''Calamus calospathus'' is a rare
species of
flowering plant in the
palm family found in peninsular
Malaysia,
[ where it is referred to as rotan demuk. It is not common in collections, nor has it been found in the wild for several years, leading some to conclude that the species may have become extinct. Under the ]synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
''Calospatha scortechinii'', it has been regarded as the sole species in the genus ''Calospatha''.[Riffle, Robert L. and Craft, Paul (2003) ''An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms''. Portland: Timber Press. / ] The epithet ''calospatha'' is a combination of two Greek words meaning 'beautiful' and 'spathe'.
Description
''Calamus calospathus'' plants are solitary-trunked and covered in leaf scars, which exude a yellow gum after leaf loss. The linear leaflets are pinnately arranged and once-folded with toothed margins. The petioles and rachises feature recurved spines which hook onto vegetation and assist them in climbing. The inflorescences in both species consist of close, overlapping bracts from which male or female flowers emerge. The bracts are armed with spines and the inflorescence resembles those in '' Heliconia'' species. The small, round fruit, regarded as a delicacy by the Temuan aborigines, are scaly and usually contain three seeds
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosperm pl ...
.[Uhl, Natalie W. and Dransfield, John (1987) '']Genera Palmarum
''Genera Palmarum'' is a botany reference book that gives a detailed overview of the systematic biology of the palm family (Arecaceae). The first edition of ''Genera Palmarum'' was published in 1987. The second edition was published in 2008, with ...
- A classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore''. Lawrence, Kansas: Allen Press. /
References
External links
Fairchild Guide to Palms: ''Calospatha''
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15459398, from2=Q84621130, from3=Q2714806
calospathus
Endemic flora of Peninsular Malaysia
Trees of Peninsular Malaysia
Dioecious plants