Plectocomia elongata var. elongata

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Borneo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Jawa present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Malaya present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Sumatera present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Thailand present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Vietnam present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Known only from Bt. Retak. Elsewhere rare on Kinabalu and G. Mulu, abundant in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java; a variety known in Palawan. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Discussion

  • This is an imperfectly known species in Borneo. Large plants of P. mulleri from sites on good soil may appear very similar. Apart from the extreme poor soil form of P. mulleri, the two taxa can only be told apart with certainty if fertile material is available. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Etymology

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

Uses

  • See under genus. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Description

  • Robust, solitary rattan climbing to 50 m; stem without sheaths to 6 cm diam. near the base, to 10 cm or more in upper parts, with sheaths to 20 cm diam., internodes to 30 cm long; lower parts of old stems frequently with bulbil-like shoots from the nodes. Sheaths dull green armed with horizontal or oblique combs of golden brown or deep reddish-brown spines to 4 cm long, and abundant white or buff-coloured indumentum; knee absent. Leaf very large, to 7 m long including the cirrus to 3 m and petiole to c. 30 cm; leaflets to c. 60 on each side of the rachis, arranged irregularly in 2s-7s and fanned within the groups. bluish green on the upper surface, whitish beneath. Inflorescences produced from the top 7-10 nodes, to c. 80 cm long and bearing c. 12 crowded pendulous branches to c. 1 m; bracts chestnut brown, c. 7 × 5 cm, with triangular tips but scarcely truncate. Male flowers up to c. 20 within each bract; female flowers 3-9 within each bract, ± completely concealed. Mature fruit about 8 within each bract (if fewer, then fruit larger), very crowded, c. 1.5 cm diam., with reflexed stigmas and covered in c. 50 vertical rows of fimbriate-margined reddish-brown scales. Seed c. 1 cm diam. Seedling leaf lanceolate, undivided. (Fig. 83). (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Materials Examined

  • TEM: Amo, Bt.Retak, Wong 450. (Dransfield, J. 1997: The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam)A

Bibliography

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