Pandanus rigidifolius

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Pandanus rigidifolius
Pandanus rigidifolius - rosette.jpg
The small, rigid, incurved leaves of Pandanus rigidifolius
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Pandanales
Family: Pandanaceae
Genus: Pandanus
Species:
P. rigidifolius
Binomial name
Pandanus rigidifolius
R.E.Vaughan & Wiehe

Pandanus rigidifolius is a species of plant in the family Pandanaceae, endemic to Mauritius.[1]

Description[]

The small Pandanus rigidifolius fruit body is held upright, on a short peduncle.

A low, small, spreading, many-branched tree. It produces many stilt-like roots, along the trunk, but also along the length of the side-branches.

It can be distinguished by its compact (often trifarious) rosettes of small, rigid, erect, red-spined, deep blue-green leaves. These are usually only 75 cm long and 6 cm wide, folded length-wise (reduplicate), stiff, erect, and have an abrupt, obtuse leaf-tip. The reddish spines are closely set along the margins of the leaves.

The small (7–8 cm) fruit-head is held erect on a short peduncle, and enclosed in three-ranked (trifarious) bracts. Each fruit-head is packed with 200-220 small, unilocular drupes, with slightly convex tips.

In its appearance, it is most similar to the other dwarf Mauritian species Pandanus microcarpus, as well as the Madagascan species . Another Mauritian species, Pandanus drupaceus, though a larger shrub or tree, also has rigid, incurved leaves.[2][3][4]

Distribution[]

Pandanus rigidifolius in habitat.

It was endemic to Mauritius, where it was formerly common in the damp wetlands of the highlands near Le Petrin and Les Mares.

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=671429-1
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Strahm, W.A. 1993. The conservation and restoration of the flora of Mauritius and Rodrigues. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis (2 vols.), Reading University, UK.
  4. ^ 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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