Calamus vattayila Renuka, Curr. Sci. 56: 1012 (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)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Grows in the evergreen forests of Thenmala, Ranni and Wynad. Sporadic in distribution between 200-750 m. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)B

Common Name

  • Vattayila, Ottoman (Mai.). (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)B

Uses

  • Unknown. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)B

Description

  • A high climbing rattan; stem cluster-forming, 15 m or more long, with leafsheath 2.5 cm in diameter; naked stem 1.8 cm in diameter; internodes to 27 cm long. Leaves ecirrate, to 1 m long; leafsheath dark green, sparingly spiny, spines 2 cm long, upwardly pointed, infrequent; leafsheath knee conspicuous; ocrea 5 mm long; leafsheath flagellum dark green, 4 m long, petiole to 25 cm long, armed with about 1 cm long spines; rachis armed below with digitate claws; leaflets dark green, alternate, oblong, 40 x 10 cm, prominently 6 nerved, bristly at apices. Inflorescence flagelliform; axial part near base 1 cm in diameter; partial inflorescences about 5 in number, 28 cm long, once branched, with closely shehating subtending bracts; each bract lanceolate at upper free part; axial part of inflorescence armed with 3 mm long spines; rachillae 5 cm long, with distinct alternate cup-like bracts. Female flowers 5 mm long. Fruit oblong, falsely pedicellate with distinct columnar 4 mm long beak, 2.8 cm x 1.4cm., fruit scales light brown, minute, without channelled at middle, arranged in 25 longitudinal rows; 1-seeded, seed sculptured on one side, oblong, 1.5 cm x 8 mm. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)B

Cultivation

  • Introduced in the experimental plots of Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)B

Bibliography

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