Calamus ashtonii J.Dransf., Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 81: 9 (1980)

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Distribution

Known from a few collections from ridge tops in Temburong and Belait; elsewhere in Sarawak. Endemic to Borneo. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • C. ashtonii appears to be confined to podsolized ridge tops and kerangas forest in the lowlands. It is an attractive short rattan, easily identified by the habit, spines on the sheaths and petiole bases, the neat regular leaflets and the long whip-like inflorescences. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

  • P. S. Ashton, forest botanist (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • Not known. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Solitary slender rattan, “stemless” or with a short erect stem to 50 cm, but rarely to 3 m or more; stem without sheaths to 10 mm diam., with sheaths to 30 mm diam., internodes very short, usually c. 10 mm. Sheath greenish-brown, ± unarmed or with sparse brown spines to 4 mm, except around the sheath mouth where densely armed with 2 rows of horizontal or erect brown spines to 5 cm long, the inner row generally longer and upward pointing; knee absent; ocrea absent. Flagellum absent. Leaf ecirrate, c. 85 cm long including the petiole to 20 cm; petiole armed with 2 rows of spines on each side as the leaf sheath, the spines decreasing in size towards the tip of the petiole; rachis with few reflexed spines; leaflets very regularly arranged, ± curved, the longest near the base c. 35 × 1.7 cm, both surfaces mid green, the lower surface also with 3 rows of short black bristles. Inflorescences elongate, very slender, tending to arch out of the crown, to 2 m long, whip-like; bracts closely sheathing, tubular, not very conspicuous, armed with reflexed grapnel spines; partial inflorescences c. 3, distant, very slender, bearing sparse slender rachillae to 80 × 1 mm; flowers small. Mature fruit rounded, small, c. 5 mm diam., strongly beaked and covered in 13 vertical rows of pale bright brown reflexed scales. Seed rounded; endosperm homogenous. Seedling not known. (Fig. 53). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • BEL: Melilas, Bt.Batu Patam, Dransfield J. 6578; Melilas, Bt.Batu Patam, Dransfield J. 6580; Melilas, Bt.Batu Patam, Dransfield J. 6603. TEM: Amo, Bukit Belalong, Stockdale 55. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

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