Daemonorops kunstleri Becc., Fl. Brit. India 6: 469 (1893)

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Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Sumatera present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Thailand present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
All states except Perlis and Malacca. ? Sumatra, Borneo. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Discussion

  • Daemonorops kunstleri is an extremely variable plant. The climbing forms were separated by Beccari as D. vagans. Originally I agreed with Beccari's treatment, but now have found so many intermediates that I follow Furtado's concept of one very variable species. The variation would, however, merit intensive study.D. kunstleri is found in a wide range of habitats from the lowlands (on dry ground and at swamp margins) to the mountains up to 1,400 m altitude. The climbing forms seem to be commonest above 1000 m, but they do grow intermixed with acaulescent forms. This species in the stemless form is unlike any other rattan in Malaya; in the climbing form it could be confused with D. hystrix; however D. hystrix has oblong not rounded fruit, has giant pale not dark papery spines around the leaf sheath mouth, and has leaflets densely bristly on the underside. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Etymology

  • H.H. Kunstler - collector for Sir George King (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Common Name

  • rotan buloh landak (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Uses

  • Not used except for thatch by "Orang Asli". (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Description

  • Clustering rattan varying from almost stemless rosette plants to plants climbing to 5 m tall. Stem without sheaths to 3.5 cm, less in climbing forms, with internodes 5-10 cm long. Sheath dull brownish green densely covered with reddish brown or dull dark brown indumentum and armed with dark brown to blackish spines to 4 cm long some erect, some reflexed, borne in oblique or horizontal partial whorls, the larger thorns frequently inter-sperced with much smaller spines. Knee absent in non-climbing forms. Spines around leaf sheath mouth usually erect and much larger than the other spines. Leaf shortly to longly cirrate, in extreme small forms ecirrate; petiole up to 1 m long armed with lateral spines. Leaflets about 65 on each side of the rachis regularly arranged, rather stiff, to 35 cm by 2.5 cm wide, armed with brown bristles to 5 mm long on 3 nerves above, and only on the mid-nerve below. Inflorescences male and female superficially similar borne on a spiny arching peduncle to 50 cm long (less in climbing forms). First bract densely spiny, persistent. Partial inflorescences crowded, each to about 10 cm long. Mature fruit rounded, to about 1.8 cm in diameter, very shortly beaked covered in 15-18 vertical rows of rich brown scales. Seed rounded to 1.2 cm in diameter. Endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf with 4-6 equal leaflets. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae