Korthalsia ferox Becc., Malesia 2: 73 (1884)

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Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)

Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B

Local, known from scattered localities. Widespread in Borneo. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

It is the only species with large closely sheathing tattering and spiny ocreas. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

K. ferox is one of the largest species in the genus and occurs in lowland and hill dipterocarp forest up to c. 300 m altitude. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Produces a large durable cane; leaves used for temporary thatch. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Robust clustering and branching rattan climbing high into the forest canopy; stem without sheaths to 2 cm diam. or more, with sheaths to 4 cm diam., internodes to c. 30 cm. Sheaths dull green with caducous chocolate-coloured scales and abundant triangular pale brown spines, but usually quite obscured by the ocrea of the preceding leaf; ocrea closely sheathinguntidily tattering, densely armed with pale to dark brown spines to 6 cm. Leaf to 2.5 m including cirrus to 1 m and petiole to 30 cm; leaflets 6-8 on each side of the rachis, broad diamond-shaped, the largest to 30 × 15 cm, on stalks to 1 cm, bright green on the upper surface, whitish or orange-brown on the undersurface. Inflorescences produced from the topmost up to 5 nodes, robust, to 50 cm, with many pendulous rachillae to 10 × 1.2 cm, reddish-brown hairy. Fruit somewhat top-shaped, 2 × 1.2 cm covered in 15 vertical rows of reddish brown scales. Seed 1.5 × 9 mm; endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf strongly discolorous. (Fig. 3). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

TEM: Amo, Kuala Belalong, Stockdale 28. TUT: Lamunin, Ladan Hills F.R., Dransfield J. 6884; Rambai, Tasek Merimbun, Bernstein 131. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

A. Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam

B. World Checklist of Arecaceae