Daemonorops acehensis Rustiami, Gard. Bull. Singapore 54: 202 (2002)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Sumatera present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Sumatra - endemic to Birungen, Takengon, North Aceh. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Diagnosis

  • Species nova a ceteris speciebus fructibus resinosis habitu parvo, vaginis foliorum spinulis confertissimis, longis erectis armatis et cirro non nisi usque ad 40 cm longo differt. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Found on steep hill slopes in relatively dry montane forest at 1800 m altitude. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Description

  • Clustering small rattan up to 5 m tall. Stems without sheaths up to 10 mm diam., with sheaths up to 25 mm diam.; internodes up to 50 mm long. Leaf sheaths dark green, covered with black, very dense, single spines, up to 2.5 cm long, sheath surface covered with very dense black indumentum, leaf sheath mouth papery, armed as the rest of sheath, knee conspicuous, armed as the rest of sheath. Leaves up to 2 m long including petiole to 35 cm; abaxial and adaxial surfaces armed with long, erect spines to 3 cm long; rachis armed as petiole, sparsely covered with black indumentum; cirrus to 40 cm long, armed with regularly arranged groups of grapnel-like spines, blackish at the tip, proximally armed with single hook-like spines; leaflets mostly regularly arranged, slightly irregular towards the leaflet tip, 25 on each side of the rachis; leaflets lanceolate, papery, acute, 24-26 cm long, 2 cm wide, armed with scattered, reddish, short bristles along the main nerve on adaxial surface. Inflorescences pendulous to 20 cm long; peduncle to 4 cm long, armed with scattered, single spines; peduncular bracts papery, bearing scattered solitary spines, partial inflorescences 4; each bearing up to 6 rachillae; involucre pendulous, flat, just above the involucrophore, 5 mm long; involucrophore short, papery, 2 mm long. Female and male flowers unknown. Fruits rounded, c. 2.2 x 1.8 cm, covered in 12 vertical rows of scales encrusted in reddish brown dragon's blood. Seed ovoid, c. 18 x 7 mm, surface reticulate. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Notes

  • This species, the only dragon's blood species recorded from Aceh, differs from other members of the group by its small habit, the leaf sheath armed with very dense, long, erect spines and with the cirrus only up to 40 cm long. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Bibliography

    A. Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae