Eremospatha tessmanniana Becc., Webbia 3: 278 (1910)

Primary tabs

no image available

Content

Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Cameroon present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Congo present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Equatorial Guinea present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
Eremospatha tessmanniana is a relatively uncommon species of rattan and is known from only three localities; the Takamanda region of the Cameroon/Nigeria border and cross border region of Cameroon and the Rio Muni territory of Equatorial Guinea. Further collections might link this disjunction. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Eremospatha tessmanniana is a forest species found on well-drained soils in closed-canopy forest. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Conservation

  • Vulnerable (VU) due to restricted range and localised distribution. (Sunderland, T.C.H. 2012: A taxonomic revision of the rattans of Africa (Arecaceae: Calamoideae). – Phytotaxa 51: 1-76)A

Etymology

  • Named after Günther Tessmann (born ? - 1926), German botanist and anthropologist. (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 up to 150 m, more commonly to 60-80 m. Stems, often branching, circular in cross-section, without sheaths 10-12 mm in diameter, with 12-15 mm in diameter; internodes 15-20 cm long. Leaf sheath longitudinally striate, with black caducous indumentum; ocrea entire, horizontally truncate, extending to 1.5 cm; knee absent. Juvenile stems with sheath, 0.6 cm in diameter; petiole angular, 15-17 cm long armed along the margins with reflexed, bulbous-based, black tipped spines; leaves bifid, 20 cm × 24 cm, deeply notched, with somewhat rounded lobes; elaminate rachis present on lower section of stems, up to 80 cm long. Leaves on mature stems sessile, or very nearly so (petiole <1.5 cm), rachis up to 80 cm long, somewhat flattened proximally, becoming triangular in cross-section distally, armed along the margins with reflexed, bulbous-based, black tipped spines, with black caducous indumentum below; cirrus up to 40-60 cm long, armed as the rachis, indumentum absent; leaflets, up to 5-8 on each side, inequidistant, opposite to sub-opposite, linear-elongate to lanceolate, broadly attenuate at the base moderately rounded praemorse at apex, 14-18 cm long × 2.2.5 cm broad at the widest point, concolorous, somewhat rigid, coriaceous, armed along the margins with inequidistant robust black-tipped spines, reflexed and reverse-facing at base, forward-facing at apex, 5 to 7-costulate; lowermost leaflets smaller than the rest, lax, not reflexed; acanthophylls 2-2.5 cm long, slender, ± parallel. 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

  • CAMEROON: Mildbraed 5285, sterile, May 20, 1911 (HBG!); Mildbraed 5879, Ebolowa (02º55N:11º08E) sterile, s.d. (HBG!); Sunderland 2021, Takamanda Forest Reserve (06º08N:09º16E) sterile, January 11, 1999 (K!, SCA!); Sunderland 2017, Takamanda Forest Reserve (06º08N:09º16E) sterile, January 17, 1999 K!, SCA!; Type:?EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Tessmann 4, sterile, s.d. (FI!) (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