Calamus flagellum Griff. ex Walp., Ann. Bot. Syst. 3: 484 (1852)

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Content

Distribution

INDIA (Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya), BANGLA DESH, BHUTAN. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Discussion

  • Infrequent in its natural habitats. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • A component of mixed forests on lower and middle hills of the Eastern Himalaya. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Common Name

  • Putli bet, Rabi bet, Reem (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Uses

  • Unknown. The strength property of the cane is yet to be determined. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A strong climber; stem cluster forming, with leafsheath to 4.5 cm in diameter. Leaves ecirrate; leafsheath with 6 - 7 m long heavily armed flagellum; ocrea marcescent; petiole terete, about 1 cm in diameter, armed with whorls of 1 - 3 cm long subulate spines; leaflets equidistant, many, green on both sides, broadly ens iform, prominently 1-nerved on upper side; middle leaflets longer, to 60 cm long; uppermost leaflets connate up to the middle; midnerve and marginal nerves bristly; rachis heavily armed on lower side with strong claws at intervals. Male and female inflorescences flagelliform, to 5 m or more long, simply-decompound; axial part of the inflorescence armed with claws; partial inflorescences about 1 m long with 3-4 rachillae on each side; primary bract tubular, closely sheathing, lacerate and fibrous at upper part; secondary bracts unarmed, tubular, narrowly funnel shaped, obliquely truncate with triangular appendage on one side; rachillae 10-25 cm long slightly compressed; each bearing 10-30 distichous to remote flowers; involucre cupular; male flowers 8 - 10 mm x 3 mm, curved outside; female rachillae remote, 20-25 cm long; involucrophorum unilaterally cupular, truncate, projected from the basal bract; involucre cupular, truncate, entirely sunken in involucrophorum; female flowers 7 mm long; calyx ovate, 3-dentate; petals lanceolate. Fruit about 3 cm long, broadly ovoid; fruit scales deeply channelled at middle; seed terete in cross section; embryo basal. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • A small number of cane bushes have been raised in North Bengal, under D.F.O. North Silviculture Division, West Bengal. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Bibliography

    A. Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision