Calamus kontumensis A.J.Hend., N.K.Ban & N.Q.Dung, Palms (1999+) 52(4). 2008

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Distribution

Central Vietnam in Kon Tum, in primary, broad-leaved, closed, evergreen, wet, mountain forest on steep sandstone slopes at 1100-1200 m elevation. (Henderson, A.J., Ban, N.K. & Dung, N.Q. 2008: New species of Calamus (Palmae) from Vietnam. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52(4): 187-197)A

Discussion

  • The specimen cited here will not key in Evans et al. (2002). Calamus kontumensis is a distinctive species, differing from other Indochinese Calamus in its prophyll inserted high on the peduncle and splitting and tattering partial inflorescence bracts (although in this it is remarkably similar to C. bousigonii Becc. subsp. smitinandii J. Dransf.). By its climbing habit, flagellate sheaths, ecirrate leaves, and swollen, uneven bases of the floral bracteoles ("involucrophores pedicellate" of Beccari), Calamus kontumensis might belong to Beccari's (1908) Group VIII. However, this group is said to have regularly arranged, elongate pinnae, flagellate inflorescences, and ruminate endosperm, none of which are found in C. kontumensis. Nor are its floral bracteole bases nearly as pronounced as those, for example, of C. peregrinus Furtado, a member of Group VIII. Calamus kontumensis is therefore not placed in any of Beccari's groups. (Henderson, A.J., Ban, N.K. & Dung, N.Q. 2008: New species of Calamus (Palmae) from Vietnam. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52(4): 187-197)A

Description

  • Stem branching not known, climbing, to 3 m tall, 0.8-0.9 cm diameter with sheaths. Leaf sheaths closed and tubular, brown tomentose initially, with scattered, yellowish, black-tipped, flattened spines to 1 cm long, or spines absent; ocreas 0.5 mm long, membranous, not bristly or spiny; knees present; flagella 20-22 cm long, with tattering bracts; petioles 9-10 cm long; rachis 15-23 cm long, with solitary, recurved spines abaxially; cirri absent; pinnae 5-6 per side of rachis, 7-13.5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide at the middle, broadly lanceolate, clustered in remote pairs, the apical pair of pinnae briefly joined at their bases, the veins and margins not bristly except for a few bristles at apices of pinnae. Staminate inflorescences not known; pistillate inflorescences 25-50 cm long, not or only briefly flagellate, branched to 2 orders, with 1-4 partial inflorescences, these inserted well below the mouth of the partial inflorescence bract; prophylls 5-9 cm long, inserted 1.5-6 cm above the base of the peduncle, not spiny or with a few, straight spines, splitting and tattering almost to the bases; partial inflorescence bracts tubular, splitting and tattering almost to the bases, not spiny; rachillae 1-4, 2-7 cm long, zigzag, densely brown tomentose; rachillae bracts 1.5 mm high, acuminate; floral bracteoles cupular, lobed, borne on swollen, uneven bases; pistillate flowers not known; fruits 0.7 cm diameter, globose, prominently rostrate, brown, with the perianth forming a pedicellate base; endosperm homogeneous. (Henderson, A.J., Ban, N.K. & Dung, N.Q. 2008: New species of Calamus (Palmae) from Vietnam. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52(4): 187-197)A

Materials Examined

  • Vietnam. Kon Tum: Kon Plong Distr., Hieu Mun., Mang La Forest Enterprise, 14°39'N, 108°39'E, 1100-1200 m, 23 Apr 2000, L. Averyanov et al. VH 5697 (Holotypus: HN! Isotypus: MO!). (Henderson, A.J., Ban, N.K. & Dung, N.Q. 2008: New species of Calamus (Palmae) from Vietnam. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52(4): 187-197)A

Bibliography

    A. Henderson, A.J., Ban, N.K. & Dung, N.Q. 2008: New species of Calamus (Palmae) from Vietnam. – Palms; Journal of the International Palm Society 52(4): 187-197