Calamus flagellum is an Asian species of tropical forest rattan liana in the family Arecaceae, with a native range from Assam to southern China and Indo-China.[2][3] Its name in Vietnamese is mây song, while the Lepcha of Sikkim call it rim.[4]
| Calamus flagellum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Calamus |
| Species: | C. flagellum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calamus flagellum | |
| Synonyms | |
Description edit
Calamus flagellum is a strong climber with stems in clusters forming The individual rattan stems form from a leafsheath up to 45 mm in diameter. Leaves are described as "ecirrate" (without a cirrus: extension of the rattan leaf tip armed with grappling hooks), produced from leafsheaths 6 - 7 m long. Petioles are about 10 mm in diameter, armed with whorls of 10 - 30 mm spines; the leaflets are equidistant, broadly ensiform, with a prominent single vein on upper side; middle leaflets are longer, up to 600 mm long.
Male and female inflorescences are 5 m or more long and armed with claws. The flagellum is attached here (this is a whiplike climbing organ bearing reflexed strong claws on the lower side). Partial inflorescences occur which are about 1 m long with 3-4 rachillae on each side. The primary closely sheathing bract is tubular and fibrous at upper end. The rachillae are 100-250 mm long, each bearing 10-30 flowers. Male flowers are 8 - 10 mm x 3 mm, curved on the outside. Female flowers are about 7 mm long, with an ovate, 3-toothed calyx and lanceolate petals, positioned remotely on the rachillae (which are 200-250 mm long, truncate and projected from the basal bract). The fruit are about 30 mm long, broadly ovoid with fruit scales deeply channelled in the middle.[2]
References edit
- ^ Griffiths W ex Mart. (1853) In: Hist. Nat. Palm. 3: 333
- ^ a b POWO: Calamus flagellum Griff. ex Walp. (retrieved 6 February 2021)
- ^ Roskov Y.; Kunze T.; Orrell T.; Abucay L.; Paglinawan L.; Culham A.; Bailly N.; Kirk P.; Bourgoin T.; Baillargeon G.; Decock W.; De Wever A. (2014). Didžiulis V. (ed.). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist". Species 2000: Reading, UK. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Tamsang, K.P. (1980). The Lepcha-English Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Kalimpong: Mrs. Mayel Clymit Tamsang. p. 725.