Korthalsia rigida Blume, Rumphia 2: 167 (1843)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Philippines present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Sumatera present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Thailand present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Widespread throughout Brunei at altitudes up to about 500 m above sea level. Elsewhere throughout Borneo, Palawan, Sumatra, Malay Peninsula and south Thailand. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • It may be confused with the closely related K. paucijuga, not yet recorded for Brunei, but the latter is much more slender, has no petiole, only 3-4 leaflets on each side of the rachis and a very small inflorescence with inflated primary bracts. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Biology And Ecology

  • K. rigida is found in lowland and hill dipterocarp forests at altitudes up to 900 m but appears to avoid peat swamp forest. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Common Name

  • Wi Dahan (Ib.) (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

  • Rigid (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Uses

  • Mainly local use. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Moderate rattan, clustering, frequently branching in the canopy, climbing to 50 m or more. Stem without sheaths to 2 cm diam., usually less, with sheaths to 2.5 cm, internodes to 20 cm or more. Sheaths dull green, densely covered with persistent grey indumentum and deciduous chocolate-coloured scales, and sparsely armed with triangular spines to 10 mm, rarely densely armed (juvenile shoots); ocrea to c. 4 cm long, tightly sheathing, ± truncate with a narrow tattering margin, rarely splitting, usually unarmed. Leaf to c. 1.5 m long, including the petiole to 10 cm and cirrus to 75 cm. Leaflets c. 5-7 on each side of the rachis, shining dark green on upper surface, bluish-grey beneath, the longest to 15 × 8 cm, borne on a short stalk to 2.5 cm, chocolatecoloured scales occasionally present on ribs on the undersurface. Inflorescences produced from topmost up to 12 nodes, highly branched to 80 cm, bearing c. 8 partial inflorescences on each side, each with about 10 rachillae; rachillae slender, inconspicuously tomentose, to 150 × 5 cm, dull dark brown. Fruit rounded, c. 1 cm diam., with 15 vertical rows of dark green to dull brown scales. Seed c. 8 mm diam., irregularly ruminate. Seedling leaf simple, dark shiny green on upper surface, grey beneath. (Fig. 1, Pl. 2A). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • BEL: Melilas, Bt.Batu Patam, Dransfield J. 6579. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

    A. Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae