Calamus longisetus
Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) longisetus (lohn-jih-SEH-tuhs) | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
India (Andaman Islands), Myanmar, Thailand (West and Peninsular). Also South-east Thailand (Hodel & Vatcharakorn 1998) and Peninsular Malaysia (Dransfield 1979). Occurs only marginally in Indochina; common and of no conservation concern in the Thai-Malay Peninsula.Description
Very robust clustering rattan. Stems climbing to 30 m long, usually less, without sheaths 3.5–5 cm in diam., with sheaths 7–10 cm in diam., internodes 10–45 cm long. Leaves ecirrate (without a Cirrus); leaf sheath dull green, densely armed with erect, spreading and reflexed flattened yellow-based spines of varying length, solitary or grouped in partial whorls, the longest to 6 cm long and 0.5 cm wide at base, interspersed with groups of much smaller needle-like spines, grey indumentum abundant between and on the spines; knee present but largely obscured by spines; ocrea inconspicuous; flagellum very robust, often to 10 m long; petiole 60–150 cm long, densely armed with solitary and grouped blackish spines with yellow bases, of size similar to those on the sheath; rachis to 3 m long, yellowish green, armed as the petiole; leaflets to about 50 on each side of the rachis, irregularly arranged in groups of 2–7 and fanned within the groups, giving the whole leaf a plumose appearance, the longest to 75 x 4 cm, sharply spinulose along margins and upper-surface of mid vein and armed with black bristles to 2 cm long along mid vein on under-surface. Inflorescences flagellate, often to 10 m long, the male and female superficially similar, the male branching to 3 orders, the female to 2 orders, with up to 12 rather distant partial inflorescences, the longest to over 1.5 m long; male rachillae to 10 x 0.4 cm long, female rachillae to 45 x 0.5 cm. Fruit top-shaped, to 3.5 x 2 cm, with a triangular beak 0.4 cm long, and covered in c. 12 vertical rows of dull mid brown, horizontally banded with darker brown unchannelled scales with laciniate margins. Seed about 2.7 x 1.7 cm, endosperm homogeneous. Seedling leaf not recorded. (J. Dransfield, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a
Comments and Curiosities
The published photograph of the fruits of Hodel & Vatcharakorn 1804 (presumably in BH) from Prachin Buri, South-east Thailand undoubtedly shows this species. Dransfield (1979) erroneously stated that this species was erect, not climbing. (J. Dransfield, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002)/Palmweb.
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, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.