Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius)

Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) is a plant species in Pandanaceae, a monocot that has rosette leaves, has three linear folds, is green, grows in the shade, has a distinctive aroma and is an important component in the cooking tradition as an aroma generator.

P. amaryllifolius has strong roots that support this plant when it is grown. The leaves are elongated like a palm and arranged in a tight rosette, up to 60 cm long. Some varieties have serrated leaf edges.

Pandan grows wild in yards, on the edges of gutters and in shady rice fields. Leaves are quite an important component in the culinary tradition as a food fragrance because of the aroma they produce. A leaf is placed between rice, cakes or other dishes such as compote and green bean porridge.

This distinctive fragrant aroma is strong when the leaves are fresh. Pandan is also used as a source of green color for food, a decorative component for serving food and part of flower arrangements at weddings to make the room fragrant.

The leaves are used in the perfume industry, vanilla substitution and traditional medicine. Research has established the repellent activity of American mosquitoes and cockroaches (Periplaneta americana).

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Pandanales
Family: Pandanaceae
Genus: Pandanus
Species: Pandanus amaryllifolius

Six new species forming the Sumbana species group in genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg 1798 from Indonesia

NEWS - Sumbawa longhorn ( Nemophora sumbana Kozlov, sp. nov.), Timor longhorn ( Nemophora timorella Kozlov, sp. nov.), shining shade longhorn ( Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov, sp. nov.), Wegner longhorn ( Nemophora wegneri Kozlov, sp. nov.), long brush longhorn ( Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.), and short brush longhorn ( Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov, sp. nov.) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. The Lesser Sunda Islands consist of two parallel, linear oceanic island chains, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Sawu, Timor, Alor, and Tanimbar. The oldest of these islands have been continuously occurring for 10–12 million years. This long period of isolation has allowed significant in situ diversification, making the Lesser Sundas home to many endemic species. This island chain may act as a two-way filter for organisms migrating between the world's two great biogeographic regions, Asia and Australia-Papua. The recognition of a striking cli...

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