16 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XXII, January 1968 
discussion: P. centrifugalis is a member of 
the section Dauphinensia, as is its closest rela- 
tive, P. dauphinensis Martelli, a species with 
syn carps 18-20 cm long, cylindric, bearing 100 
or more phalanges ; endocarp submedian ; leaves 
12 cm or more in width, and especially above 
tessellate and cross-veined; near the leaf apex 
the midrib below with crenate-serrations 9-12 
mm apart. P. centrifugalis has the syncarps 12- 
15.5 cm long, ovoid-cylindric, bearing 65-71 
phalanges; endocarp median; leaves 9-11-6 cm 
wide, lacking cross veins except at the very base ; 
and near the apex the midrib below with subu- 
late-serrations 2-5 mm apart. 
P. centrifugalis is native to the thickly settled, 
offshore islet, lie Sainte Marie. It is not a lit- 
toral species, but it occurs commonly on the 
coastal plain of the western or leeward shore 
on coastal sand flats or on upland lateritic soils 
or on basalt gravels near to or remote from the 
shore. It makes a good, vigorous tree that is 
persisting due to its ferociously armed leaves 
and stems, despite the nearly complete agricul- 
tural exploitation of the land for the culture 
of coconut, breadfruit, clove, mango, vanilla, 
papaya, and truck crops. There is no remaining 
virgin forest, though on rough or steep slopes 
there are patches of vigorous secondary forest, 
and Pandanus persists better than any other tree. 
The fruits have a pleasant fruity smell, and their 
phalange bases have a pleasant fruity incipient 
taste, but then are irritating. Only children, rats, 
and other animals eat them. The dried side 
strips of the leaves are used to plait floor mats, 
baskets, hats, etc. 
The new epithet is the Latin centrifugalis , 
being centrifugal, and is given in allusion to 
the orientation of the stigmas, which is very 
exceptional in the genus. 
Pandanus circularis sp. nov. (sect. Dauphinen- 
sia) 
Figs. 254, 255 a, 255 b top 
nom. vern.: "hofa.” 
diagnosis holotypi: Arbor 12 m alta 20 cm 
diametro, cortice obscure brunneo cum spinis conicis, 
ramulis in apice 10 cm diametro, radicibus fulturosis 
paucis 20 cm longis 1.5 cm diametro spinosis, foliis 
2.35-2.6 m longis 14-15 cm latis crassiter coriaceis 
sensim recurvantibus apicibus caducis supra olivaceis 
infra viridibus et glaucis in sectione V-formatis in 
sectione mediali cum 72 nervis parallels secundariis 
in dimidio quoque nervis tertiis olim ad basem evi- 
dentis lamina gladiformatis in apice trigono crassiter 
subulato diminuentibus eo 10 cm ex apice 8 mm lato 
basi inermi amplexicauli alba et cum extensionibus 
lateralibus 16-20 mm latis 33 cm longis integris 
membrananceis, 26 cm ex basi marginibus cum spinis 
5-6 mm longis 6-11 mm separatis crassioriter subu- 
latis subarcuatis adscendentibus pallidis, midnervo 
proximo infra ex 30 cm cum aculeis 2-2.5 mm longis 
5-15 mm separatis subulatis valde reflexis basi crassa, 
in sectione mediali marginibus cum spinis 3. 5-5. 5 mm 
longis 5-18 mm separatis arcuato-subulatis compressis 
albis adscendentibus, midnervo infra cum spinis simu- 
lantibus sed 12-16 mm separatis, in apice marginibus 
et midnervo infra cum subulato-serrulis 0.6-1 mm 
longis 1-2.5 mm separatis albis, inflorescentia foemi- 
nea terminali erecta spicata cum 9 syncarpiis in 3 
seriebus affixis, pedunculo 36 cm longo in apice 5.5 
cm. diametro clavato 3-laterato in parte superiori 
cum 2 bracteis caducis, rhachidi 20 cm longo, syn- 
carpiis 14-18 cm longis 9-10 cm latis 7-8 cm crassis 
congregatis adscendentibus cylindrico-ovoideis sed 
latere proximo compresso cum 52-78 phalangibus, 
axili carnoso et fibroso, phalangibus 3.5—4 cm longis 
2. 7-3. 8 cm latis obovoideis "luteis” in basi truncatis j! 
parte l-s supera libera oblata obtuso-pyramidali 
(5 )-6-angulosa concava ellipso apicali cum 4-9 stig- 
matibus (rariter stigmate unico minori centrali), stig- 
matibus marginalibus 1.5-2 mm longis ellipticis vel 
lanceolatis vel deltoideis plerumque centrifugalibus 
sed paucis tangentialibus vel enim centripetalibus, 
sinibus 0.5—1 mm longis profundis, endocarpio 
osseoso brunneo supramediali 14 mm longo lateribus 
4-6 mm crassis intra laevibus et lucidis, seminibus 
8 mm longis ellipsoideis, mesocarpio apicali medul- 
loso denso cum fibris longitudinalibus paucis, meso- 
carpio basali carnoso et fibroso. 
dignosis of holotype: Tree, 12 m tall, 
20 cm in diameter; bark dark brown, with conic 
spines; branchlets at apex 10 cm in diameter; 
prop roots few, 20 cm long, 1.5 cm in diameter, 
spiny; leaves 2.35-2.6 m long, 14-15 cm wide, 
thick coriaceous, gently down -curved, all mature 
leaves having lost their apices, above olive green, 
below green and glaucous, in section V-shaped, 
at midsection with 72 parallel secondary veins 
in each half, no visible tertiary cross veins ex- 
cept at the very base, blade sword-shaped, nar- 
rowing to a stout trigonous subulate apex, this 
10 cm down 8 mm wide, the base unarmed and 
amplexicaul, white, and with membranous, en- 
tire, lateral flanges 16-20 mm wide and 33 cm 
long, near the base beginning at 26 cm the 
margins with spines 5-6 mm long, 6-11 mm 
apart, very stout subulate, slightly arcuate, as- 
cending, pale; the midrib below beginning at 
30 cm with prickles 2-2.5 mm long, 5-15 mm 
