Category:Pandanus (genus)
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Chamorro Names and Ethnobotanical Uses of Pandanus in the Marianas
Note: There is no primary or generic Chamorro word for Pandanus. Each indigenous name refers to a specific type, distinguished by use and form—regardless of shared scientific classification.
| Chamorro Name | Associated Species | Ethnobotanical Uses | Botanical Description (Stone, 1967) |
|---|---|---|---|
| åkgak | Possibly Pandanus tectorius | Leaves used for weaving, binding, and cordage; prop roots (before touching ground) used medicinally. Culturally regarded as the best-quality leaf material in the Marianas. | (No formal botanical description provided by Stone) |
| kaffo' | Pandanus tectorius (formerly P. fragrans) | No common ethnobotanical use; fruit heads used decoratively; wildlife food source. | Leaves <10 cm wide, whip-like tip; firm/thin texture; white-bracted male inflorescence; cephalium 15–20 cm; 2–8-celled phalanges; ripens orange/vermilion; small seeds in bony endocarp. |
| påhong | Pandanus dubius | Seeds consumed; fruit heads used decoratively; leaves rarely used for mats. | Leaves >10 cm wide, thick, blunt-tipped; yellow-bracted male inflorescence; cephalium >20 cm; drupes mostly 1-celled; glaucous and purplish; large seeds (often >15 cm). |
| paingot | Possibly Pandanus amaryllifolius | Leaves used as a culinary herb. | (Not described in Stone; tentative ID) |
| akå’on | Unknown Pandanus sp.; possibly P. tectorius | Fruit heads larger than kaffo’’; edible raw or cooked; leaf morphology distinct. | (No formal description; identity unconfirmed) |
