Calamus pilosellus Becc., Rec. Bot. Surv. India 2: 208 (1902)

Primary tabs

https://media.e-taxonomy.eu/palmae/photos/palm_tc_29833_1.jpg

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
In Brunei known from three collections from Temburong. Elsewhere in Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan. Endemic. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • C. pilosellus occurs in kerangas forest and on ridge tops on poor soils. It is closely related to C. sarawakensis. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Common Name

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

Etymology

  • Sparsely covered with ascending hairs (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • The cane appears to be of good quality and may be used for binding. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Slender clustering rattan with stems to 10 m tall; stem without sheaths to 6 mm diam., with sheaths to 15 mm diam., internodes to c. 15 cm long, usually much less. Sheaths dark green, smooth, with occasional grey scales and very few spines to 4 mm long; knee conspicuous; ocrea forming a low membranous ridge to 4 mm. Flagellum to 1.5 m. Leaf ecirrate to 60 cm including the petiole to 10 cm; petiole very sparsely armed; rachis covered with dense rusty-coloured hairs; leaflets c. 33-40 on each side of the rachis, regularly arranged, close, relatively short, the longest to 14 × 1.25 cm, the upper surface usually with abundant very fine bristles, the margins usually ciliate, with hairs of adjacent leaflets interlocking, the lower surface usually minutely scabrid. Inflorescences to 80 cm, curving, with only short terminal flagellum and 5 strongly curved partial inflorescences, bearing curved rachillae; rachillae to 20 mm with conspicuous cups of bracteoles and rather distant flowers. Mature fruit rounded, covered in 15 vertical rows of orange-yellow scales; sarcotesta intensely bitter. Seedling not known. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • TEM: Amo, Bukit Belalong, Stockdale 56; Bt. Patoi, Dransfield J. 6620; Bt. Patoi, Dransfield J. 6621. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

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