Calamus latifolius Roxb., Fl. Ind. ed. 1832 , 3: 775 (1832)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Assam present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Bangladesh present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
China South-Central present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
East Himalaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Myanmar present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Nepal present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
INDIA (West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland), BANGLADESH. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • A component of the moist lower hill forests upto 1000 m mostly near the fresh water swamps. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Common Name

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

Uses

  • Cane is moderately strong and used for making rough baskets, walking sticks, and furniture frames; split canes for weaving chair bottoms. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A moderately robust climber; stem cluster forming; with leafsheath 3 cm in diameter. Leaves curate, 2 - 3 m long; leafsheath with prominent knee, armed with subulate, sub-regularly verticillate, dark brown, 3 cm long spines; ocrea liguliform; rachis terete in cross section, without claws on the ventral side, armed only with small spicules; leaflets not many, papery, inequidis-tant on rachis, broadly lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, slightly concavo-convex, to 50 cm long, 10 cm wide at broadest part, 5-7 nerved; nerves smooth on both sides. Male inflorescence simply decompound; partial inflorescences twice branched; rachillae 3 - 4 cm long with 8-12 male flowers on each side of the rachilla; the sterile basal part of rachilla enclosed within the respective basal bracts. Male flowers 5 mm long, ovoid in bud; calyx externally striated, divided up to the middle to form 3-acute lobes. Female inflorescence simply decompound, rigid, erect not very diffuse, 60- 100cm long, shorter than leaves; partial inflorescences 4 in number, 15 - 20 cm long, with 4 - 6 rachillae on each side, caudiform at their apices; rachillae inserted just at the mouth of the respective basal bracts; each 5 - 6 cm long, sinuous with 8-10 flowers on each side; involucrophorum enclosed in its bract, cupular; involucre concealed in the involucrophorum, visible only by the two projecting teeth on the side of neuter flower; female flowers 5 mm long; calyx finely striated, deeply divided into broad, semiovate, acute lobes; corolla lobes narrower than calyx lobes. Fruiting perianth not distinctly pedicelliform. Fruit globose, 1-seeded, dull brown to blackish, to 1.5 cm in diameter, fruit scales flattened, not distinctly channelled at middle; seed globosen blackish, roughly pitted. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Materials Examined

  • Sikkim: 200-400 ft. Hook.f. & Thomson (CAL Ace. no. 494083); Maghalaya: K.J. hills, Lisbah, River bank, 27.7.1957 Deka 10117 (CAL); Jorain, 24.7.1957, Deka 10150 (CAL); Assam : Deko valley, 30.3.1895, Herb. Wall. no. 11074 (CAL); Arunachal Pradesh: Nausa to Warmi 1441 m, 1.9.1958, Panigrahi 15027 (CAL). (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • Experimental cultivation exists under D.F.O. North Silviculture, West Bengal. (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
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae