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

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Sumatera present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Thailand present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
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
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae