Calamus siphonospathus
| Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) siphonospathus (sih-fohn-oh-SPATH-uhs) | |||||||
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 National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Known only from the Philippines, and just reaches Taiwan on Lanyu Island (Botel Tobago).
Description
Solitary, tall, water-loving, fast growing, dioecious, forest understorey, climbing palm. Not known in cultivation, locally common in the wild. It has a spiny, green stem, 30 m. (98 ft.) tall, 6 cm. (2.5 inch) diameter with no obvious leaf scars, and large segmented, pinnate (feather) leaves, 1.5 m. (5 ft.) long, 0.6 m. (2 ft.) wide, light green above and beneath. Flagella absent Cirri present.
Stems solitary, to 30 m long and 5 cm in diameter (with leaf sheaths); leaf sheaths yellowish-brown, sparsely covered with needle-like, yellowish spines to 1 cm long; knee obscure; ocreas present, membranous; flagella absent; petioles to 20 cm long; pinnae to 50 per side of rachis, linear, regularly arranged, closely spaced to 2 cm apart; cirri present, to 1 m long. Inflorescence bracts open and swollen near the apex; fruits ellipsoid, to 0.6 cm long and 0.4 cm in diameter, yellowish-brown. (Dransfield, J., A New Species of Calamus (Palmae) from Taiwan in Taiwania 50(3). 2005)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.
This species is known only from the Philippines, and just reaches Taiwan on Lanyu Island. It is very variable morphologically, and six varieties are recognized (Lapis, 1987). The Taiwan plants were placed, without discussion, in var. sublevis Becc. by Chang (1988). (Dransfield, J., A New Species of Calamus (Palmae) from Taiwan in Taiwania 50(3). 2005)/Palmweb.
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
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Calamus siphonospathus var. sublaevis naturally occurs on islands in moist forest, and is heavily effected by the surrounding sea temperatures, which are constant and often form sea mist and cloud. In this type of natural environment temperature fluctuations are slight, and this palm prefers a constantly hot and humid climate with little temperature difference between day & night, and Summer & Winter. This palm will not tolerate cool for very long. There are six sub-species: 1.) Calamus siphonospathus var. dransfieldii; Philippines, and Sulawesi. 2.) Calamus siphonospathus var. farinosus; Philippines. 3.) Calamus siphonospathus var. oligolepis; Philippines. 4.) Calamus siphonospathus var. polylepis; Philippines. 5.) Calamus siphonospathus var. siphonospathus; Philippines. 6.) Calamus siphonospathus var. sublaevis; Scrub forests at low elevations. Taiwan (Lan Yu) (Indonesia, Philippines). Stems solitary, climbing, to 30 m, 2.5-5 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths yellowish brown, sparsely covered with needlelike, yellowish spines to 1 cm; ocreas membranous; knees obscure; flagella absent; rachis to 2 m with 25-50 linear pinnae per side, these regularly arranged and closely spaced; middle pinnae to 32 cm, to 2 cm wide at mid-point, adaxial veins and margins bristly; cirri to 1 m. Inflorescence to 0.6 m, not flagellate; inflorescence bracts open and swollen near apex. Fruits yellowish brown, ellipsoid, to 0.6 × 0.4 cm. |
- IMAGE GALLERY
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
National Science Museum, Taichung, Taiwan.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Dransfield, J., A New Species of Calamus (Palmae) from Taiwan in Taiwania 50(3). 2005
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.
