pandan

plant

Also known as: Pandanus amaryllifolius

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "pandan" refers to plants belonging to the genus Pandanus, which are tropical trees and shrubs found in the Old World, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Oceania. These plants are characterized by slender, palmlike stems and distinctive aerial prop roots, with sword-like leaves arranged in a spiral pattern, giving them the common name "screw pine".1

Pandanus leaves are widely used for various purposes, including thatching, weaving mats, hats, ropes, and baskets. Some species also have edible fruits and seeds, and the leaves of P. amaryllifolius are a common flavoring in Southeast Asian cuisine. Certain pandanus species are also cultivated as houseplants or ornamental plants.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

pandanus
Major species and uses
The leaves of pandan (P. amaryllifolius) are used in Southeast Asian cooking, notably in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Thatch screw pine has flowers whose essence (called pandanus, or kewra, water) is used as a flavoring in North Indian foods.
Read More
The leaves of pandan (P. amaryllifolius) are used in Southeast Asian cooking, notably in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Thatch screw pine has flowers whose essence (called pandanus, or kewra, water) is used as a flavoring in North Indian foods.
Read More