Kingdom Plantae Family Pandanaceae Scientific name Pandanus christmatensis | Order Pandanales Genus Pandanus Rank Species | |
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Pandanus christmatensis is a dioecious tropical plant in the screwpine genus. It is endemic to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the north-eastern Indian Ocean. The specific epithet, "christmatensis", comes from its native locality.
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Description
Pandanus christmatensis is a small tree or shrub, with prop roots, that grows to 10 m in height. Its leaves are 1–2 m long and 50–80 mm wide, dark green and with marginal prickles. The inflorescence has white bracts. The fruit is orange when ripe.
Distribution and habitat
The plant forms dense, tangled thickets on the shore terraces of the island, often next to the sea, on exposed limestone cliffs with little soil. It also occurs inland beneath the rainforest canopy, particularly on limestone scree.
Taxonomy
The plant is closely related to P. tectorius, which is widely distributed through the region, and is very similar to P. platycarpus from Zanzibar.