Calamus pseudotenuis Becc., Fl. Brit. India 6: 445 (1892)

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Distribution

INDIA (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), SRI LANKA. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Grows in the moist hill forests of Western Ghats up to 1500 m. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Uses

  • The slender cane of this species is strong and used for making baskets etc. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A slender to moderately robust climber; stem cluster forming with leafsheath 1.5 - 2.5 cm in diameter; exposed part of the stem smooth with internodes 20 - 35 cm or more long, 1 - 2 cm in diameter; leafsheath dull green in colour, armed with straight, subulate spines, 2 - 3 cm long, slightly bulbous at base; with deep brown scurf in between the spines; leafsheath flagellum to 3 m long; ocrea about 10 cm long, petiole up to 15 cm long in older leaves, armed with 3-4 cm long yellowish, straight spines; rachis armed on lower part with straight spines at or near the attachment of leaflets; dorsal part of rachis armed with strong claws; leaflets many, nearly regular, linear-lanceolate, attenuate at apical part; basal leaflets longest, to 45 cm long, 2 cm broad at middle with 3-distinctly bristly upper nerves. Male inflorescence flagelliform, highly branched; primary bracts tubular, armed with scattered, broad-based 5 - 9 mm long deflexed hooks; axial part of the inflorescence armed at intervals with paired, broad-based, 8 mm - 1 cm long spines; partial inflorescence twice or thrice branched; primary rachillae 12-15 cm long; secondary rachillaescorpioid bearing flowers in glomerules. Female inflorescence simply decompound; partial inflorescences attached at the mouth of the respective bracts, 90 cm -1.5 mm long with many slender, to 25 cm long rachillae on each side, attached at the mouth of the respective basal bracts. Fruits ovoid to sub-ovoid, abruptly conical and beaked, 10 mm x 7 mm, ascending from the rachilla; fruit scales straw yellow in colour with broad, very dark intermingled band, arranged in 18 longitudinal series without channelled at middle; fruiting perianth flattened. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • Kerala and Karnataka forest departments have experimental cultivation of Calamus pseudotenuis. This species is also cultivated in the Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Bibliography

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