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

Primary tabs

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Distribution

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

Discussion

  • This is a beautiful slender species with very neat short leaflets. It resembles C. pilosellus and C. hispidulus. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Common Name

  • Uwai Buloh Giok (Dus.) (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

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

Uses

  • A good slender cane used for binding. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Slender clustering rattan climbing to 30 m tall; stems without sheaths to 4-5 mm diam., with sheaths to 13 mm diam., internodes to 10 cm long. Sheaths dark green, smooth, sometimes with a few scattered spines to 4 mm; knee conspicuous; ocrea forming a low membranous ridge c. 1 mm high. Flagellum to 1.5 m. Leaf cirrate to 70 cm including the petiole to 11 cm; petiole very sparsely armed with short lateral spines; rachis covered in sparse rusty-coloured hairs; leaflets c. 10-22 on each side of the rachis, regularly or slightly irregularly arranged, lanceolate, the longest to 18 × 1.5 cm, densely covered in minute rigid bristles on both surfaces giving the leaflets a scabrid feel. Inflorescences to 1 m, with only a small flagellum, with c. 5 strongly curved partial inflorescences bearing strongly curved rachillae; rachillae bearing conspicuous cups of bracteoles and rather distant flowers; female rachillae to 3.5 cm. Almost mature fruit elongate, c. 13 × 6 mm, tipped with a beak to 1 × 1 mm, and covered in 15 vertical rows of pale brown scales with dark tips. Seed fusiform with disgustingly sour and foetid sarcotesta; endosperm homogeneous. Seedling leaf pinnate with c. 5 hairy leaflets on each side of the rachis. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • TUT: Rambai, Tasek Merimbun, Bernstein 337. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

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