1200 



PANDANUS 



grown to a consiJerable age and height for the sake of 

 a perfect specimen of the spiral habit of growth on a 

 large scale. See Pig. 1631. In the tropics P. utilis is 

 as valuable to the natives as many palms. The fruits 

 are edible, and the roots furnish fiber for ropes, bas- 

 kets, mats and hats, as do also the leaves, which are 

 used in making paper and nets. In Mauritius the leaves 

 of P. nilnrafissimus are used to make the bags in which 

 coffee, sugar and grain are exported. 



Screw Pines are widely distributed in the tropics, but 

 they are most plentiful in the Malay Archipelago. 



1630. Pandanus Veitchii. 



There are more than 50 species. Trees or shrubs, rarely 

 stemless or prostrate herbs: trunk slender or robust: 

 Ivs. very long or moderately so. There is only one 

 other genus in the order, — Preycinetia. This has nu- 

 merous ovules in the locules, while those of Pandanus 

 are solitary in the carpels. Also Freycinetias are usu- 

 ally scandent. 



The botany of Pandanus is almost hopeless. Panda- 

 nus presents an acute example of the stock difficulties 

 with foliage plants : flowers and fruits rarely produced 

 in cultivation ; no monograph ; original descriptions 

 scattered through many rare and costly books, and 

 often faulty; geographical distribution too wide ever 

 to permit them to be accounted for in one flora; fls. and 

 fr. too complicated and out of the ordinary to describe 

 within reasonable limits; species coming and going; 

 mixtures in the trade. Even the standard botanical 

 works are of little help to the horticulturist, for the two 

 points of view have scarcely anything in common. But 

 Pandanus has peculiar difficulties, for the plants are 

 dioecious, and one never knows what the sex will be 

 until the pLauts flower. There is a good horticultural 

 review of Pandanus in Gn. 25, p. 134 (1884), but the 

 best account is that written by W. H. Taplin for the 

 Florists' Review 2:.387, which has been revised for 

 the present occasion by Mr. Taplin. -^ jj_ 



In general, the species of Pandanus are not difficult 

 to manage and under favorable conditions they are rapid 

 growers. They require a high temperature, 65-70°, 

 and little or no shading during the winter month s^ es- 

 pecially for the variegated kinds. A satisfactory soil is 

 good loam enriched with old manure. As the plants 

 make many coarse roots, it is best not to pot them too 

 firmly, and during the summer to give them abundance 

 of water. If the atmosphere is moist there is little need 

 for syringing overhead, and particularly during winter. 

 Overwatering, if coupled with an accidental low tem- 

 perature, may lead to an attack of "spot." 



Certain species, as P. Veitchii, produce suckers freely. 

 Cuttings of these root easily at any season. Rooting is 

 hastened (as in the case of the pine-apple) by keeping 

 the cuttings somewhat on the dry side until they are 



PANDANUS 



callused, meanwhile giving them a fair amount of bot- 

 tom heat. 



P. ufilis is propagated by seeds, which are a regular 

 commodity and sure to germinate well. Seeds should 

 be planted in light soil and placed in a warmhouse. 

 The seeds should be set "bottom up," as this is the end 

 from which the germs emerge. The seeds are odd-look- 

 ing, being closely set in a more or less globular mass 

 that hangs down on a stout stem, while the individual 

 seeds, or rather fruits, are compound and often contain 

 8 or 10 germs, the latter being inclosed in cells of a 

 tough, horny substance within the body of the fruit. 

 Some gardeners soak the seeds before planting, but 

 the writer has found no gain after soaking seeds of P. 

 utilis for 48 hours in tepid water. 



P. Veitchii is one of the very best variegated plants 

 for decorative purposes. Its endurance as a house 

 plant depends largely on the conditions under which 

 it has been grown. Soft and sappy specimens are liable 

 to rot. 



P. utilis is second in importance in the trade, but is 

 usually obtainable in much larger quantities owing to 

 the readiness with which the seeds may be obtained and 

 germinated. Plants in 3-inch pots, 8 inches high, retail 

 at about 25 cents; plants in 6-inch pots, 18 inches high, 

 about $1. Handsome specimens 3 feet or more high, 

 with the screw character well developed, are worth 

 from $5 to $10. P. utilis is a rapid grower and requires 

 generous treatment as regards soil and water, and gives 

 little trouble unless spot develops. The spot is caused 

 by the burrowing of a minute insect in the leaf. Its pro- 

 gress seems to be favored by overwatering. Badly 

 affected plants should be thrown away, as they are 

 likely to be permanently disfigured. In case of a light 

 attack, keep the plants somewhat drier and dose them 

 with sulfur. 



Among variegated kinds P. Candelabrum, var. varie- 

 gatus, is perhaps second in beauty only to P. Veitchii, 

 but, unfortunately, it is too spiny and the spines on the 

 lower side are reversed, so that the plant is difficult to 

 handle. It suckers freely. 



Among dwarf kinds P. graminifolius excels. It is 

 only 2-3 ft. high when fully developed, and it is at its 

 best in a 4- or 5-inch pot. It is suitable for the center of 

 fern pans and is readily increased by cuttings. 



For large specimens P. heterocarpns is a noble plant. 

 It is rather susceptible to overwatering in winter. The 

 writer has never seen it produce suckers. The same 

 is true of P. Vamlermeeschii. Theoretically, any Pan- 

 danus will iirodui'e suckers if one has the patience to 

 wait for tliiin to ili-velop on old specimens, or if the cen- 

 tral growth be cut out. 



Among the more spiny kinds P. reflexus is unique in 

 habit, the leaves of a well-grown plant being so much 

 recurved as to hide the pot. 



P. Baptimtii and P. caricosus are newer sorts. The 

 former is variegated. P, caricosus is dwarfer than 

 P. Baptistii, and has narrow, green leaves but little 

 armed with spines. It branches freeiy and might be 

 briefly described as a very strong P. graminifolius, 

 though perhaps less useful for trade purposes. 



W. H. Taplin. 



Pandanus Sanderi, or as it has been termed the 

 "Golden Pandanus," will not only become a great rival 

 to the popular Pa*irfrtH?(S Veitchii, hut wU\, as soon as 

 it is introduced and can be produced in quantity, out- 

 rank it as a commercial plant on account of its more 

 decided, intense and attractive markings. The variega- 

 tion of P. Sanderi is of a pleasing creamy yellow, dis- 

 tributed in some instances with alternate l)ands of 

 green, while in others the half of an entire leaf will be 

 marked with this creamy yellow variegation, while the 

 young growth in the center assumes an orange bronze 

 color. The entire plant is suffused with a golden sheen 

 in a manner difficult to describe. 



The variegation throughout the plant is more decided 

 than in P. Veitchii; this especially appears to be the 

 case in larger-sized specimens, say in plants 3 to 4 feet 

 high, where the lower or older leaves attain a much 

 more brilliant color, while in P. Veitchii this lower foli- 

 age loses much of its original brightness, .and under 

 ordinary circumstances frequently turns entirely green. 



