Korthalsia hispida Becc., Malesia 2: 71 (1884)

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Content

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
Known from scattered localities throughout Brunei at altitudes up to 300 m above sea level. Elsewhere throughout Borneo though never common; very local in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Biology And Ecology

  • K. hispida tends to occur in disturbed forest on steep slopes - e.g. on old land slips or along steep-sided river valleys in lowland and hill dipterocarp forest at altitudes up to 900 m above sea level. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

  • Hispid (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Common Name

  • Wi Asas, Wi Semut (Ib.) (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • Not known, though it probably has properties similar to other Korthalsia species. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Clustering moderate rattan with stems to 30m branching in the canopy; stem without sheaths to 1.5 cm diam., with sheaths to 2.5 cm diam., internodes to 12 cm long. Sheaths bright green, with deciduous chocolate-coloured scales, sparse black spines to 2.5 cm and sparse black brittle spicules; ocrea very conspicuous to c. 25 × 5 cm, diverging from the stem at an acute angle, the two edges inrolled, armed with black spines to 2.5 cm, abundant black brittle spicules and deciduous chocolate-coloured scales; ants usually abundant and very noisy. Leaf to 1.5 m including cirrus to 75 cm and petiole to 20 cm; leaflets up to 7 on each side of the rachis, very shortly stalked, to 25 × 10 cm, bright green on upper surface, whitish beneath. Inflorescences produced from topmost 2-4 nodes, crowded but not forming a head; bracts densely covered in chocolatecoloured scales and black spicules; rachillae few, large, to 20 × 1.5 cm, with conspicuous bracts. Fruit rounded to somewhat oblong, to 2.2 × 1.9 cm, shortly beaked, covered in 15 vertical rows of reddish-brown scales. Seed ovoid to 1.4 × 1.2 cm; endosperm homogeneous. Seedling leaf not known. (Fig. 9, Pl. 1B). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • BEL: Labi, Wong 540; Labi, Wong Kadir, Coode 7231. TEM: Amo, Kuala Belalong, Stockdale 31; Batu Apoi, Selapon, Dransfield J. 7494. TUT: Lamunin, Ladan Hills F.R., Wong 1663. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae