Calamus congestiflorus J.Dransf., Kew Bull. 36: 785 (1982)

Primary tabs

no image available

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
With certainty known only from Nabawan; a sterile specimen from Sapa Payau F.R. is probably this species. Endemic. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Discussion

  • C. congestiflorus was collected at the side of a swamp in forest transitional between lowland Dipterocarp forest and kerangas; at Sapa Payau, the sterile specimen was found in a similar habitat. Vegetatively like a neat form of C. javensis with broad bullate leaflets, or a small form of C. amplijugus; yet the congested inflorescence is like neither of these two species. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Etymology

  • Crowded flowers (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Uses

  • As for C. javensis. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Description

  • Slender clustering rattan with stems climbing to 20 m; stem without sheaths to 6 mm diam., with to 9 mm; internodes to c 11 cm. Leaf sheath green, tinged crimson, with thin brown indumentum and armed with numerous scattered spines to 3 mm. Knee developed but not very conspicuous. Ocrea short, to 4 mm, tattering. Flagellum to 1 m. Leaf ecirrate to 30 cm, with no petiole; leaflets subregular, broad and beautifully bullate when fresh, about 7 on each side of the rachis, the lowermost pair swept back across the stem; terminal leaflet pair joined for up to l/2 their length; mid leaf leaflets the longest, to 12 x 4 cm, inconspicuously 3-nerved; young leaves tinged pink. Inflorescence only female known, not ending in a flagellum, to 60 cm, curved, with 6 partial inflorescences; partial inflorescences shorter than the conspicuous subtending oblong bract, split down one side, and short spiny; rachillae to 40 x 2.5 mm bearing very congested flowers. Fruit (immature) spherical to 6.5 mm diam., with a conspicuous beak to 2x1 mm, and covered in 21 vertical rows of scarcely grooved greenish scales. Seed c 5 mm diam.; endosperm homogeneous. (Fig. 68) (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae