Calamus spectatissimus Furtado, Gard. Bull. Singapore 15: 64 (1956)

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Content

Distribution

Perak (Kroh - 1 collection). Sumatra (Komering Ulu - 1 collection). Borneo (Kalimantan Timur, near Balikpapan - 1 collection). (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Discussion

  • A very rare rattan known from 3 collections only. Easily distinguished by the variable spine length of the leaf sheath spines, the ecirrate leaves with leaflets densely setose below, the inflorescence with almost inflated bracts, and the flowers very large in size. It is perhaps more closely related to Calamus conirostris than to C. exilis where Furtado placed it.
    In Sumatra and Borneo it was found on lower slopes in lowland Dipterocarp forest. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Etymology

  • From spectatus - approved - this allusion is not understood (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Common Name

  • rotan semut (c.f. Furtado 1956 but this name normally applied to species of Korthalsia). (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Uses

  • Nothing known. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Description

  • Clustering high climbing moderate sized rattan with stems to 20 m tall. Stems without sheaths about 1 cm in diameter, with sheaths to 1.7 cm. Internodes to 40 cm long. Sheaths dull green, rather densely armed with dull green swollen based spines of variable length, the longest to 1.5 cm long, horizontal or slightly reflexed. Ocrea obscure. Knee well developed. Flagellum to 1.5 m. Leaf ecirrate to 1 m long including petiole to 30 cm long; petiole armed with scattered spines below. Leaflets about 40 on each side of the rachis, close and regular, the longest to 35 cm long by 1.5 cm wide, ± unarmed above, but densely armed with short bristles beneath. Inflorescence male and female similar, both generally not much longer than the leaves, often much shorter, with 3-6 partial inflorescences. Subtended by rather wide loose bracts. Partial inflorescences with rather crowded rachillae bearing relatively very large flowers to 1 cm long. Ripe fruit about 2 cm in diameter rounded, covered in dark chestnut brown non-channelled shiny scales. Seedling leaf unknown. (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.