Calamus siphonospathus

Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) siphonospathus (sih-fohn-oh-SPATH-uhs)
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Scientific Classification
Genus: Calamus (KAL-ah-muhs) Species: siphonospathus (sih-fohn-oh-SPATH-uhs)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Asia
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Lanyu sheng-teng.

Habitat and Distribution

Taiwan, known only from Lanyu Island (Botel Tobago). Scrub forest at low elevations. [[]]

Description

Stems solitary, to 30 m long and 5 cm in diameter (with leaf sheaths); leaf sheaths yellowish-brown, sparsely covered with needle-like, yellowish spines to 1 cm long; knee obscure; ocreas present, membranous; flagella absent; petioles to 20 cm long; pinnae to 50 per side of rachis, linear, regularly arranged, closely spaced to 2 cm apart; cirri present, to 1 m long. Inflorescence bracts open and swollen near the apex; fruits ellipsoid, to 0.6 cm long and 0.4 cm in diameter, yellowish-brown. (Dransfield, J., A New Species of Calamus (Palmae) from Taiwan in Taiwania 50(3). 2005)/Palmweb. Editing by edric.

This species is known only from the Philippines, and just reaches Taiwan on Lanyu Island. It is very variable morphologically, and six varieties are recognized (Lapis, 1987). The Taiwan plants were placed, without discussion, in var. sublevis Becc. by Chang (1988). (Dransfield, J., A New Species of Calamus (Palmae) from Taiwan in Taiwania 50(3). 2005)/Palmweb.

Comments and Curiosities

There are six sub-species:

1.) Calamus siphonospathus var. dransfieldii; Philippines, and Sulawesi.

2.) Calamus siphonospathus var. farinosus; Philippines.

3.) Calamus siphonospathus var. oligolepis; Philippines.

4.) Calamus siphonospathus var. polylepis; Philippines.

5.) Calamus siphonospathus var. siphonospathus; Philippines.

6.) Calamus siphonospathus var. sublaevis; Philippines.