332 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
Family PANDANACEAE 
Genus PANDANUS 
PANDANUS spp. THE PANDANS. 
The pandans, or screw-pines, are characteristically tropical 
trees or shrubs, although they may be found in subtropical 
countries. In the Philippines there are over forty known 
species. A few are generally distributed in the various islands 
and are likewise widely distributed in the Indo-Malayan region. 
Most of the species are, however, of decidedly local occurrence. 
The Philippine species vary in size from small shrubs less than 
a meter high to trees 15 or more meters in height, and are always 
erect and never climbing. They are characterized by a peculiar 
spiral arrangement of the elongated, spiny leaves. The common 
English name, screw-pine, refers to the spiral arrangement of 
the leaves and the pineapple-like fruits of the more common 
and widely distributed species. The leaves can be readily dis- 
tinguished from those of the pineapple or maguey by the presence 
of a middle row of spines in the pandan leaves. The leaves are 
never thick like those of maguey. Most of the Philippine species 
have prominent prop roots, and the trunks almost invariably bear 
small, short, and scattered spines. Pandans occur in such 
widely separated habitats as along sandy beaches and in virgin 
forests. 
The fresh wood of the pandan is hard; that of some species 
is durable. The larger stems are used as temporary posts. 
Pandans are moreover frequently cultivated for ornamental 
purposes. Their chief value, however, lies in the leaves, which 
are used for making coarse and fine baskets, bags, coarse and 
fine hats, mats, etc. 
All of the species having long leaves are potential sources of 
strips that may be used in weaving baskets, mats, and other 
articles; but there is a great deal of difference in the texture 
of prepared strips, due to the difference in the thickness and 
other characteristics of the leaves. Some forms have been found 
by the Filipinos to be superior for special purposes and thus only 
a few of the numerous Philippine species are at present utilized. 
PANDANUS COPELANDII Merr. BaArRIvu. 
Local names: Alasds (Tayabas); baleau (Occidental Negros); baleo, 
balewe, baliu (Capiz, Romblon, Bohol, Surigao); baliku (Surigao); baloz, 
baroi (Agusan, Surigao); barew (Samar); bariu, baréu, buruiu (Albay, 
Sorsogon) ; lagutlit (Laguna) ; panddn (Cagayan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija) ; 
pangdan (Benguet, Pangasinan); pataga (Ibanag, Apayao subprovince) ; 
sere (Cagayan). 
This species is widely distributed at low and medium altitudes 
from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao. It reaches a height 
