Korthalsia paucijuga Becc., Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 12(2): 121 (1918)

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Distribution

An infrequently collected rattan recorded from the 1st and 3rd Divisions. Elsewhere in Kalimantan and Sumatra. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Discussion

  • For differences between it and K. rigida see under the latter species. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Biology And Ecology

  • K. paucijuga appears to be confined to peat swamp forest at low elevations. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Etymology

  • Few pairs, i.e. of leaflets (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Uses

  • The cane is fine and durable and were it more frequent, would be of greater importance. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Description

  • Clustering slender rattan with stems climbing to 20 m, branching in the canopy. Stem without sheaths c. 5 mm diam., with sheaths to c. 10 mm diam., internodes c. 10 cm, longer in juvenile stems. Sheaths dull greenish-brown, bearing very few short triangular spines to c. 2 mm, or unarmed and with abundant deciduous.black scales; ocrea tightly sheathing, usually very short, scarcely more than 5 mm in mature stems, the free margin somewhat irregular. Leaf to 60 cm including the cirrus to 30 cm; petiole absent', leaflets 3 (rarely 4) on each side, broadly rhomboid with praemorse distal margins, often stalked, the middle leaflets c. 15 x 7 cm, the upper surface dark green, the undersurface with grey-white indumentum and minute scattered brown scales. Inflorescences produced from topmost c. 3 nodes; inflorescence bracts somewhat inflated, the rachillae few but held rather close together, c. 50 - 70 x 3 - 4 mm, the bracts rather conspicuous, the floral pits with very few hairs. Mature fruit rounded or top-shaped, c. 10 mm diam., with a short beak, and covered in 17 vertical rows of yellow-brown, darker-tipped scales. Seed ovoid c. 8 x 6 mm; endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf undivided with praemorse margins (Fig. 2). (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak