Myrialepis paradoxa

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Myrialepis (mihr-ee-ah-LEHP-iss)
paradoxa (pah-rah-DOKS-ah)
6885554374 6773745a1b k.jpg
Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Photo by Ahmad Fuad Morad.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Myrialepis (mihr-ee-ah-LEHP-iss)
Species:
paradoxa (pah-rah-DOKS-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
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Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Kertong Rattan

Habitat and Distribution

Cambodia, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Sumatera, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Photo by Ahmad Fuad Morad.
Lowland and hill Dipterocarp forest, and dry evergreen forest, almost always in association with disturbance. (J. Dransfield. 1982)/Palmweb.

Description

Robust clustering thicket-forming rattan with stems ultimately to 40 m or more, without sheaths to about 4 cm in diam., with sheaths to 7 cm, much less in juvenile plants; internodes to 40 cm, the surface covered in reddish-brown scales. Leaf-sheaths coarse, sparsely to densely covered in reddish-brown scales and variously armed; sheaths of juvenile stems with neat distant whorls of long pale straw-coloured spines to 4 cm; mature sheaths with much fewer, ± scattered or slightly grouped spines; knee absent. Ocrea very incon- spicuous, scarcely developed. Leaf 3-5 m including petiole 5-20 x 2 cm and cirrus to 1.5 m; leaflets rather coarse and distant ± regular or grouped in 2's-3's, to 45 x 5 cm, with few to many marginal spines to 3 mm, concolorous but with scattered scales on abaxial surface. Staminate and pistillate inflorescences superficially similar, to 75 cm or more long, with up to 25 pendulous or twisting branches to 30 cm. Staminate flower to 4 x 1.5 mm; calyx tubular in lower 1 mm, with 3 triangular apiculate lobes to 1 x 1 mm; corolla tubular in basal about 1 mm with 3 triangular tipped petals to 3 x 1.5 mm; lobes of androecial ring to 4 x 0.5 mm, with pendulous filaments to 1.5 x 0.1 mm, and anthers to 1.2 x 0.4 mm, oblong, sometimes somewhat sagittate. Pistillate flower to 4.5 x 3 mm; calyx tubular in lower 1 mm, with 3 triangular lobes to 1 x 3 mm; corolla tubular in basal 1 mm with 3 triangular petals to 3.5 x 3 mm; staminodal ring tubular in basal 1.5 mm, bearing 6 triangular lobes to 1 x 1 mm; empty anthers sagittate to 0.4 x 0.2 mm; ovary spherical about 2.5 mm in diam. tipped with stigmas to 0.7 mm; scales about 0.1 x 0.05 mm. Ripe fruit somewhat oblate to 2.5 x 3 cm tipped with black stigmas, covered in greenish grey scales like sharkskin. Seed about 1.5 x 2 cm. (J. Dransfield. 1982)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

The involved synonymy reflects the paucity of good herbarium material of this rattan. As far as I know there is only one collection of Myrialepis bearing staminate flowers from the Malay Peninsula-Moore 9075. The concept of Myrialepis in Malaya was based on pistillate material without reference to staminate material, whereas in Burma and Indochina, the same taxon, based on staminate material was regarded as belonging to Plectocomiopsis.

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

This is a monotypic genus.

Etymology: The specific epithet - From the Latin for; paradox.

A hook-climber. Myrialepis paradoxa (Kurz) J. Dransf. Arecaceae. CN: [Malay - Rotan gajah, Rotan kertong, Cekolo]. Native to Indo-China, Malesia (Malaysia, Indonesia) and grows in lowland and montane rainforests to 1600 m elevation. Large hook climbing palm with clustering stems, formidably armed with long, golden spines, about the diameter of a slender arm and reaching an incredible 45 m in length. The large, flat, spreading leaves form an elongated crown. Each stem flowers only once and dies after the fruits have matured. (Ahmad Fuad Morad)

A vigorous, very large climbing palm with clustering stems, formidably armed with long, golden spines, about the diameter of a slender arm and reaching an incredible 45 m (150 ft.) in length. The large, flat, spreading leaves form an elongated crown. Each stem flowers only once and dies after the fruits have matured. Myrialepis is widespread from Indo-China to Sumatra and grows in lowland and montane rainforests to 1600 m (5200 ft.) elevation, where it prefers slightly more open or disturbed sites such as landslips, river banks or clearings. (RPS.com)



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 Reassessment of the Genera Plectocomiopsis, Myrialepis and Bejaudia (Palmae: Lepidocaryoideae). 1982. 1982. A Reassessment of the Genera Plectocomiopsis, Myrialepis and Bejaudia (Palmae: Lepidocaryoideae). Kew Bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 237-254.


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

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