Calamus laevigatus var. laevigatus

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Distribution

Throughout Brunei. Elsewhere throughout Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia, rather rare in Sumatra. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • C. laevigatus var. laevigatus is a very widespread species occurring at altitudes up to 850 m above sea level and on a variety of soils. This is a very variable taxon. Some forms have very narrow leaflets. This species can easily be seen from the Labi Road in Andulau Forest Reserve. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

  • Smooth (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Common Name

  • Rotan Liah (Br.,Mal.), Wi Anak (Ib.) (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • Produces an excellent cane of the same diameter as rotan sega but as the plant is usually solitary, harvests are not great. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Solitary (very rarely clustered) moderate high-climbing rattan to 30 m or more; stem without sheaths 8-10 mm diam., with to 20 mm, internodes to 25 cm. Sheaths dull to pale green, drying very pale brownish-green, armed with sparse horizontal ± triangular spines borne on swollen bases, sometimes also with very faint horizontal ridges, sometimes unarmed, and with brown scales abundant on young leaf surfaces; knee conspicuous; ocrea scarcely developed. Leaf cirrate to 1 m, including the cirrus to 65 cm; petiole absent; leaflets c. 20 on each side of the rachis, concolorous, arranged irregularly, the basal up to 8 pairs on each side very close and strongly reflexed across the leaf sheaths forming a chamber in which ants frequently nest; upper leaflets in groups of 2-4 and fanned within the groups, the largest leaflets to c. 20 × 0.5-2 cm, somewhat plicate, drying very pale green. Inflorescences usually about the same length as the leaves, without a terminal flagellum, and with up to 10 partial inflorescences; main bracts rather densely armed with black-tipped, pale, bulbous-based spines and brown indumentum, ultimate bracts and bracteoles with abundant minute spines producing a rough feel. Mature fruit rounded, c. 12 mm diam., with a short beak and covered with 15-19 vertical rows of pale straw- to whitish-coloured scales, sometimes flecked with red. Seed rounded, c. 10 mm diam., deeply pitted; endosperm slightly ruminate. Seedling leaf bifid. (Fig. 35, Pl. 10D). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • BEL: Sungai Liang, Andulau F.R, Fuchs 21153. TEM: Amo, Belalong, Stockdale 11; Amo, Bt.Belalong, Dransfield J. 7111. TUT: Lamunin, Dransfield J. 6805. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam