Calamus usitatus

Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) usitatus (oo-see-TAH-tuhs)
PHILIPPINES: Luzon:: Pangasinan prov. Agno; coordinates of general area 16 7 0.00 N, 119 47 60.00 E.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) Species: usitatus (oo-see-TAH-tuhs)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
tandulang, babuyan, talola

Habitat and Distribution

Borneo. In Sabah known from a few collections from Lahad Datu, Semporna, and Tawau Districts,

Tawan, Malaysia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.

apparently always coastal. Elsewhere widespread in the Philippines.

Description

Slender to moderate clustering, thicket-forming rattan with stems to rarely more. Stem without sheaths to 5-10 mm, with sheaths 10-23 mm; intei to 15 cm; sheaths bright green, very sparsely to densely armed with scattered golden brown to 45 mm, and caducous pale grey indumentum; sometimes main body of she unarmed, but even when so, spines present around leaf sheath mouth; spines aroui sheath mouth ± erect, much larger than the rest, borne close together in a neat row, 11 to 12 cm. Knee conspicuous. Ocrea to 5 mm, very densely armed with minute spiculezm or spines to 3 mm. Flagellum to 1.5 m. Leaf ecirrate to 90 cm, frequently less, including petiole to 20 cm; petiole armed with few horizontal golden brown spines; leaflets about 30 on each side of the rachis, close, regular, (in Sabah; most Philippine populations have grouped leaflets), the largest to 30 x 1.4 cm armed with black bristles along margins, 3 main veins on upper surface, and midrib beneath. Male and female inflorescences superficially similar, to 2 m? with 5 or more partial inflorescences; bracts on main axis close tubular, variously armed with golden brown spines but always with apical tufts of erect slender spines to 20 mm; partial inflorescences to 40 cm, with curving axes and curved rachillae; male rachilla to 40 x 2 mm; female rachilla to 50 x 3 mm. Mature fruit ovoid, about 8 x 6 mm, with a short beak to 1 mm, and covered in 18 vertical rows of straw-coloured scales. Seed c 6 x 4 mm. Endosperm apparently homogeneous. Seedling leaf unknown. (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.. 1984)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

Calamus usitatus is astonishingly variable; however, the large erect spines around the leaf sheath mouth, the dense spiny ocrea, the stiff leaflets, and the bunches of spines around the mouths of the flagellum and inflorescence bracts are all diagnostic. This species has had a most confusing nomenclatural history. (J. Dransfield, The Rattans of Sabah. Sabah Forest Records 13.. 1984)/Palmweb.

Comments and Curiosities

Etymology: From the Latin; ordinary, usual.

Uses: Tying purposes, baskets, fish traps; apparently fairly durable.