382 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



Habitat. Widely distributed in the tropics, but most 

 common in the Malay Archipelago. 



624. Propagation. The suckers which form about the 

 base are used for propagation. They are removed, the 

 tops cut back and inserted in a cutting bench, being kept 

 on the dry side until a callus forms. They require some 

 bottom heat, and a bell jar should be placed over them 

 to give a moist atmosphere. If there is any evidence of 

 decay, the bell jar should be removed occasionally. A 

 good way to root them is to fill a propagating case partly 

 full of leaf-mold, wet this and place an inverted seven-inch 

 flower pot on the leaf-mold ; insert the cutting through the 

 hole in the bottom of the pot, and keep the case closed. 



625. Culture. There are many species of screw pines 

 which are grown in large collections of palm-like plants, 

 but the first two named are of the most importance. 

 Pandanus utilis has rich green, shiny leaves and red spines. 

 Pandanus Veitchii has attractively variegated leaves. 

 They are very popular for house plants, and are used in 

 the center of fern dishes. A variety of this exhibited at 

 the International Flower Show in New York in 1914 was 

 called P. Lindenhurst, and had broader white bands than 

 the type. 



Screw pines are easily grown, but require a temperature 

 of 65 to 70. They like full sunlight, especially in winter, 

 and this is necessary for the growth of Veitchii. A low 

 temperature, with water in the axils of the leaves, causes 

 a rotting of the crown. The growth of aerial roots lifts 

 the plant into the air, so that old plants are somewhat 

 unsightly at the base. Veitchii, however, forms many 

 suckers about the base, making it less unsightly than 

 utilis. The soil for pandanus should be a fairly heavy 

 loam enriched with one-third decomposed cow manure. 



