Calamus acanthophyllus

Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) acanthophyllus (ah-kahn-toh-FILL-uhs)
Vientiane, Laos. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) Species: acanthophyllus (ah-kahn-toh-FILL-uhs)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
wai tia, wai kok, wai foom, wai nang (Lao Loum), wai pum (Thailand), padao kui (Khmer language, Thailand).

Habitat and Distribution

Indochinese endemic. Thailand (North-east and East), Laos (Central and South). Open deciduous habitats below 200 m.

Vientiane, Laos. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

Unusually for a rattan this species tolerates fires and thrives in frequently-burnt areas. Found in dry open forest and bamboo scrub below 200 m. Often in areas with regular fires. In Laos and Thailand and south to the border of Cambodia, but is not recorded there. It is locally used to make brooms, the shoots can be eaten and the root can be used to treat malaria, but has otherwise no commercial uses. It is not known in cultivation.

Description

A clump-forming, short, water-loving, fast growing, dioecious, forest understorey, nonclimbing palm. Not known in cultivation, locally common in the wild. It has spiny, green stems, 0.6 m. (2 ft.) tall, 2.5 cm. (1 inch) diameter with no obvious leaf scars, and large segmented, pinnate (feather) leaves, 1.5 m. (5 ft.) long, 0.3 m. (1 ft.) wide, light green above and beneath. Flagella absent Cirri absent.

This is a clustering species with a none climbing stem that is covered with yellow spines. The whole leaves are erect 0.5-1.5 m long. The plumose leaflets are often in groups of 2-3 above three prominent veins, the middle one with stiff, erect, golden spines. Similar erect spines on margins. Largest leaflets being 15-23 cm x 0.8-1.5 cm. Petiole of upper leaves is 10-90 cm long. Inflorescence is erect 0.4-1.1 m long with no flagellum, and entire primary bracts. Fruit is 1.2 cm long and 0,9 cm wide. Covered in dull whitish scales (yellow when dry) with fine dark margins. The species shares similarities to C. salicifolious and C. viminalis. (Evans & Sengdala 2001). (T. Evans & K. Sengdala & B. Thammavong & O.V. Viengkham & J. Dransfield, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002)/Palmweb.

Several localities mentioned in the literature require clarification. Gagnepain & Conrard (1937) report occurrence 'de Savannakhet ta Quangtri', unintentionally implying presence across central Indochina in both Laos and Vietnam, but the correct locality for Poilane 11509 refers to a specific point well inside Laos. Similarly they place 'Ubon' in Cambodia and Beccari (1913) places it in Cochinchina (Vietnam) whereas it actually lies in East Thailand. Magalon (1930) reports the species from Cochinchina on the banks of the Mekong but this record should be disregarded as we can trace no specimen to support it and it was not repeated by Gagnepain & Conrard (1937). As a result of these changes there is now no evidence that the species occurs in either Vietnam or Cambodia, although suitable habitat appears to be present in both countries. (T. Evans & K. Sengdala & B. Thammavong & O.V. Viengkham & J. Dransfield, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002)/Palmweb.

Culture

Calamus acanthophyllus can tolerate close to freezing conditions. But low temperatures are best avoided. It naturally occurs in wet rainforest or seasonally wet forest in low montane locations. In this type of natural environment temperature fluctuations are slight, and this palm prefers a constantly cool or mild climate with little temperature difference between day & night, and Summer & Winter. Under extreme cold conditions we recommend you keep this palm as dry as possible, and well wrapped up. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

Uses: The root can be used to treat malaria (Vidal 1963), "to increase the strength of the arrow poison from Strophanthus fruit" (Kerr, A. 8233) or as a medicine after childbirth (Hurlburt 21). No other Indochinese rattan has more than one recorded pharmacological use. The leaves are occasionally used to make brooms. (T. Evans & K. Sengdala & B. Thammavong & O.V. Viengkham & J. Dransfield, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. 2002)/Palmweb.

Conservation: Unlikely to be under threat given the large number of records within its relatively small range, the lack of harvesting and the tolerance of both deciduous habitats and fire.