FIBERS/MATERIALS INFORMATION
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PANDAN (SCREW PINE FAMILY)
approximately eight inches in diameter and looks like a green pineapple. The leaves are
used for aromatic flavoring but mostly in connection with rice. These leaves are very
popular in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The leaves are also used
as fragrant wrappers for rice, chicken and other food.
The medicinal uses of this tree are as follows: The entire plant is used as a diuretic, the
roots have anti-diabetic properties and the leaves are used for treating skin diseases.
Strips of the leaves are used in making woven baskets, decorative items, bags and many
other products for home, spa, hotels etc.
Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. Plants vary in size from
small shrubs less than 1 m tall, up to medium-sized trees 20 m tall, typically with a broad
canopy and moderate growth rate. The trunk is stout, wide-branching, and ringed with
many leaf scars. They commonly have many thick prop roots near the base, which provide
support as the tree grows top-heavy with leaves, fruit, and branches. The leaves are
strap-shaped, varying between species from 30 cm up to 2 m or more long, and from 1.5
cm up to 10 cm broad.
They are dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on different plants. The flowers
of the male tree are 2-3 cm long and fragrant, surrounded by narrow, white bracts. The
female tree produces flowers with round fruits that are also bract-surrounded. The fruits are
globose, 10 to 20 cm in diameter, and have many prism-like sections, resembling the fruit
of the pineapple. Typically, the fruit changes from green to bright orange or red as it
matures. The fruit is edible.
Extraction
The leaves of screw pines are fibrous and resistant to decay. In fiber
preparation, the spiny margins and midribs of the leaves are removed. The leaves are
then partly dried under the sun, and divided into strips of desired width by splitting with a
comb-like instrument. Excess water in the fiber is squeezed out by drawing the strips
tightly around a piece of wood.
The prepared fibers are then coiled in bundles and are placed preferably in running water
for a period of 24 hours; if in stagnant water, the liquid must be changed frequently. The
fibers are then boiled for about 15 minutes either in fresh water or in water mixed with a
little vinegar, lemon, or tamarind fruit. The processed fibers are washed several times in
fresh water and spread out under the sun to dry.
used for aromatic flavoring but mostly in connection with rice. These leaves are very
popular in Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. The leaves are also used
as fragrant wrappers for rice, chicken and other food.
The medicinal uses of this tree are as follows: The entire plant is used as a diuretic, the
roots have anti-diabetic properties and the leaves are used for treating skin diseases.
Strips of the leaves are used in making woven baskets, decorative items, bags and many
other products for home, spa, hotels etc.
Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. Plants vary in size from
small shrubs less than 1 m tall, up to medium-sized trees 20 m tall, typically with a broad
canopy and moderate growth rate. The trunk is stout, wide-branching, and ringed with
many leaf scars. They commonly have many thick prop roots near the base, which provide
support as the tree grows top-heavy with leaves, fruit, and branches. The leaves are
strap-shaped, varying between species from 30 cm up to 2 m or more long, and from 1.5
cm up to 10 cm broad.
They are dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on different plants. The flowers
of the male tree are 2-3 cm long and fragrant, surrounded by narrow, white bracts. The
female tree produces flowers with round fruits that are also bract-surrounded. The fruits are
globose, 10 to 20 cm in diameter, and have many prism-like sections, resembling the fruit
of the pineapple. Typically, the fruit changes from green to bright orange or red as it
matures. The fruit is edible.
Extraction
The leaves of screw pines are fibrous and resistant to decay. In fiber
preparation, the spiny margins and midribs of the leaves are removed. The leaves are
then partly dried under the sun, and divided into strips of desired width by splitting with a
comb-like instrument. Excess water in the fiber is squeezed out by drawing the strips
tightly around a piece of wood.
The prepared fibers are then coiled in bundles and are placed preferably in running water
for a period of 24 hours; if in stagnant water, the liquid must be changed frequently. The
fibers are then boiled for about 15 minutes either in fresh water or in water mixed with a
little vinegar, lemon, or tamarind fruit. The processed fibers are washed several times in
fresh water and spread out under the sun to dry.
