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- 12.2. Marine Intertidal – Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, etc.
- 1.6. Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland
- 1.7. Forest – Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation above high tide level
Two forms (possibly involving Polynesian cultivars) occur on the island: the first with few massive ramifications, bark light yellow to brown reddish, the second is much more branched with thinner branches, bark light yellowish brown. Common on North Beach, more or less invading the coconut plantations and areas of cut Thespesia. As with other taxa known to be used by Polynesians it is not clear whether Pandanus is indigenous, introduced or (perhaps most likely) both. Naturally dispersed by flotation. Very common throughout the island often forming small groves. Seems to flower synchronously over much of the island. Florence 10874, 10875, 10260, 10961. (Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.); However, the species was. of great importance to Polynesians and had a great many uses. Timber was used for house frames (Whistler, 1991a), although in Hawai'i male trees are claimed to yield Getter timber than females (Handy & Handy, 1972). The leaves were used for thatch and, after removing thorns, for fine weaving (Handy & Handy, 1972; Whistler, 1991b), as they still are on Pitcairn island. Pollen was used to scent oil (Whistler 1992), and the leaves (Uhe, 1974) and aerial roots (Handy & Handy, 1972; Whistler, 1991b) were used medicinally. The plant was eaten in various ways in Polynesia (Handy & Handy, 1972; Whistler, 1991a), probably most often as a famine food (Whistler, 1991b). The soft base of the phalange was eaten as was the small seed in each fruit, and the hearts of the terminal branches were eaten after steeping in seawater to remove calcium oxalate (Barrau, 1961). (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1); They are the tallest trees and in places rises as an emergent above the general canopy. The dried fallen leaves of Pandanus cover the ground in many places. (Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.H. & Stoddart, D.R. (1983)Henderson Island (Southeastern Polynesia): summary of current knowledge, Atoll Research Bulletin, 272, pp. 147. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.272.1);
It is almost certain that Polynesians colonising or even visiting Henderson would have brought Pandanus with them, because of its great value. Introduced Polynesian cultivars may have integrated with the existing native population, resulting in a wide spectrum of morphological variation. Fosberg has suggested that variation in P. tectorius resembles that found in a highly variable horticultural species such as apple (Barrau, 1961). (Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1);
Florence, J., Waldren, S. & Chepstow-Lusty, A.J. (1995)The flora of the Pitcairn Islands: a review, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 56, pp. 79119.; Waldren, S., Wesiler, M.I., Hather, J.G. & Morrow, D. (1999)The non-native vascular plants of Henderson Island, South Central Pacific Ocean, Atoll Research Bulletin, 463, pp. 114. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.463.1; Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.H. & Stoddart, D.R. (1983)Henderson Island (Southeastern Polynesia): summary of current knowledge, Atoll Research Bulletin, 272, pp. 147. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00775630.272.1; UKOTs Team (2024). UKOTs Online Herbarium - Henderson. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet at http://brahmsonline.kew.org/UKOT (July 2024); UKOTs Team (2024). UKOTs Online Herbarium - Henderson. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet at http://brahmsonline.kew.org/UKOT (July 2024);