Calamus dransfieldii Renuka, Kew Bull. 42: 433 (1987)

Primary tabs

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
India present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
INDIA (Kerala). Endemic. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Discussion

  • This newly described species is close to the less known rattan species Calamus delessertianus. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Infrequent in the moist deciduous forests of Dhoni hills, Palghat at 275 m. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A moderately robust climber; stem solitary ? or cluster-forming, to 8 m long, with leafsheath 3.5 cm in diameter, without sheath 2.5 cm in diameter. Leaves ecirrate, to 2 m long; leafsheath pale green, with distinct knee, sparingly spiny; spines 1 cm long, with bulbous base; ocrea absent; leafsheath flagellum to 6 cm long; petiole to 55 cm long, armed with 5 mm long spines; leaflets pale green, regularly disposed on rachis, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, 45 cm x 2 cm; nerves with 2 cm long ciliae on both surface. Inflorescence flagelliform. Male and female inflorescences superficially similar, 3.5 m long; each with 4-5, about 20 cm long, once branched, partial inflorescences; rachillae to 6 cm long; subtending bracts cylindrical at base and expanded upper to form a 1.5 cm long cup. Male flowers about 8 mm long. Female flowers 4 mm long; staminodes 6, ovary 3-locular; ovule solitary in each locule: stigma recurved. Fruit globose, 1.8 m in diameter, shortly beaked, falsely pedicellate; fruit scales green to yellowish green, shinning, deeply channelled at middle. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Materials Examined

  • Kerala; Dhoni, Palghat 300 m, 31.1.1983, Nambiar & Renuka 2501 (KFRI); Trivendrum: Beyond Suryakan thi, 750 m, 22.5.1979, Mohanan 63205 (MH). (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • Not cultivated. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Bibliography

    A. Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae