Daemonorops dransfieldii Rustiami, Gard. Bull. Singapore 54: 199 (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 - known only from Batang Palupuh, Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra. (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 ellipsoideis, petiolis geniculatis singulariter plicatis differt. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Found on a hill slope in disturbed forest at 800 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 6 m tall. Stems without sheaths up to 15 mm diam., with sheaths up to 25 mm diam.; internodes up to 150 mm long. Leaf sheaths green, covered with black, oblique spines joined at base, some bulbous-based, up to 3 cm long, sheath surface ridged with caducuous black indumentum, leaf sheath mouth armed as the rest of sheath; knee conspicuous, singly plicate, armed as the rest of sheath. Leaves up to 3 m long including petiole to 25 cm, armed adaxially with short, erect, scattered spines up to 4 mm long, abaxially armed with erect, rarely solitary spines, up to 15 mm long; rachis unarmed, or armed only slightly proximally; cirrus up to 1.5 m long, armed with regularly arranged groups of grapnel- like spines, blackish at the tip; leaflets mostly regularly arranged, slightly irregular above, 30 on each side of the rachis, stiff, horizontal; leaflets lanceolate, papery, acute, 25-31 cm long, c. 2.5 cm wide, armed with scattered, reddish, short bristles along the main nerve on both surfaces. Inflorescences pendulous to 35 cm long, peduncle 13-16 cm long, armed distally with groups of spines; peduncular bracts leathery, erect, c. 17 cm long, 3 cm wide, ellipsoid oblong, covered by rusty indumentum, armed with very rare, scattered spines; partial inflorescences 6, each bearing up to 11 rachillae; involucre pendulous, flat, just above the involucrophore, c. 5 mm long; involucrophore short, papery, c. 2 mm long. Female and male flowers unknown. Fruits broadly oblong, c. 2.5 x 1 cm, covered in 9 vertical rows of scales encrusted with reddish brown dragon's blood. Seed ovoid, c. 18 x 7 mm, surface smooth. (Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204)C

Notes

  • Named in honour of John Dransfield, palm systematist who collected this species. Daemonorops dransfieldii differs from the other dragon's blood species by its broadly oblong fruit and singly plicate knee. The description is based only on the type specimen. As yet, this species is known to occur only in the Batang Palupuh area, but may be found elsewhere in West Sumatra if further fieldwork is carried out. (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
    C. Rustiami H. 2002. Two New Species of Daemonorops (Palmae) from Sumatra. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 54: 199-204