Gaillard Cut: …needed to accommodate two passing PANAMAX vessels. Prior to the work, the dimensions of these massive ships, built to the maximum size that will pass through a canal lock, limited them to one-way traffic while in the cut. As the number of these ships in service was expected to increase,…

Panama: Political process: …Change (Cambio Democrático), and the Panameñista Party.

Ecuador: Education of Ecuador: …training are conducted by the Panamerican Center for Geographical Studies and Research at the Military Geographical Institute in Quito. The same building houses other environmental institutes, libraries, and laboratories. Social science institutes are also numerous, especially in Quito; they include a local unit of the Latin American Faculty of Social…

Pilea: …of the round leaves; and friendship plant, or panamiga (P. involucrata), with quilted bronzy leaves.

Panamint Range, group of mountains lying mainly in Inyo county, eastern California, U.S. The range forms the western wall of Death Valley. Elevations average 6,000 to 11,000 feet (2,000 to 3,000 meters); Telescope Peak, at 11,049 feet (3,368 meters), is the highest point. Some mining ghost towns

Syrian and Palestinian religion: Institutions and practices: King Panammu directs that his future heir, when making sacrifice to Hadad, pray that Panammu’s soul may eat and drink with the god. Phoenician kings of Sidon later refer to a resting place with the Healers/Shades, and the same word is used by the Israelites to…

Hughes Electronics Corporation: …merged its Galaxy operations with PanAmSat Corporation to create a new subsidiary, which kept the PanAmSat name. PanAmSat was founded in 1984 by the telecommunications entrepreneur Rene Anselmo as a commercial alternative to the intergovernmental satellite monopoly Intelsat. In 1988, with the launch of its own satellite, it became the…

Oceanic art and architecture: Australia: …earliest known styles is the Panaramittee. It was widespread, mainly through southern Australia, central Australia, and Tasmania, and dates from about 30,000 bp onward. It is characterized by small pecked designs, both figurative and nonfigurative, on rock surfaces. The nonfigurative designs include circles, crescents, and radiating lines; the figurative are…

Saint Epiphanius of Constantia: …the chief work is the Panarion (374–377), an account of 80 heresies and their refutations, which ends with a statement of orthodox doctrine. His Ancoratus (374) is a compendium of the teachings of the church. His works are valuable as a source for the history of theological ideas.

flag of Albania: …Faik Konitsa of Brussels and Querim Panarity of Boston popularized Skanderbeg in the late 19th century and revived his flag as a national rallying point for Albanians at home and abroad. Independence from Ottoman rule was finally proclaimed on November 28, 1912. Since that time various Albanian regimes—republic, monarchy, fascist…

Panasonic Holdings is a major Japanese manufacturer of electric appliances, consumer electronics, rechargeable automotive batteries, and residential heating and cooling systems. Its brand marketing has been highly diverse, with products marketed under the brand names Panasonic, Technics, Hussmann,

Panasqueira, tungsten mine, central Portugal. Located in the Estrela Mountains (Serra da Estrela), it is about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the village of Silvares. One of several tungsten deposits in Portugal, the mine earned a certain renown during World War II when the country was both publicly

cigar: A panatela is a thin cigar open at both ends, usually about 5 inches long with a straight shape but sometimes having a shoulder, or drawn-in portion, at the mouth end; originally it had a finished top that had to be cut off before smoking. A…

Panathenaea, in Greek religion, an annual Athenian festival of great antiquity and importance. It was eventually celebrated every fourth year with great splendour, probably in deliberate rivalry to the Olympic Games. The festival consisted solely of the sacrifices and rites proper to the season

Panathenaic Stadium, stadium built for the first of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Built on the site of the ancient stadium used for the games of the Panathenaea, it is the only stadium in the world made completely of marble. The Panathenaic games began about 566 BCE and were

panegyric: 380 bc) and the Panathenaicus (c. 340 bc), both by Isocrates.

Jimmer Fredette: A journeyman NBA career: Fredette then signed with Panathinaikos in Greece. The team was named champion of the Greek Basketball League after the 2019–20 season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fredette returned to the Sharks for one more season, in 2020–21.

military aircraft: Multimission: …from the ground; the Panavia Tornado, a compact variable-geometry aircraft developed jointly by West Germany, Italy, and Great Britain in no fewer than four versions, ranging from two-seat all-weather, low-altitude attack to single-seat air-superiority; the U.S. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, a high-performance single-seat multirole aircraft with impressive air-to-ground

military aircraft: Multimission: …from the ground; the Panavia Tornado, a compact variable-geometry aircraft developed jointly by West Germany, Italy, and Great Britain in no fewer than four versions, ranging from two-seat all-weather, low-altitude attack to single-seat air-superiority; the U.S. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, a high-performance single-seat multirole aircraft with impressive air-to-ground

military aircraft: Multimission: …from the ground; the Panavia Tornado, a compact variable-geometry aircraft developed jointly by West Germany, Italy, and Great Britain in no fewer than four versions, ranging from two-seat all-weather, low-altitude attack to single-seat air-superiority; the U.S. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, a high-performance single-seat multirole aircraft with impressive air-to-ground

ginseng, (genus Panax), genus of 12 species of medicinal herbs of the family Araliaceae. The root of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), native to Manchuria and Korea, has long been used as a drug and is made into a stimulating tea in China, Korea, and Japan. American ginseng (P. quinquefolius), native

Araliaceae: Ginseng root, from Panax ginseng, has long been used by the Chinese in the treatment of various diseases; its American relative, Panax quinquefolium (see photograph), is used in the United States as a stimulant. Hari-giri, or castor aralia (Acanthopanax ricinifolius), is used in Japan in building and in…

Araliaceae: …various diseases; its American relative, Panax quinquefolium (see photograph), is used in the United States as a stimulant. Hari-giri, or castor aralia (Acanthopanax ricinifolius), is used in Japan in building and in furniture making.

Panay, island, westernmost of the Visayan Islands, central Philippines, surrounded by the Sibuyan, Visayan, and Sulu seas; the Guimaras Strait to the southeast separates it from Negros. It is roughly triangular in shape. A rugged, almost unpopulated mountain range parallels its western coast.

cloud rat: Bushy-tailed cloud rats: …the most recent being the Panay Island cloud rat (C. heaneyi) in 1996. Additional undiscovered species may live on other Philippine islands. All cloud rats are intimately tied to old-growth tropical forests, and most populations are in danger owing to overhunting and deforestation. Three of the four Crateromys species have…

Hiligaynon, fourth largest ethnolinguistic group of the Philippines, living on Panay, western Negros, southern Mindoro, Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Guimaras, and northwestern Masbate. Numbering about 6,540,000 in the late 20th century, they speak a Visayan (Bisayan) language of the Austronesian

Tínos: …Church of Panayía Evangelistría (Our Lady of Good Tidings) was built in 1822 to house the icon, which is venerated for its healing powers. A road of local marble leads pilgrims for the feasts of the Annunciation and Assumption to this sanctuary.

George Michael was a British singer and songwriter who rose from teen idol status with the Britpop band Wham! to global superstardom as a solo pop music artist in the 1980s and ’90s, with such hit songs as “Faith” and “Freedom! ’90.” Despite a waning career by the time of his death in 2016, he had

Aegean civilizations: Eastward explorations: …finds from the cemetery at Panaz Tepe near Phocaea in the north to Müskebi near Halicarnassus in the south. Panaz Tepe has warrior equipment, and apparently the soldiers took native wives, for the Greeks were buried while the Anatolians were cremated in the same small tholos tombs. Mycenaean pottery and…

siddha: …the other ascetics constitute the pañca-parameṣṭhin, the five chief divinities of the Jainas. Their figures are represented on a silver or brass tray called a siddha-cakra (saint-wheel), to which great sanctity and magical power are attributed. In the twice-yearly ceremony known as oḷī, the images are washed and anointed, and…

sīla: …the first five precepts (pañca-sīla) at all times. Occasionally, such as during the fortnightly fast day, they may observe eight precepts (aṣṭā-sīla; the first nine, with the seventh and eight combined as one). Normally, the full 10 vows are observed only by monks or nuns, who also follow the…

Aunt Jemima (Pearl Milling Company): …Milling Company), historical brand of pancake mix and breakfast foods. The Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888, and the following year it began producing its signature pancake mix, which would later be branded Aunt Jemima. Accused of engaging in racial stereotyping, it was rebranded from Aunt Jemima to Pearl…

bomb: …thread; others, called cow-dung or pancake bombs, are flattened on landing; and still others are ribbon-shaped. If bombs are still molten or plastic when they land (a characteristic of those formed during the relatively weak explosions of basaltic magma), they may partly fuse to form volcanic spatter. If their outer…

Shrove Tuesday, the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in Western Christian churches. It occurs between February 2 and March 9, depending on the date of Easter. Shrove, derived from shrive, refers to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in

Venus: Volcanic features: …unusual in appearance are so-called pancake domes, which are typically a few tens of kilometres in diameter and about 1 km (0.6 mile) high and are remarkably circular in shape. Flat-topped and steep-sided, they appear to have formed when a mass of thick lava was extruded from a central vent…

sea ice: Sea ice formation and features: …agglomerate into discs known as pancakes. As they grow from a few centimetres to a few metres across, they solidify and thicken mechanically by rafting on top of each other. Pancakes freeze together to form cakes and floes, which contain a large amount of ice with a granular texture. The…

turtle: Form and function: …the major exception being the pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) of southeastern Africa. The pancake tortoise lives among rocky outcroppings, where its flat shell allows it to crawl into crevices to rest. Once in a crevice, the pancake tortoise can inflate its lungs, thus expanding the shell and lodging itself so…

Shrove Tuesday, the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in Western Christian churches. It occurs between February 2 and March 9, depending on the date of Easter. Shrove, derived from shrive, refers to the confession of sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in

varna: Varna and caste: …of a fifth class, the panchama (Sanskrit: “fifth”) class, which includes the “untouchable” classes as well as others, such as tribal groups, who are outside the system and consequently avarna (“classless”).

Pancharatra, early Hindu religious movement whose members worshiped the deified sage Narayana (who came to be identified with Lord Vishnu) and, in merger with the Bhagavata sect, formed the earliest sectarian movement within Hinduism. The new group was a forerunner of modern Vaishnavism, or the

crustacean: Annotated classification: Superorder Pancarida Order Thermosbaenacea Holocene; eyes reduced or absent; brood pouch formed from dorsal extension of carapace; length about 4 mm; fresh and brackish water, some in warm springs; about 9 species. There is no universal agreement

Pancasila, the Indonesian state philosophy, formulated by the Indonesian nationalist leader Sukarno. It was first articulated on June 1, 1945, in a speech delivered by Sukarno to the preparatory committee for Indonesia’s independence, which was sponsored by the Japanese during their World War II

Panchatantra, popular collection of Sanskrit beast fables composed about 200 bce, according to Sanskrit scholar Johannes Hertel. The work has been widely circulated and translated, both in India, its country of origin, and throughout the world. This collection was known in Europe as The Fables of

India: Rural settlement: …village, might be found the panchayat (village council) hall, a few shops, a tea stall, a public radio hooked up to a loudspeaker, a small post office, or perhaps a dharmshala (a free guest house for travelers). The village school is usually on the edge of the village in order…

panchayat, the most important adjudicating and licensing agency in the self-government of an Indian caste. There are two types: permanent and impermanent. Literally, a panchayat (from Sanskrit pañca, “five”) consists of five members, but usually there are more; the panchayat has a policy committee,

panchayat: …instruments of government, the so-called panchayat raj, or government by panchayats.

Western architecture: The middle Byzantine period (843–1204): …producing a type called the quincunx. These domes were usually comparatively small and were set on drums, which tended to become narrower and taller with the progress of time. The eastern extremities of the side aisles formed chapels which played an important part in the liturgy, that to the north…

pancetta, salted pork belly of Italian origin. Pancetta, a word cognate with the English paunch, is produced all over Italy. It is pork belly that has been salted and then left to rest between 8 and 15 days, depending on the type of pancetta being produced and its weight. Cracked black pepper and

India: Foreign policy: …as nonaligned, was based on Five Principles (Panch Shila): mutual respect for other nations’ territorial integrity and sovereignty; nonaggression; noninterference in internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence. These principles were, ironically, articulated in a treaty with China over the Tibet region in 1954, when Nehru still hoped…

Varanasi: The contemporary city: …by a road known as Panchakosi; devout Hindus hope to walk that road and visit the city once in a lifetime and, if possible, to die there in old age. The site receives more than a million pilgrims each year. In addition, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists flock to…

Subramania Bharati: …to Krishna), Panchali sapatham (1912; Panchali’s Vow), and Kuyil pāṭṭu (1912; Kuyil’s Song). Many of his English works were collected in Agni and Other Poems and Translations and Essays and Other Prose Fragments (1937).

Subramania Bharati: …to Krishna), Panchali sapatham (1912; Panchali’s Vow), and Kuyil pāṭṭu (1912; Kuyil’s Song). Many of his English works were collected in Agni and Other Poems and Translations and Essays and Other Prose Fragments (1937).

Indian philosophy: Shankara’s theory of error and religious and ethical concerns: …Nonaction”), and Padmapada, author of Panchapadika, a commentary on the first five padas, or sections, of the bhashya. These early pupils raised and settled issues that were not systematically discussed by Shankara himself—issues that later divided his followers into two large groups: those who followed the Vivarana (a work written…

Pancharatra, early Hindu religious movement whose members worshiped the deified sage Narayana (who came to be identified with Lord Vishnu) and, in merger with the Bhagavata sect, formed the earliest sectarian movement within Hinduism. The new group was a forerunner of modern Vaishnavism, or the

Indian philosophy: Relation to orthodoxy: …Asuri and by Asuri to Panchashika. He refers also to Shashtitantra (“Doctrine of 60 Conceptions”), the main doctrines of which he claims to have expounded in the karikas. The Samkhya of Charaka, which is substantially the same as is attributed to Panchashika in the Mahabharata, is theistic and regards the…

Panchatantra, popular collection of Sanskrit beast fables composed about 200 bce, according to Sanskrit scholar Johannes Hertel. The work has been widely circulated and translated, both in India, its country of origin, and throughout the world. This collection was known in Europe as The Fables of

South Asian arts: Modern Indian dance: His posthumous production Panchatantra (The Winning of Friends) is based on an ancient fable of four friends (Mouse, Turtle, Deer, and Crow), in which he used masks and the mimed movements of animals and birds.

panchayat, the most important adjudicating and licensing agency in the self-government of an Indian caste. There are two types: permanent and impermanent. Literally, a panchayat (from Sanskrit pañca, “five”) consists of five members, but usually there are more; the panchayat has a policy committee,

panchayat: …instruments of government, the so-called panchayat raj, or government by panchayats.

panchayat, the most important adjudicating and licensing agency in the self-government of an Indian caste. There are two types: permanent and impermanent. Literally, a panchayat (from Sanskrit pañca, “five”) consists of five members, but usually there are more; the panchayat has a policy committee,

Panchen Lama, any of the line of reincarnated lamas in Tibet, each of whom heads the influential Tashilhunpo Monastery (near Shigatse) and until recent times was second only to the Dalai Lama in spiritual authority within the dominant Dge-lugs-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The title Panchen (a short

Panchimalco, town, southern El Salvador. It lies in the Pacific coastal range just south of San Salvador. The population is made up primarily of descendants of Pipil Indians, who are noted for their handwoven textiles and for their traditional (pre-Columbian) dress and customs. Pop. (2006) mun.,

Pancho Villa House, mansion of 50 rooms in Chihuahua, Mexico, where revolutionary leader Pancho Villa lived with his wife María Luz Corral de Villa in the early 20th century. At that time it was known as the Quinta Luz, and it opened as the Museum of the Revolution in 1982. The house was built on

history of photography: Colour photography: …with a thin film of panchromatic (i.e., sensitive to all colours) emulsion, and it resulted in a positive colour transparency. Because Autochrome was a colour transparency and could be viewed only by reflected light, however, researchers continued to look for improvements and alternative colour processes.

makeup: …range of makeup colours called panchromatic makeup, an achievement for which he won a special Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award.

encyclopaedia: Supplementary material: Charles-Joseph Panckoucke, a publisher, issued a four-volume supplement to the Encyclopédie (1776–77), in spite of Diderot’s refusal to edit it. The Britannica included a 200-page appendix in the last volume of the 2nd edition (1784) and issued a two-volume supplement to the 3rd edition (1801;…

Pancks, fictional character in the novel Little Dorrit (1855–57) by Charles Dickens. Pancks is a clerk who reluctantly collects exorbitant rents for the hypocritical landlord Casby. Because he makes Pancks do his dirty work, Casby by contrast appears to be generous, though he is ultimately

artificial insemination: Artificial insemination in humans: In 1884 American physician William Pancoast performed a modified artificial insemination procedure when he injected sperm from a donor into a woman who was under anesthesia. The woman, who was married, gave birth to a baby nine months later and did not know that she had been impregnated with…

pankration, ancient Greek sports event that combined boxing and wrestling, introduced at the XXXIII Olympiad (648 bce). Simple fisticuffs had been introduced in 688 bce. It was particularly popular among Spartans. Contests were savage, with hitting, kicking, twisting of limbs, strangling, and

pancreas, compound gland that discharges digestive enzymes into the gut and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon, vital in carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism, into the bloodstream. In humans the pancreas weighs approximately 80 grams (about 3 ounces) and is shaped like a pear. It is located in

transplant: The pancreas: The pancreas consists of two kinds of tissues: endocrine and exocrine. The latter produces pancreatic juice, a combination of digestive enzymes that empty via a duct into the small intestine. The endocrine tissue of the pancreas—the islets of Langerhans—secrete

cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited metabolic disorder, the chief symptom of which is the production of a thick, sticky mucus that clogs the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract. Cystic fibrosis was not recognized as a separate disease until 1938 and was then classified as a childhood

amylase: …by the salivary glands, whereas pancreatic amylase is secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine. The optimum pH of alpha-amylase is 6.7–7.0.

pancreatic cancer, a disease characterized by abnormal growth of cells in the pancreas, a 15-cm- (6-inch-) long gland located behind the stomach. The pancreas is primarily made up of two different tissues with separate functions: the exocrine pancreas, which secretes enzymes into the digestive

prostaglandin: Smooth muscle contraction: …of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in Verner-Morrison syndrome, as well as the effects of cholera toxin.

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatoscopy: …examine the bile duct and pancreatic ducts for the presence of gallstones, tumours, or inflammation. In this procedure an endoscope is passed through the stomach into the duodenum to visualize the ampulla of Vater, the opening of the common bile duct into the duodenum. This enables the injection

glucagon, a pancreatic hormone produced by cells in the islets of Langerhans. Glucagon is a 29-amino-acid peptide that is produced specifically by the alpha cells of the islets. It has a high degree of similarity with several glucagon-like peptides that are secreted by cells scattered throughout

islets of Langerhans: …polypeptide [PP] cells) produce important hormones. The two minor types (D1 and enterochromaffin cells) produce hormones and synthesize serotonin, respectively.

islets of Langerhans, irregularly shaped patches of endocrine tissue located within the pancreas of most vertebrates. They are named for the German physician Paul Langerhans, who first described them in 1869. The normal human pancreas contains about 1 million islets. The islets consist of four

transplant: The pancreas: The latter produces pancreatic juice, a combination of digestive enzymes that empty via a duct into the small intestine. The endocrine tissue of the pancreas—the islets of Langerhans—secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones are vital to the regulation

pancreatic polypeptide, peptide secreted by the F (or PP) cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Pancreatic polypeptide contains 36 amino acids. Its secretion is stimulated by eating, exercising, and fasting. It can inhibit gallbladder contraction and pancreatic exocrine secretion, but

proteolytic enzyme: …also produces a protein called pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, which binds to trypsin and blocks its activity. It is thought that in this manner the pancreas protects itself from autodigestion.

pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, either acute or chronic. The disorder is most commonly caused by excessive intake of alcohol, trauma, and obstruction of pancreatic ducts by gallstones. Inflammation is caused by the escape of pancreatic enzymes into the tissues of the pancreas. These

endocrinology: …presence of a substance called pancrein, which is thought to have been insulin, in pancreatic extracts); and in 1929 Edward Doisy isolated an estrus-producing hormone from the urine of pregnant females.

endocrinology: …presence of a substance called pancrein, which is thought to have been insulin, in pancreatic extracts); and in 1929 Edward Doisy isolated an estrus-producing hormone from the urine of pregnant females.

cholecystokinin (CCK), a digestive hormone released with secretin when food from the stomach reaches the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Cholecystokinin and pancreozymin were once considered two separate hormones because two distinct actions had been described: the release of enzymes

lethal injection: …in about 20 seconds, (2) pancuronium bromide, a total muscle relaxant that, given in sufficient dosages, paralyzes all voluntary muscles, thereby causing suffocation, and (3) potassium chloride, which induces irreversible cardiac arrest. If all goes as planned, the entire execution takes about five minutes, with death usually occurring less than…

aplastic anemia: …form of the disease called pancytopenia, or there may be a lack of one or more cell types. Rarely, the disease may be congenital (Fanconi anemia); more commonly, it is acquired by exposure to certain drugs (e.g., the antibiotic chloramphenicol) or chemicals (e.g., benzene) or to ionizing radiation. About half…

red panda, (Ailurus fulgens), reddish brown, long-tailed, raccoonlike mammal, about the size of a large domestic cat, that is found in the mountain forests of the Himalayas and adjacent areas of eastern Asia and subsists mainly on bamboo and other vegetation, fruits, and insects. Once classified as

giant panda, (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), bear with striking black-and-white coloration inhabiting bamboo forests in the mountains of central China. Its coloration, combined with a bulky body and round face, gives it a captivating appearance that has endeared it to people worldwide. According to the

kalanchoe: Major species: …their unusual foliage, include the panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa); penwiper plant (K. marmorata); velvet leaf, or felt bush (K. beharensis); and devil’s backbone, or mother of thousands (K. daigremontiana). A range of attractive potted plants, commonly known as florist’s kalanchoe and distinguished by their colourful flowers, have been derived from…

giant panda, (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), bear with striking black-and-white coloration inhabiting bamboo forests in the mountains of central China. Its coloration, combined with a bulky body and round face, gives it a captivating appearance that has endeared it to people worldwide. According to the

Malpighiales: Ungrouped families: Pandaceae contains 3 genera and 15 species of trees to shrubs, growing from Africa to New Guinea. Microdesmis (10 species) grows almost throughout the range of the family. The branches often look like compound leaves, and the male and female flowers are small and borne…

Pantar Island, island in the Alor group, Nusa Tenggara Timur provinsi (“province”), Indonesia. Pantar lies about 45 miles (72 km) north of Timor, across the Ombai Strait. It is 30 miles (50 km) long north-south and 7 to 18 miles (11 to 29 km) wide east-west, and it has an area of 281 square miles

goby: …long or less; the Philippine Pandaka pygmaea, one of the smallest living vertebrates, grows no longer than about 13 millimetres (38 inch).

crustacean: Reproduction and life cycles: In Pandalus montagui, of the order Decapoda, for example, some individuals begin life as males but change into functional females after about 13 months. Isopods of the genus Rhyscotoides show a similar change from male to female as they grow older.

pandanus: Major species and uses: The leaves of pandan (P. amaryllifolius) are used in Southeast Asian cooking, notably in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Thatch screw pine has flowers whose essence (called pandanus, or kewra, water) is used as a flavouring in North Indian foods.

Pandanales: Pandanaceae: The four genera of the family Pandanaceae—Pandanus (screw pine), Freycinetia, Sararanga, and Martellidendron—are distributed in coastal or marshy areas in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World (Paleotropics). They are abundant

Pandanales, diverse order of the monocotyledon (monocot) group, whose 1,345 species range from large arborescent plants of rainforests and coastal areas in the tropics to twining herbs and lianas, as well as minute, saprophytic herbs of the forest floor. The order is made up of five families:

pandanus, (genus Pandanus), any of some 600 tropical species of Old World trees and shrubs of the screw pine family (Pandanaceae). They grow along seacoasts and in marshy places and forests of tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Pandanus species typically have