Calamus palustris var. malaccensis Becc., Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 11(1): 405 (1908)

Primary tabs

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Myanmar present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Thailand present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Penang, Perak. Rare. Variety endemic, typical species in Burma and Thailand. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Discussion

  • Calamus palustris is known from a few localities near Ipoh, found growing in belukar near the main road, Ipoh to Kuala Kangsar, and by limestone hills near Tambun, and in belukar at the edge of the Waterfall Gardens in Penang.
    For differences from C. axillaris see that species. It is easily identified by means of the italicized characters. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Common Name

  • rotan? (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Etymology

  • Palustris - of marshes. (of Malacca) (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Uses

  • This species has a beautiful yellowish glossy cane of excellent general appearance. It is not known if it is utilized, but as every known clump is near villages, there is some suggestion that it might have been planted there. Much suggests that this species has potential as a cultivated rattan. (Dransfield, J. 1979: A Manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Recirds 29.)A

Description

  • Clustering rattan climbing to 25 m tall, flowering when quite short. Stem without sheaths about 1.5 - 2 cm in diameter with internodes to 30 cm; stem with sheaths to 3.5 cm. Sheaths bright green, armed with scattered brown yellow-based spines to 3 cm long, usually less, with much smaller spines scattered in between. Reddish brown indumentum abundant on young sheaths. Knee conspicuous. Ocrea to 3 mm high, dark brown unarmed. Leaf cirrate to 2.5 m long including the cirrus to 1 m; petiole short, about 10-15 cm long, semicircular in cross-section, the upper flat surface armed with short erect spines. Leaflets to about 21 on each side of the rachis, arranged in 2's to 4's broad, spafhulate, to about 35 cm long by 4 cm wide unarmed or very sparsely armed. Inflorescence, only male known, to about 1 m long with about 12 close partial inflorescences to 25 m long, decreasing in length above. Bracts sparsely armed. Rachillae about 2 cm long. (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.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae