Calamus concinnus

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Fairchild FL

Calamus concinnus
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Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus Species: concinnus
Synonyms
Palmijuncus concinnus
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Clustering Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
None.

Habitat and Distribution

Myanmar (Tanintharyi), and Thailand (peninsular), (also in peninsular Maylasia); lowland rainforest, often near the sea or rivers, at low elevations.

Description

A non-climbing rattan from coastal forests on the Malay Peninsula, with a creeping or upright stem to 6 m (13 ft.) tall and long, 8 cm diameter, arching leaves with grouped and slightly fanned leaflets. Stems clustered, short and subterranean, leaf sheaths open green, with scattered, yellowish, triangular, to 4-cm long spines; ocreas present, elongate to 75 cm long, tattering; Knees absent; flagella absent; leaf rachis to 3.5 m long with 35-65 lanceolate leaflets per side, these are irregularly arranged in groups of 2-7; cerri absent, inflorescence to 2 m long, not flagellate; bracts tubular, tatering at apices; fruits globose to 0.8 cm diameter, yellowish. Great for all those who want to try growing a rattan palm but find the climbing habit a nuisance. Also, it does not grow any cirri or flagella, those nasty, whiplike organs many rattan palms produce to help them climb and that are perfect to get tangled up in. Due to its habitat it is more resistant to coastal and seasonally dry conditions than most rattans. The roots used as an herb since ancient times.

Curiosities

• IMAGE GALLERY

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

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