Eremospatha quinquecostulata Becc., Webbia 3: 279 (1910)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Cameroon present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Nigeria present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
This species is known only from SE Nigeria through to Cameroon. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Discussion

  • This species is relatively uncommon and, along with E. tessmanniana, has not been recognised as a distinct species since Beccari's original account (Beccari 1910). Tuley (1995: 123) suggested this species represented "a juvenile form of unknown provenance", however recent field work and study of herbarium collections have confirmed that this is indeed a distinct species. The collection of fertile material would enable a more complete description to be made. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Eremospatha quinquecostulata is a slender rattan found only in high forest. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Conservation

  • Vulnerable (VU) due to its restricted range and habitat loss, particularly along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Etymology

  • (Latin) "five main veins" (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Description

  • Clustered slender palm climbing to 10-15 m. Stems ± circular in cross-section, without sheaths 4-9 mm, with 5-10 mm; internodes 14-16 cm long. Leaf sheath longitudinally striate, with sparse brown caducous indumentum; ocrea entire, obliquely truncate, extending to 1.2-2.7 cm; knee somewhat inconspicuous, ridge-like, vertically linear, tapering at base, extending to 4 cm. Leaves sessile, or with petiole up to 10 cm long, somewhat flattened, armed along the margins with inequidistant, reflexed, bulbous-based, black-tipped spines; rachis 60-80 cm long, flattened in cross-section proximally, becoming triangular in cross-section distally, armed as the petiole; cirrus up to 40-50 cm long, very fine, armed as the rachis although spines becoming sparse distally; leaflets, 5-12 on each side, inequidistant, grouped in pairs or in 4's, somewhat irregularly clustered, lanceolate to loosely rhomboid, unequally attenuate at base, entire and acuminate to irregularly praemorse at apex, 13-20 cm long × 2-3 cm broad at the widest point, discolorous, adaxially dark green, abaxially mid-green, margin unarmed or sparsely armed with somewhat straight, forward-facing, black-tipped spines, praemorse apex ciliate-spiny; with 5 conspicuous, equal, main veins; lowermost leaflets smaller than the rest, although not obviously so; acanthophylls, somewhat slender, up to 2 cm long, at 45° angle to cirrus. Flower and fruit unknown. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Materials Examined

  • NIGERIA: Tuley 653, Calabar to Mamfe road: Mile 25 (05º18N:08º34E) sterile, July 13, 1964 (WAG!); CAMEROON: unknown collector, Bezirk Djah (03º00N:12º40E) sterile (FI!); Letouzey 4285, 40km S of Mesamena (03º28N:12º50E) sterile, February 17, 1962 (YA!); Sunderland 1741, Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve (04º54N:09º20E) sterile, May 19, 1996 (K!, SCA!, NY!); Sunderland 1806, Campo Ma'an Faunal Reserve (02º10N:09º54E) sterile, April 8, 1997 (K!, YA!); Sunderland 1938, Takamanda Forest Reserve (06º06N:09º47E) sterile, November 18, 1998 (K!, SCA!); Sunderland 2054, Takamanda Forest Reserve (06º08N:09º16E) sterile, January 10, 1999 (K!, SCA!) (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Bibliography

    A. Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae