Calamus tomentosus Becc., Fl. Brit. India 6: 455 (1893)

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
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Perak, Trengganu, Borneo. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Discussion

  • It may be distinguished from the other rhomboid leafleted Calamus blumei by the yellowish colour of the sheaths on drying, the sessile leaflets with 7-9 ribs and the yellowish-brown tinge to the dried leaves. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Common Name

  • rotan tukas (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Etymology

  • Tomentosus - densely covered in small hairs (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Uses

  • The cane has a good appearance but it is probably too rare to be of any significance. Calamus tomentosus is a rare rattan found on steep slopes in hill forest up to about 800 m altitude. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Description

  • Clustering rattan climbing to 20 m tall. Stem without sheaths to 1 cm in diameter, with sheaths to 2.5 cm, with internodes to 35 cm long. Sheaths with scattered rounded swellings each tipped with black upward pointing spine to 2 mm long, densely covered throughout with silvery flocculent indumentum drying yellowish, and caducous chocolate-coloured scales. Knee prominent. Ocrea to 1 cm high indumentose as the sheath. Flagellum to 1 m long. Leaf ecirrate or with a minute (1 cm long) cirrus vestige. Petiole to about 30 cm long. Leaflets 5 on each side of the rachis in mature leaves, diamond-shaped to 35 cm long by 18 cm wide, with no obvious stalk ± unarmed except for short bristles near the tip, with 7-9 major nerves; whole leaflet drying dirty yellowish green-brown. Inflorescence, male and female superficially similar, to 80 cm long with up to 5 partial inflorescences the largest to 35 cm long; male rachillae about 3 cm long; female to 8 cm long. ± mature fruit rounded to slightly oblong about 2.5 cm long 2.2 cm wide, shortly beaked, covered in 18 vertical rows of mid-brown scales. Seed ovate, about 1.8 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. Endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf bifid with 2 broad diamond-shaped leaflets. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae