Iguanura kelantanensis

Iguanura (ig-oo-ah-NOOR-ah) kelantanensis (keh-lahn-tah-NEHN-siss)
Photo-Malaysian Biological Diversity.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Iguanura (ig-oo-ah-NOOR-ah) Species: kelantanensis (keh-lahn-tah-NEHN-siss)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Malaya. Kelantan; habitat: hill forests about 300 m. elev.

Photo-Malaysian Biological Diversity.

Description

Differing from caespitose I. wallichiana by being solitary, acaulescent (sometimes with short stems to 10 cm), leaves marcescent, pinnate to 20 pairs of leaflets. often bicostate, inflorescence branching among petioles, peduncles short or longer (varying by 20 cm or more), rachillae six to nine, curled or not; often branching to second order, fruit as for I. wallichiana, white ripening red. (Lim C.K. 1996. Unravelling Iguanura Bl. (Palmae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 48: 2-64)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

To the east of the Main Range, in Pahang and Kelantan, there appear to be considerable variation in the forms within the I. wallichiana/geonomiformis complex, especially in the branching of the inflorescence. While surveying this area, we first encountered this stemless, solitary Iguanura, which had also been collected by L.G. Saw of FRIM, whose specimen we have chosen as Type. Subsequent collections display wide variability in leaflet width and divisions, and also in size and form of rachillae. I would like to credit Saw with the perception of acaulescence as a distinguishing character. until then not observed in the genus. and quite unlike the short-stemmed forms of I. geonomiformis. So far the taxon has only been found in one area, and thus it will be named after the state of Kelantan. In an adjacent forest, Henderson had collected a specimen (20301) identified as I. diffusa (q.v.). which has similar inflorescence. and there may be a relationship between the two taxa. (Lim C.K. 1996. Unravelling Iguanura Bl. (Palmae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 48: 2-64)/Palmweb.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b