Calamus erectus

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Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
erectus (eh-REHK-tuhs)
Calamus erectus.jpg
H.P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL. Photo by botanisst Eric S.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
Species:
erectus (eh-REHK-tuhs)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Asia.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
zhi li sheng teng; China. Tara, Viagra Palm

Habitat and Distribution

INDIA (Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, West Bengal), BANGLADESH, BURMA. Grows in the lower hill forests,
J.D. Andersen Nursery, Hawaii. Photo by Paul Craft.
especially on the drier slopes. Frequent in the Tista and Rangit valley of Sikkim and West Bengal. Lowland or montane rain forests or drier forests usually on steep slopes; below 1400 m. Yunnan (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand).

Description

To many people, Calamus instantly brings pictures of messy, spiny climbing palms which are quite unsuitable for cultivation. Think again! Calamus erectus is a most elegant palm. It does not climb and grows only to about 3m (10ft) tall, with short, weakly clustering stems to 1m (3ft) and does not have the catchy cirri and flagella. The leaves are long, slightly curved and bear many long, wide leaflets. The large seeds germinate very quickly, the first seedling leaf is pinnate and subsequent seedling growth is fast. An excellent pot plant or unusual outdoor specimen in climates ranging from warm temperate to tropical. (RPS.com)

Stems clustered, non-climbing, free standing or sometimes leaning, to 6 m, to 5 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths dark green with dark brown hairs, with short rows of brown, flattened spines to 3.5 cm; ocreas present, with rows of short spines, split into 2, soon falling; knees absent; flagella absent; petioles and rachis with whorls of yellow spines; rachis to 3 m with up to 40 lanceolate pinnae per side, these regularly arranged; middle pinnae 60-80 cm, 3.5-5 cm wide at mid-point, adaxial and abaxial veins and margins bristly; cirri absent. Inflorescences to 2 m, not flagellate; inflorescence bracts tubular, tattering at apices. Fruits greenish - or reddish brown, ellipsoid, 3-5 × 2-2.5 cm, scales grooved. Editing by Edric.

Culture

Experimental cultivation exists in the North Silviculture, Division, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. It is also cultivated in the Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah where a few male clumps exists. Experimental cultivation also exists in the Forest Research Institute, Chittagong, Bangladesh. (J. Dransfield and W.J. Baker. 1992)/Palmweb. Cold Hardiness Zone: 9b

Comments and Curiosities

Calamus erectus, is one of the few non-climbing Calamus species.

Uses: Due to shorter internodes, the cane is not useful for making furniture. The Miri tribe of Assam plains made their thatched nuts on bamboo pillars raised about 1 - 1.5 m above the ground level to protect them from flood and wild animals. For making the huts they use split Dendrocalamus bamboo and strong canes of Calamus erectus, leaves are used as thatch. Stems and leaves of Calamus erectus are also used by them for making poultry houses. In Sylhet, Bangladesh, people chew the seeds of Calamus erectus in place of betal nuts (Areca catechu). (J. Dransfield and W.J. Baker. 1992)/Palmweb.



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).

J. Dransfield and W.J. Baker. 1992


Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.

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