possible pandan leaves

susan, i checked out the picture of the plant you mentioned but it didn't look like the same plant we have here, especally the center fruits as ours don't have nay fruit as i recall. and the leaves are slimer. here is what i found. your plant is ediable, apparenlty. but i think you have to ask local SE asian people for further information. the screwpine leaves should be able to grow easily in hawaii. i was quite surprised when you said you only got the bottled ones. did you check the fridge in the local asian grocers? anyway, here is what i found. if i find a picture of our pandan leaves, i will send it to you in the e-mail...

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Native Plants Used As Medicine in Hawaii
Beatrice H. Krauss

HALA or PUHALA - pandanus or screwpine (Pandanus odoratissimus)
The Polynesians may have found this tree growing here when they first arrived -- or they may have brought it with them. Leaves (lau hala) and fruits of hala were used in many ways -- for plaiting mats, making leis and paint brushes, and even for food in time of famine, as well as in many other ways. They used the roots and flowers for medicine.

The tips of the aerial roots are covered with scales which look like dry leaves. If these are pulled off, one can see the soft tip of the root which the scales covered to protect it. This root tip is what the Hawaiians used for medicine.

The root tip was pounded with other plants and the juice of sugar cane (ko) -- then all this mixture was squeezed and strained. The juice which they got was heated by putting hot stones in it, this medicine was used as a tonic for mothers who were weak because they had given birth to many children. It was also drunk for pains in the chest.

The soft part at the bottom of the flower was chewed by a mother to give to young children as a laxative; adults also used this for a laxative.

-------------------------------------------------Last modified: Mon Feb 28 13:40:11 Hawaiian Standard Time 2000

PANDANACEAE
The Screw-pine family
Freycinetia marquisensis, Forest Brown. Marquesas Islands: fleshy floral bracts eaten raw. Ref. CURREY.

Freycinetia monticola, Rendle. Austral Islands: fleshy floral bracts eaten. Vernacualar name: kiekie. Ref. CURREY.

Pandanus fascicularia, Lam. India (Bombay Presidency): the tender floral leaves are eaten raw, or cooked with various condiments. The pulp contained in the lower part of the drupes of the compound fruit is sucked. Vernacular name - Bombay Presidency (place unspecified): Kenr. Ref. GAMMIE.

Pandanus odoratissimus, Noronha; Blume; Hort.; Herrenh. ex W. Wendel; L.; Jacq.(syn. Pandanus tectorius, Solanud. ex Balf. f.) Australia (North Australia): lower, yellow, pulpy part of drupe eaten. Also, tender white base of leaves eaten boiled or raw. The seeds are baked and soaked to obtain the sweet substance between the fibres and also roasted and broken to obtain the kernels. India: pulpy part of drupe eaten. Hawaii: orange flesh of fruit eaten. Vernacular names - Hawaiian: Hala. English: Screwpine. Ref. CURREY, IRVINE, WATT.

Pandanus odoratus, Salisb.; Thunb. India (Madras Presidency): floral leave eaten raw or cooked. Pulp of lower part of drupes of ripe fruit sucked. Vernacular names - Tamil:Thalay. Telugu: Mogheli. Ref. SHORTT.
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Last update Friday, March 6, 1998 by aw