Eremospatha dransfieldii

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Eremospatha
(eh-reh-moh-SPAH-thah)
dransfieldii (dranz-FEELD-ee)
Eremospatha dransfieldii.full.03.jpg
Photo: prota4u.org
Scientific Classification
Genus: Eremospatha
(eh-reh-moh-SPAH-thah)
Species:
dransfieldii (dranz-FEELD-ee)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Africa
Africa.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Ghana.
Photo: prota4u.org
The main distribution is centred in the Western Region of Ghana and eastern Ivory Coast with additional populations in Sierra Leone. E. dransfieldii is a light demanding species found particularly along forest margins, in tree-fall gaps and along roadsides. The species is restricted to areas of high rainfall (>2,000 mm) and is locally abundant where it occurs.

Description

Clustered robust rattan palm climbing to 40 m long. Stems circular in cross-section, without sheaths, 18-24 mm in diameter, with 25-30 mm; internodes 10-16 cm. Leaf sheath lightly striate, indumentum absent, but sheath often profusely covered with orange-brown scale insects; ocrea entire, obliquely truncate, extending for 1-2 cm above the leaf junction; knee conspicuous, narrowly linear, 2-4 cm long, rather abrupt at base. Leaves sessile, up to 3.5m long; rachis 1.2-1.5m long, abaxially rounded, adaxially convex to concave, becoming trapezoid then triangular in cross-section distally, armed along the margins with robust reflexed, bulbous-based, yellow-orange, spines, becoming more sparsely armed distally; cirrus 1.2-1.5 m long, unarmed; leaflets up to 40 on each side of the rachis, inequidistant, opposite to sub-opposite, highly variable in shape, obovate-ellipticus to oblanceolate to rhomboid, obtusely cuneate at base, more or less praemorse at apex, 12-30 cm long × 3.5-5.5 cm broad; lowermost leaflets, smaller than the rest, linear, strap-like or broadly-lanceolate, armed along the margins with robust bulbous-based yellow to orange spines, laxly swept back across, or tightly clasping stem; acanthophylls 3-4 cm long. Flowers and fruits unknown. (T.C.H Sunderland, A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) in Phytotaxa 51. 2012)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Notwithstanding the long history of botanical fieldwork in the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa and despite their economic importance (Falconer 1992, Oteng-Amoako and Obiri-Darko 2001, Sunderland et al. 2005) the rattan palms of the region were, until recently, particularly under-represented in herbaria. Three species of Eremospatha were previously recorded from the region; E. macrocarpa, E. laurentii and a third taxon, comprising a few incomplete voucher specimens which were frequently assigned to E. hookeri. Due to the significant morphological and ecological differences between these this latter taxon and E. hookeri, doubts concerning the identification of "E. hookeri" from Upper Guinea were expressed by Sunderland (2001). Further collections confirm that this species is indeed a distinct taxon. (T.C.H Sunderland, A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) in Phytotaxa 51. 2012)/Palmweb.

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: Named after Dr. John Dransfield; father of palm botany, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, without whom Palmpedia would not exist. (edric)



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).


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

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