Pandanus (tectorius)
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Pius Liyagel State Forester Yap Forestry PO Box 1000 Yap Islands, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 www.wildflowerfarm.com |
| Family Scientific Name: | Pandanaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Screwpine Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Pandanus tectorius | ||
| Common Name: | Choy | ||
| Species Code: | PANTEC | ||
| Ecotype: | Yap Islands | ||
| General Distribution: | Choy is found on Pacific islands in the rest of Polynesia, in Micronesia, in Melanesia, and as far west as northern Australia. It grows in moist coastal locations and valley slopes to an elevation of 2,000 feet. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | 3L (1 gal) polybags | ||
| Time To Grow: | 0 | ||
| Target Specifications: | Height: 20 cm<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm Root Plug in container. | ||
| Propagule Collection: |
Trees are either male or female. Female trees produce a large, segmented fruit somewhat resembling a pineapple. Male trees produce large clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers surrounded by white to cream colored bracts.The fruit is a large, woody, subglobose syncarp with numerous (often 50 or more) woody keys containing a buoyant mesocarp with one or more seeds. Fruits are hand collected when fruits begin to drop from the plant. Plants produce some fruits throughout the year. |
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| Propagule Processing: | Fruits are mashed against screens and washed to remove pulp and extract seeds. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Seeds are soaked in water to remove any inhibitors and to allow full imbibition of seeds prior to sowing. Seeds are sown into deep flats (1X2') and covered with composted leaf mold. We transplant viable germinants into containers as soon as the radicle emerges. Flats are checked for new germinants daily. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
The Yap Agroforestry nursery has a year round growing season with periods of high rainfall. The facility is comprised of one large greenhouse, shade structures, and mist propagation beds, and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to protect seedlings from heavy rains, and provide to temperature and shading variance during production. We irrigate all containers by hand, but are investigating a sub-irrigation system for the nursery. We use fertilizers if when they are available. |
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| Establishment Phase: |
Seedlings are germinated in a greenhouse were they remain for 4 weeks. Flats and containers are watered by hand. After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into 3 L (1 gallon) polybags filled with a growing medium of 2:1:1 (v:v:v) sand, seaweed compost, and topsoil. |
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| Length of Establishment Phase: | 3-4 months | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Approximately 4 weeks after transplanting, seedlings are grown under a shadecloth during summer months. During months of intense summer heat, containers are watered daily with occasional deep irrigation to leach out accumulated salts. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 6 months | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Irrigation frequency and duration is gradually reduced for 4 to 8 weeks prior to outplanting. Nursery stock is top pruned at this stage. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 1 month | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Containerized seedlings are stored in the open growing compound until moved to outplanting site. | ||
| Length of Storage: | Variable; depends on outplanting date. | ||
| Other Comments: | This species can also be grown from cuttings. | ||
Citation:
Liyagel, Pius. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Pandanus tectorius plants 3L (1 gal) polybags; Yap Forestry Yap Islands, Federated States of Micronesia. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
