screw pine

American  

noun

1. any tropical Asian tree or shrub of the genus Pandanus, having a palmlike or branched stem, long, narrow, rigid, spirally arranged leaves and aerial roots, and bearing an edible fruit.

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screw pine British  

noun

1. any of various pandanaceous plants of the Old World tropical genus Pandanus, having a spiral mass of pineapple-like leaves and heavy conelike fruits

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Etymology

Origin of screw pine

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The researchers also found that fragrant screw pines' male and female flowers produced heat at night stably, making them the first such species in the family Pandanaceae.

From Science Daily

The leaves of this screw pine shrub, known as pandan, are a classic in Malaysian cooking.

From Salon

On approaching the coast, one often meets with what is called the screw pine, but which, it would seem, should be called the screw palm.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the other materials may be enumerated the odorous roots of the khus-khus grass, Anatherum muricatum, and the leaves of various species of screw pine, used in India and the East generally.

From Project Gutenberg

The mid-rib of the screw pine growing in the forests of tropical America furnishes the material of which "Panama" hats are made.

From Project Gutenberg