Calamus mattanensis Becc., Rec. Bot. Surv. India 2: 216 (1902)

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
Rather local in 1st and 2nd Divisions; once recorded for the Ulu Rejang. Elsewhere in W Kalimantan. Endemic to Borneo. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Discussion

  • C mattanensis occurs from sea level to altitudes of 700 - 800 m; it grows in a variety of forests from low-lying swamp margins to ridge tops. It is variable, but the few rather irregular stiff plicate leaflets, together with the leaf sheath spines and the short inflorescences with curving rachillae are distinctive. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Etymology

  • From G Matang, the type locality (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Uses

  • The cane appears to be of excellent quality but the stems are rarely very long. (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Description

  • Solitary or clustering, moderate rattan climbing to 15 m, but usually much shorter; stem without sheaths to 8 mm diam., with sheaths to 18 mm diam., internodes c. 15 cm long. Sheaths bright green with sparse to rather dense scattered black triangular spines 7-15 mm long and abundant deciduous red-brown indumentum; knee present; ocrea not developed. Flagellum absent. Leaf cirrate, 1.2 - 2 m or more long, including the cirrus to 1.2 m; petiole 10-25 cm, sometimes much shorter, armed with rather coarse black-tipped spines; leaflets 6-8 on each side of the rachis, very distant and slightly to distinctly irregular, usually rather stiff, plicate, tending to diverge from the rachis at an acute angle, sometimes the basalmost reflexed, the longest to 35 x 2 cm, very sparsely spiny along the margins, transverse veinlets distinct. Inflorescences considerably shorter than the leaves, c. 40 - 50 cm long, but occasionally to 1 m, the male more highly branched than the female; prophyll and primary bracts short, spiny or not along the margins, often with abundant reddish-brown indumentum; partial inflorescences 3-8; male rachillae usually curved, c. 10 -15 mm long, the female fewer in number, to 25 mm long. Mature fruit ovoid to c. 15 x 10 mm with a distinct beak and covered in 15 vertical rows of cinnamon-brown scales. Seed ellipsoid c. 8x6x5 mm, endosperm deeply ruminate. Seedling leaf not known (Fig. 46). (Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1992: The Rattans of Sarawak
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae