Calamus leptospadix Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5: 49 (1845)

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Distribution

INDIA (West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh), BHUTAN. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Mostly on damp river plains, and forming big thickets. It becomes a cluster forming high climber when it grows in moist valleys among tall trees. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Common Name

  • Dhangri bet, Rab bet, Rani bet, Mugri bet. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Uses

  • Cane is thin and delicate therefore used mainly for making rough baskets. Split canes are durable and used for making chair bottoms. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Description

  • A slender cluster forming climber; stem thickened at joints, with lead-sheaths 12-20 mm in diameter, naked stem smooth, 8 -10 mm in diameter at the internodes. Leaves ecirrate, delicate looking, 80-105 cm long; leafsheath with flagellum, thickly scurfy outside, armed with flattened, 15-20 mm long, subulate, half-whorled spines; ocrea persistent, prickly at margins; flagellum filiform with non-spinous base; armed distally with small, delicate claws; petiole terete; petiole and rachis armed with deflexed spines and claws; rachis delicate angular, covered thickly with greyish indumentum; leaflets closely placed, linear-ensiform, alternate to sub-opposite, to 30 cm long, distinctly 3-nerved, attenuate at base; acuminate to bristly subulate at apex; uppermost leaflets shorter. Male inflorescence flagelliform, decompound; male rachillae scorpioid, 1 -2cm long, with 6-12 closely set bifarious flowers. Male flowers 4-4.5 X 1.5 mm; calyx tubular, campanulate, divided up to middle into apiculate lobes; corolla double the length of calyx into 3 oblong segments. Female inflorescence similar to male; female rachillae erect from base, arching above, 1.5 - 2 cm long; each with 5-8 female flowers. Fruit globose, 1.5 mm in diameter, mamil-late; fruit scales yellow with reddish brown margins, channelled at middle; seed globose, endosperm homogeneous. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Cultivation

  • Infrequent in silviculture practice. Experimental cultivation was possible in the Jalpaiguri forest division of north Bengal. Cultivated in the Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah. (Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision)A

Bibliography

    A. Basu, S.K. 1992: Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision