Calamus erinaceus

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Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
erinaceus (ah-reh-nah-SEH-uhs)
Calamus-erinaceus---Frond.jpg
Photo-Malaysian Biological Diversity.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
Species:
erinaceus (ah-reh-nah-SEH-uhs)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Oceania.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Letek

Habitat and Distribution

Unaccountably rare in Brunei, known from a single collection. Elsewhere abundant in coastal formations
Singapore. Photo by Kwan.
throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and S Thailand, very rare inland.

Description

A robust, climbing rattan native to mangrove forests from the Malay Peninsula to the Philippines. Its clustering canes are about 6 cm (2.5 in.) in diameter, but their quality for manufacturing is low. Its large leaves with long, pendulous leaflets however would suggest some ornamental value. Best suited to tropical climates it is tolerant of some coastal exposure as well as saline and somewhat waterlogged soils. (RPS.com)

Robust clustering rattan tending to form thickets on the landward side of mangrove or behind coastal sand bars; stem climbing to 15 m, without sheaths 2-3.5 cm in diam., with sheaths to 5 cm in diam., rarely more, internodes to about 30 cm. Sheaths orange-yellow to yellowish-green when fresh, very densely armed with slender grey-brown spines, 2-35 mm, held horizontally and arranged in horizontal or oblique whorls, spines and sheath epidermis densely covered with grey deciduous indumentum; spines around the leaf sheath mouth upward-pointing, grouped in 5’s to 9’s, the longest to 60 mm; knee and base of petiole very conspicuous, unarmed, orange-yellow, when young densely covered with indumentum. Leaf cirrate to 4.5 m long including the petiole to 25 cm and cirrus to 2 m; petiole armed along the margins only with grouped spines to 3 cm; leaflets to 70 or more on each side of the rachis, grey-green, very regular, close, limply pendulous, the longest to 40 × 2 cm, armed with short bristles along the margins and on the veins on the lower surface, the lower surface also with white wax and minute brown scales. Inflorescence to 1.5 m with very short peduncle enclosed by the leaf sheath; primary bracts armed with groups of short spines; partial inflorescence about 7 on each side of the axis, gradually decreasing in size distally; male rachillae 1-2 cm long with close distichous flowers; female rachillae 10 cm long with laxer distichous flowers. Fruit rounded, relatively small, to 1 cm in diam., covered in 12 vertical rows of straw-coloured scales. Seed rounded, c. 7 mm in diam.; endosperm homogeneous. Seedling leaf unknown. (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997)/Palmweb. Editing by Edric.

C. erinaceus is an unmistakable and very beautiful species. It is one of the distinctive features of forest on the landward fringe of the mangrove; very rarely it can be found away from mangrove, but always near to the sea. Why it should be so rare in Brunei is not understood. (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997)/Palmweb.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: From the Latin; Like a hedgehog.

Uses: Produces a medium to low quality coarse cane.



External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.

Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.

Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).

J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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