Pandanus vandermeeschii

Pandanus vandermeeschii
Rosette and fruit-head of Pandanus vandermeeschii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Pandanales
Family: Pandanaceae
Genus: Pandanus
Species:
P. vandermeeschii
Binomial name
Pandanus vandermeeschii
Synonyms[1]

Foullioya maritima Gaudich.

Pandanus vandermeeschii is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae.[2] It is endemic to the coastal areas of Mauritius.

Description

Adult specimen in cultivation.
Detail of the fruit-head

A small freely-branching tree of 6–8 metres (20–26 ft), the ends of its branches can droop downwards. Its leaves are grey-green, and its bark is grey-pink. It can also be distinguished from the several other species of Mauritian Pandanus by its 15-centimetre (5.9 in) hanging fruit-heads that each have 250–450 protruding drupes (the upper half of each drupe is free) which contain the pointed seeds. The tip of each drupe is divided by deep clefts.[3]

Habitat

This species was once common around the coastal lowlands and offshore islets of Mauritius. Its natural habitat is the palm rich forests, where it grows together with Pandanus utilis (a species which can be distinguished by its whorled darker green leaves). It is threatened by habitat loss but can still be found on Round Island, Flat Island and offshore islets near Mahebourg.[4]

Its Mauritian relatives are mostly native to the highland marshes and heaths, and include Pandanus barklyi (a shrub with large flat seeds and drooping leaves); Pandanus eydouxia (a tree with long wide leaves and enormous fruits); Pandanus rigidifolius & wiehei (small-seeded shrubs with stiff and vertical leaves).[5]

References

  1. ^ "Pandanus vandermeeschii Balf.f." Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pandanus vandermeeschii Balf.f." The Plant List.
  3. ^ Vaughan RE, Wiehe PO (1953) The genus Pandanus in the Mascarene Islands. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 55(356): 1-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.1953.tb00001.x.
  4. ^ Strahm, W.A. 1993. The conservation and restoration of the flora of Mauritius and Rodrigues. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis (2 vols.), Reading University, UK.
  5. ^ Vaughan, R.E. and Wiehe, P.O. 1953. Flore des Mascareignes, Genus Pandanus. The Sugar Industry Research Institute, Mauritius, ORSTOM, Paris and RBG, Kew.
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