Calamus scipionum

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Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
scipionum (sihp-ee-OHN-uhm)
Calamusscipionum19.jpg
PHILIPPINES: Luzon: Isabela Prov. Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Palanan municipality, Palanan Forest Dynamics Plot; coordinates of general area 17 3 32.00 N, 122 25 48.01 E.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs)
Species:
scipionum (sihp-ee-OHN-uhm)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Asia.gif
Morphology
Habit: Clustering
Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Rotan Semambu (Mal.) Semambu Rattan

Habitat and Distribution

Local in the lowlands of Brunei. Elsewhere throughout Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, S Thailand and Palawan.

Photo-Rare Palm Seeds.com

Description

Robust clustering rattan climbing to great heights, often to 50 m or more; stems without sheaths about 25 mm in diam., sometimes to 35 mm, with prominent nodes and slightly uneven in cross section, with sheaths to 50 mm in diam., internodes very long, sometimes exceeding 100 cm. Sheaths mid to dark green, armed with large triangular flattened yellowish-based black spines to 5 cm, often partly grouped, and abundant deciduous grey indumentum; knee conspicuous; ocrea short, soon tattering. All parts drying dark brown or black. Flagellum robust, frequently exceeding 7 m, armed with black spines. Leaf ecirrate to about 2 m including petiole to 30 cm; leaflets about 25 on each side of the rachis, regularly arranged, the proximal to 40 × 3 cm and distal to 20 × 3 cm, dull green and rather neatly curved, bristly only at the tip. Inflorescence to 6 m or more, with c. 7 partial inflorescences often to 1.5 m long, the male more highly branched than the female, female rachillae slender, reflexed. Ripe fruit ovoid to 14 × 9 mm, with a short beak and covered with 14- 15 vertical rows of dull green scales. Seed ovoid about 10 × 5 mm with scattered shallow pits, endosperm homogeneous. Seedling leaf with 4 leaflets arranged in a fan (see photos below). (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

C. scipionum is most frequent on good alluvial soils in the lowlands up to about 500 m altitude; it is apparently tolerant of considerable disturbance, being one of the few rattans of secondary habitats. The large size, ecirrate leaf and long flagella distinguish C. scipionum from all other Sarawak rattans except for C. ornatus var. ornatus. The latter has a subcirrate leaf - the apical leaflets are very small and very widely spaced - in marked contrast to the strictly ecirrate leaf of C. scipionum. Although the seedling leaves are so different, it is often difficult to determine young saplings. (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997)/Palmweb.

Culture

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: From the Latin; walking-stick.

Uses: An excellent cane, the source of true Malacca canes.

A vigorous, large, clustering Rattan, widely distributed in lowland rainforests and secondary forests to 500 m (1600 ft.) from the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. The slender stems are about 5 cm (2 in.) in diameter including the leaf sheaths and can reach a length of more than 50 m (170 ft.), with internodes of more than 1 m (3 ft.). The palm climbs into large trees with flagella, spiny, whip-like organs of the leaf sheath, that can be more than 7 m (23 ft.) long. The elegantly arching leaves hold numerous, broad, lax, regularly arranged leaflets to 40 cm (16 in.) long and do not have cirri. The long inflorescences produce bunches of greenish or yellowish white, scaly fruits. Calamus scipionum produces very durable stems of outstanding quality and is the source of the famed true Malacca canes, often called the king of canes because of their low weight, durability and beautiful, smooth, dark golden finish without steps, the result of this species very long internodes. (RPS.com)



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, The Rattans of Brunei Darussalam. 1997


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

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