Plectocomia khasyana

Plectocomia (plehk-toh-cohm-EE-ah) khasyana (kahs-ee-AHN-ah)
India. Photo by kwan.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Plectocomia (plehk-toh-cohm-EE-ah) Species: khasyana (kahs-ee-AHN-ah)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

INDIA (Meghalaya). Endemic. A component of moist forest of Khasia hills between

India. Photo by kwan.

600-1200 m. Now infrequent in its natural habitats.

Description

A high climbing rattan; stem robust, 18-25 m long. Leaves curate; leaflets broadly lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic, tapering at both ends, green above, whitish beneath, 30-60 cm long, 8 mm broad at middle; midnerve conspicuous on lower side; marginal nerves ciHate. In male inflorescence flower branches 45 - 60 cm long, slender, densely bracteate; bracts 5 - 6 cm long, triangular-oblong, acute, greyish-tomentose outside, ciliate at margins, smooth at upper part. Male flowers 10-12 mm long, sessile,; calyx shallowly trigonous, at base with three 2 mm wide acuminate teeth; petals thick, lanceolate, acuminate; stamens with thick subulate filaments; anthers sagittate, acute, 3 mm long; pistillode sessile. Fruit 2.5 cm in diameter, distinctly beaked, covered with dark brown scales each with fimbriate points; seed globose, slightly depressed, 1.8 x 1.5 cm. (J. Dransfield, Rattans (canes) in India. A Monographic Revision. 1992)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Culture

Cold Hardiness Zone: 9b