Calamus flagellum

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Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
flagellum (flah-JEHL-luhm)
Calamusflagellum9.jpg
Calamus flagellum var. flagellum, collected along the Ledo Road in Kachin State, Myanmar (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey). The species, which is rarely used, is known locally as mauk chee kyein, or monkey poop rattan. The dried fruits, apparently, look like monkey scat. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
Species:
flagellum (flah-JEHL-luhm)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Asia.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Putli bet, Rabi bet, Reem

Habitat and Distribution

INDIA (Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya), BANGLA DESH, BHUTAN. A component of mixed forests on
Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com
lower and middle hills of the Eastern Himalaya.

Description

A strong climber; stem cluster forming, with leafsheath to 4.5 cm in diameter. Leaves ecirrate; leafsheath with 6 - 7 m long heavily armed flagellum; ocrea marcescent; petiole terete, about 1 cm in diameter, armed with whorls of 1 - 3 cm long subulate spines; leaflets equidistant, many, green on both sides, broadly ensiform, prominently 1-nerved on upper side; middle leaflets longer, to 60 cm long; uppermost leaflets connate up to the middle; midnerve and marginal nerves bristly; rachis heavily armed on lower side with strong claws at intervals. Male and female inflorescences flagelliform, to 5 m or more long, simply-decompound; axial part of the inflorescence armed with claws; partial inflorescences about 1 m long with 3-4 rachillae on each side; primary bract tubular, closely sheathing, lacerate and fibrous at upper part; secondary bracts unarmed, tubular, narrowly funnel shaped, obliquely truncate with triangular appendage on one side; rachillae 10-25 cm long slightly compressed; each bearing 10-30 distichous to remote flowers; involucre cupular; male flowers 8 - 10 mm x 3 mm, curved outside; female rachillae remote, 20-25 cm long; involucrophorum unilaterally cupular, truncate, projected from the basal bract; involucre cupular, truncate, entirely sunken in involucrophorum; female flowers 7 mm long; calyx ovate, 3-dentate; petals lanceolate. Fruit about 3 cm long, broadly ovoid; fruit scales deeply channelled at middle; seed terete in cross section; embryo basal. (J. Dransfield and W.J. Baker. 2002)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Culture

A small number of cane bushes have been raised in North Bengal, under D.F.O. North Silviculture Division, West Bengal. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Calamus flagellum is a vigorous, clustering rattan native to montane rainforests from northeastern India and Bhutan through Burma to northern Thailand, where it grows to an altitude of 1200 m (4000 ft.) It adapts well to tropical and some warm temperate areas and can sustain some cool and light frosts. Calamus flagellum forms slender canes that are used in the manufacture of handicrafts and furniture. It also produces edible palm hearts. (RPS.com)

Infrequent in its natural habitats.



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 and W.J. Baker. 2002


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

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