Way To Earth Natural Handmade Mat | Kaitha Paya | kaithola Paya | Thazha Paya | Screw Pine Mat | Paaya | Grade- A | B | C

Screw pine is a plant which comes under Pandanus genus. The word Pandan is derived from an Indonesian name of a tree called Pandan, commonly known as screw pine and comes under pandanaceae family. It is a monocot plant with 750 accepted species, it is an old native shrub adapted to tropic and sub tropic regions. The leaf arrangement of the plant is like the threading of a screw, hence the name screw pine. The leaves have thorns on the sides and midrib and are very flexible. The screw pine leaf is not water absorbent. Screw pine has the capacity to hold the soil tight and prevent the region from soil erosion. The root system is fibrous and holds the fine alluvial soil. Screw pine is mostly seen near the water bodies and marshy regions. They aredioecious plants, the flower of male tree are 2-3cm long and fragrant, surrounded by narrow, white bracts and the fruit is similar to pineapple. There are so many pandanus species all around the world and its leaves are used for handicrafts purposes. Only the mature leaves are used for craft making so that the plant can naturally regenerate without destroying the plant completely.

The screw pine is mainly characterized by the presence of long narrow sword shaped leaves which are spirally arranged. The arrangement of the leaves gives an impression of long, pointed effects, which gives it the name screw pine. The plant has fibrous stem and long leaves. The plant grows up to a maximum height of 6 m. The mature leaves are dark green in colour and grow up to2-3 m in length and 2-3 inches in width. Leaves are thick, leathery, flexible and water repellent. Thorns are present in both the sides and midrib of the leaf. It has fibrous stem and thicker prop root. A screw-pine plant resembles the foliage of a palm tree but its leaves are soft and fibrous, protected by small, sharp thorns on both edge

Screw pine weaving is one of the oldest handicrafts practiced by the traditional weavers of Kerala, especially women.