Laccosperma korupense Sunderl., Kew Bull. 58: 989 (2004)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Cameroon present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Restricted to the coastal forests of Cameroon, L. korupensis is locally abundant in the Korup and National Park and its environs. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Discussion

  • Despite the availability of vegetative material only, there is no doubt that this species is a member of the genus Laccosperma, with its significant morphological similarities to both L. opacum and L. laeve. However, this taxon is unique within the genus in the fact that the reduced leaflets forming grapnel hooks on the cirrus (known as acanthophylls), which are a common character in the rattan genera endemic to Africa, are absent. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Diagnosis

  • L. opacum (G. Mann and H. Wendl.) Drude affinis sed vagina parce armata; foliolis lanceolatis basi cuneatis apice apiculatis ad mucronatis, cirrho aculeis recurvatis armato, acanthophyllis carentibus differt. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2003: Two new species of rattan (Palmae: Calamoideae) from the forests of West and Central Africa)C

Biology And Ecology

  • L. korupensis is a species of the forest understorey. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Conservation

  • Near threatened (NT) due to its restricted range and continuing habitat loss. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Etymology

  • This species is named after the Korup region, which includes the National Park. The word Korup is derived from the ethnic group, the Korop, who have inhabited the cross-border area of Cameroon and Nigeria for the past 200 years (Grimes 1996). (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Description

  • Clustered, slender palm climbing to 10m. Stem, not circular in cross section, but somewhat oval, without sheaths up to 12 mm in diameter, with ca.15 mm; internodes 12-15 cm long. Leaf sheath very sparsely to moderately armed with very fine, black tipped, downward-pointing spines; sheaths near leaf junction occasionally unarmed; black caducous indumentum present on mature sheaths; ocrea 7-10 cm long, gradually tapering at the apex, papyraceous and tattering, pale straw-coloured without, dark shiny brown within, armed with very fine black-tipped spines. Leaves up to 1.0 m long; petiole to 12 cm long × 0.8 cm wide, abaxially rounded, adaxially flattened, armed along the edges with up to 1 cm-long, inequidistant, black spines with pale bulbous bases, spreading or reflexed; rachis to 50 cm long, rounded or somewhat angular in cross section, armed as the petiole, the spines decreasing in size distally; cirrus to 70 cm long armed as the rachis, although spines becoming sparse distally; leaflets, 10-18 on each side of the rachis, inequidistant, usually sub-equidistant proximally and borne in pairs distally, lanceolate, finely acuminate at apex, bluntly cuneate at base, 12-20 cm long × 1.5-1.5 cm broad at widest point, ± concolorous, with prominent transverse veinlets and numerous, rather distant, small reflexed spines on the margins; acanthophylls absent. Flowers and fruits unknown. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Materials Examined

  • Collector unknown, Kumba (04°38N:09°26E) sterile, s.d. (FI!); Cheek 5062, Koto II (04°21N: 9°02E) sterile, October 2, 1993 (K!, SCA!); Harris 3660, Onge (04°21N:08°57E) sterile, July 11, 1993 (K!); Harris 3742, Onge (04°21N:08°57E) sterile, September 11, 1993 (K!, SCA!); Harris 3778, Onge (04°21N:08°57E) sterile, October 11, 1993 (K!, SCA!); Njingum 2, Bidou I, near Kribi (02°50N:09°58E) sterile, July 15, 1999 (K!); Sunderland 2303, Korup National Park, Chimpanzee Camp (05°02N:08°48E) sterile, February 15, 2000 (K!, SCA!); Thomas 9726, Idenau (04°16N:09°01E) sterile, September 10, 1993 (K!, SCA!). (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Bibliography

    A. Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae
    C. Sunderland, T.C.H. 2003: Two new species of rattan (Palmae: Calamoideae) from the forests of West and Central Africa