Pandanus unipapillatus - Kanara Pandan

Kanara Pandan is a large shrub or small tree up to 8 m height; more or less erect stem, branching near top with a few prop roots at base. Leaves are up to 1.5-2 m x 3-5 cm, margin with sharp curved prickles and midrib prickly along its whole length, 7-8 spines on midrib (per 10 cm), spines 3 mm long, 15-16 on margin (per 10 cm) in three rows, leaf colour deep to light green. Male inflorescence ephemeral, fragrant, at branch-ends with yellowish 10-12 bracts; spikes upto 12-20 cm long and dense, stemonophore 3-6 mm long; stamen 5-8 mm long with free up to 1 mm long filament; anther 3-5 mm long. Female inflorescence are at branch-ends, bracted, 6-8 bracts of variable length; solitary, oblong-rounded 25-30 cm x 18-20 cm, carpel simple, hexagonal, 4.5 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, single forked, style 1 cm long. Kanara Pandan grows at the border of paddy fields and along the bank of streams, in Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra.