Eremospatha cabrae (De Wild. & T.Durand) De Wild., Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. , V, 1: 95 (1903)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Angola present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Cabinda present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Central African Republic present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Congo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Gabon present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Zaire present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Eremospatha cabrae is restricted to Gabon, southwards to Angola and across to the lowland forests of the wider Congo basin. This species is reported to be relatively common where it occurs (de Wildeman 1904). (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Eremospatha cabrae is more commonly encountered in swamp forest and riverine regions. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Conservation

  • Least concern (LC) (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Etymology

  • Named after Captain E. Cabra, Belgian administrator and explorer who collected the type specimen. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Description

  • Clustered moderate palm climbing to 50 m, more commonly 20-30 m. Stems ± circular in cross-section, without sheaths 10-15 mm in diameter, with to 25 mm; internodes 10-15 cm long. Leaf sheath longitudinally striate, sparsely to moderately armed with black caducous indumentum, particularly concentrated on the apex of the sheath; ocrea entire, somewhat saddle-shaped, with 1-1.5 cm rounded lobe adaxial to the leaf; knee narrow, linear, abrupt, up to 2.5 cm long. Leaves sessile, up to 1.5-2 m long; rachis up to 1 m long, abaxially rounded, adaxially flattened or slightly convex, becoming trapezoid then rounded in cross-section distally, with sparse to moderate black caducous indumentum below, armed along the margins with inequidistant reflexed, bulbous-based, black-tipped spines, becoming more sparsely armed distally; cirrus up to 1 m long, armed as the rachis proximally, becoming unarmed distally; leaflets up to 8-10 on each side of the rachis, obovate to trapeziform, narrowly contracted at the base, irregularly and broadly praemorse at apex, 7-16 cm long × 4-9 cm broad at the widest point, concolorous, somewhat coriaceous, with 8 or more main veins radiating from base, armed along the margins with stout forward and (rarely) reverse-facing angular spines, praemorse apex somewhat ciliate-spiny; lowermost leaflets smaller than the rest, erect or reflexed and laxly swept back across the sheath; acanthophylls up to 3.5 cm long, very fine, slender. Inflorescence with profuse, soft, velvety, papillose covering, up to 40 cm long, arching, rarely straight; peduncle up to 20 cm long; rachis 18-28 cm long, rachis bracts 1.5-2 cm, finely acuminate; rachillae distichous, 10-12 on each side, up to 10 cm long, decreasing distally, rarely straight, often arching, adnate to the inflorescence for 10 mm, decreasing distally. Flowers borne in close pairs, with <1 mm long incomplete bracts subtending each dyad; calyx 2-3 mm long × 4 mm wide at the mouth, with 3 distinct rounded lobes; corolla ±1 cm long × 3 mm wide, divided to 1/3 of its length; stamens united into 4 mm-long epipetalous ring, free filaments <0.5 mm long; anthers <1 mm long; ovary 3 mm × 2 mm tipped with c.2 mm long style. Fruit at maturity, 1-seeded cylindrical to rhomboid, 2.5-3 cm long × 16-19 mm wide with 20-24 vertical rows of scales. Seed 2 cm long × 1.6-1.7 cm wide × 0.8 cm thick, flattened on one side with a shallow depression; embryo lateral, raised opposite flattened side. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Materials Examined

  • CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Harris 3419, 6km from Bayanga (02º55N:16º16E) sterile, July 7, 1993 (K!), Harris 4765, 8km ESE of Lidjombo (02º39N:16º11E) sterile, March 16, 1994 (K!), Harris 4966, 25km SE of Bayanga (02º47N:16º25E) Fl., May 27, 1994 (K!), GABON: Williamson 128, Lopé Reserve (00º30N:11º32E) sterile, January 1985 (K!), de Wilde et al. 11177, road from airport to Vera (02º47S:10º06E) Fl., November 23, 1994 (WAG!), CONGO: Hallé 1814, 20km N of Brazzaville (04º05S:15º17E) Fl., February 2, 1970 (BR!); DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Allard294, Kanya, sterile, 1910 (BR!), Bequaert 953 Bumba (02º12N:22º27E) Fr., October 28, 1913 (BR!), Cabras.n., Haut-Chiluango, sterile, 1904 (BR!), Cabra s.n., Mayombe, sterile, January 21, 1897 (BR!), Compère2182, Kinkosi (04º33S:14º35E) sterile, October 17, 1910 (BR!); Demeuse s.n., Mangobo (00º20S:28º06E) sterile, May 1892 (BR!); Deuse 121, Lac Tumba (00º46S:20º06E) juvenile, May 6, 1955 (BR!); Germain 326, Yangambi (00º45N:24º26E) Fl., May 15, 1940, BR!;, Gillet 2069, Kimengue, Fl. & Fr., March 1900 (FI!, BR!); Hulstaert 1417, Bokela (01º07S:21º55E) Fr., s.d. (BR!), Jans 655, Bokoro, Fl., January 17, 1948 (BR!), Kuasa 48, Lukula (05.23S:12.56E) Fr., November 26, 1960 (BR!), Laurent 912, Bamama, Fl., February 28, 1896 (BR!), Laurent 1118, Eala (00º03N:18º18E) Fr., November 10, 1902 (BR!); Laurent s.n., Eala (00º03N:18º18E) sterile, July 1, 1902 (BR!); Lejoly 1438, Kisangani (00º30N:25º15E) sterile, April 30, 1977 (BR!), Lejoly 82/820, Bateke Plateau (04º35S:16º20E) Fl., December 9, 1982 (BR!); Leonard 929, Eala (00º03N:18º18E) Fl., October 1946 (K!, WAG!, BR!); Liegeois 88, Tshopo (10º12S:24º51E) sterile, July 1943 (BR!); Lisowski 86336, Bateke Plateau (04º35S:16º20E) Fl., July 9, 1982 (BR!); Louis 3804, Yangambi (00º45N:24º26E) Fl., April 30, 1937 (K!, WAG!, BR!), Louis 5656, Yangambi (00º45N:24º26E) Fr., July 27, 1937 (K!, FHO!, BR!, MO!), Louis 15169, between Yangambi and Isangi (00º43N:24º23E) Fl., June 12, 1939 (BR!); Louis 16797, Yangambi (00º45N:24º26E) Fr., November 17, 1943 (BR!), Nannan 46, Eala (00º03N:18º18E) sterile, August 25, 1914 (K!), Nsimundeue 1055, Luki (05º26S:12º44E) Fl., July 17, 1972 (BR!); Pauwels 2322, Kisantu (04º25S:14º42E) sterile, April 13, 1959 (BR!); Pynaert 1673, Eala (00º03N:18º18E) Fl., August 20, 1907 (BR!); Pyneart 1073, Eala (00º03N:18º18E) Fr., 1907 (K!), Sapin s.n., Haut-Chiluango, Fr., January 1910 (BR!); Toussaint 2331, Vallée de la Nkula, sterile, May 20, 1947 (BR!, MO!), Wellens 473, Lubumba (03º57S:29º05E) sterile, December 1923 (BR!), ANGOLA: Gossweiler 10086, Mayombe, Luali (05º00S:12º25E) sterile, 1923 (K!), Gossweiler 10088, Mayombe, Luali (05º00S:12º25E) sterile, 1923 (K!). (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Bibliography

    A. Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae