Calamus blumei Becc., Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 11(1): 340 (1908)

Primary tabs

https://media.e-taxonomy.eu/palmae/photos/palm_tc_29385_1.jpg

Content

Distribution

Scattered throughout Brunei but nowhere very abundant. Elsewhere throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and S Thailand. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • C. blumei is very easily identified with its diamond-shaped leaflets and ecirrate leaf; it is often confused with some species of Korthalsia andCeratolobus but there is no justification for this mistake - leaflets are diamond-shaped but they are not praemorse (with jagged edges) as in the last two genera. Furthermore the presence of a flagellum will immediately indicate a species of Calamus. C. blumei occurs in a variety of forest types from sea level up to about 800 m elevation. It is shy to flower. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

  • C. L. Blume, the early Dutch botanist (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • A good quality cane. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Clustering moderate rattan climbing to 20 m; stem without sheaths 8-12 mm diam., with sheaths to 20 mm diam., internodes to 25 cm. Sheaths dull green but densely covered in greyish-yellow scales, drying grey, and scurfy caducous chocolate-coloured scales, and sparsely armed with short ± upward pointing spines to 3 mm, frequently borne on bulbous swellings; knee conspicuous; ocrea to 2 cm, dark brown. Flagellum to 1.5 m. Leaf ecirrate, to 60 cm long including the petiole to 15 cm; leaflets to 6 on each side of the rachis, broad diamond-shaped, with short stalks and bristly wavy margins, to 20 × 7.5 cm, with 5-7 main nerves. Inflorescences to 1.25 m with 3-4 partial inflorescences to 35 cm; male rachillae c. 1.5 cm long, female to 13 cm. Mature fruit rounded to obovoid or ellipsoid, to 22 × 17 cm, covered in 18-20 vertical rows of yellowish to brownish scales. Seed to 13 × 10 mm; endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf with 2 diamond-shaped leaflets. (Fig. 55). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • BEL: Bukit Sawat, Jln.Labi, Wong 542; Sungei Liang, Andulau F.R., Dransfield J. 7253. TEM: Amo, Bt.Belalong, Dransfield J. 7131; Amo, Sg.Temburong Machang, Wong 1987. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

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