Calamus laevigatus var. serpentinus J.Dransf., Kew Bull. 36: 806 (1982)

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)

Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B

Confined to ultrabasic rock in the lowlands. Endemic. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

This variety seems to be one of the consistent elements in the flora of forest on the slopes of ultrabasic hills up to c 500 m altitude. It is abundant on Bukit Silam. The short petiole and absence of reflexed leaflets most easily distinguish it from the type variety, though there are several other distinguishing features. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Growing on serpentine rock (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

None known. (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

Solitary or clustering rather slender rattan with stems rarely more than 10 m long; stem without sheaths c 6 mm diam., with sheaths to 13 mm diam.; internodes to 10 cm. Sheaths pale yellowish-green, armed with scattered or laterally grouped short bulbous-based triangular black-tipped spines to 3 mm, each usually with an apical tuft of brown hairs, and pale to dark brown scales between the spines; low collars bearing very short spines between larges spines sometimes also present. Knee rather poorly developed. Ocrea low, hairy. Leaf cirrate to 115 cm including the very short petiole to 3 cm and cirrus to 60 cm; leaflets pale yellowish-green 9-11 on each side grouped in pairs in distal part, ± solitary near the base, very narrow, linear, ± pendulous, not reflexed across the stem, the longest to 30 x 1 cm; often narrower, with ± thickened margins; transverse veinlets conspicuous. Male and female inflorescences dissimilar, the male branched to 3 orders with crowded rachillae to 7 x 1.5 mm; female very lax to 75 cm with 4 partial inflorescences and very distant rachillae to 70 x 2 mm. Mature fruit rounded c 12 mm diam., with short beak and covered in 15 vertical rows of reddish-brown scales. Seed rounded c 10 mm diam., deeply pitted; endosperm slightly ruminate. Seedling leaf unknown. (Fig. 47) (Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.)A

A. Dransfield, J. 1984: The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.

B. World Checklist of Arecaceae