madagascar. The specific epithet, "columnaris", refers to the columnar shape of the crown of the tree.[2]

Pandanus columnaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Pandanales
Family: Pandanaceae
Genus: Pandanus
Section: Pandanus sect. Acanthostyla
Species:
P. columnaris
Binomial name
Pandanus columnaris

Description

Pandanus columnaris is a columnar tree, up to 20 m tall, with light brown bark and a spiny trunk up to 25 cm in diameter. The crown of the tree is narrowly cylindric, with spirals of large leaves at the top and with short secondary branchlets below. The terminal leaves may be more than 2 m long, and 24 cm wide near the base. The lateral branchlets are thin (2-2.5 cm in diameter) and spiny, with leaves that are shorter (1-1. 2 m long) and narrower (18-22 mm wide) than the terminal leaves. Unlike many species of pandanus, P. columnaris has few to no prop roots.[2]

Flowers and fruit

On male trees, the flowers are made up of yellow spikes and form on the lateral branchlets. Styles and stigmas of female flowers are both 6- 7 mm long. Fruits (drupes) are 20-22 mm long, 10-1 5 mm wide and broadly egg-shaped.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The trees are infrequent in coastal forests. The species was first described in 1961, found along the east coast of Madagascar, in the Antalaha area.[2]

Taxonomy

Pandanus columnaris is a member of the section Acanthostyla. Its closest relative is P. mangokensis Martelli.[2]

References
  1. "Pandanus columnaris H.St.John". www.gbif.org. GBIF. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
  2. St. John, Harold. Revision of the Genus Pandanus Stickman, Part 27 Pandanus Novelties from Madagascar. Pacific Science, Vol. XXII, January 1968
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