Plectocomia assamica Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5: 97 (1845)

Primary tabs

no image available

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Assam present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
China South-Central present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
East Himalaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
INDIA (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh). Endemic. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Discussion

  • This species is not well represented in the Indian herbaria. Due to absence of recent collections its present population in the forests is unknown. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • A component of the moist hill forests up to 2000 m. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Uses

  • Not used for furniture making. The tribal people of the forests use long canes for making hanging bridges over mountain streams and rivulets. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A high climbing rattan; stem clustering, with leafsheath about 3 cm in diameter. Leaves cirrate; leaflets up to 60 cm long, 6 - 6.5 cm broad at middle, whitish and scurfy below, non-filamentous at apices; petiole with stout marginal spines and smaller seriate spines on the dorsal side. Male inflorescence not seen. Flower branches in female inflorescence about 1 m long, thickly covered with rust-coloured tomentum; bracts on the flower branches distichous, cuneatc, oblong with triangular tips, 6 - 7 x 2.5 - 3 cm. Female flowers 3 - 7 in number in each bract, shortly pedicellate, bractcolatc; bractcoles 4-5 mm long. Fruits globose, slightly conically beaked, densely villous outside, about 2.5 cm in diameter; seed globose, 1.8 cm in diameter; fruiting perianth flat, not channelled at middle. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Materials Examined

  • Upper Assam, : 11.3.1840, Jenkins s.n. (CAL !). (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • Not cultivated. (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
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae