1. Calamus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 325 (1753).
Taxon Description
Stems clustered, slender, scandent. Leaf sheath armed, unarmed in Calamus inermis, flagellum produced on sheath or not, ocrea (an extension of the leaf sheath beyond the petiole insertion) present. Petiole with knee (a swollen projection of leaf sheath directly below petiole), flattened. Leaf pinnate, cirrus present or not, rachis and cirrus covered with deflexed hooks on underside; leaflets many, linear to lanceolate, costae and margins setose. Dioecious. Inflorescence longer than leaf, branched to 2–3 order, flagellate; prophyll, peduncular bracts and rachis bracts tubular, spiny; prophyll and rachis bracts large, spilt open, not tubular in Calamus melanochaetes; partial inflorescence subtended by bracts; rachillae long or condensed. Male inflorescence branched to 3 orders. Male flower borne singly, subtended by cup-like btacteole and funnel-shaped bracts: calyx tubular at base, 3-lobed distally; corolla exceeding the calayx, 3-lobed, tubular at the base; stamens 6, filaments elongate, fleshy, borne at the mouth of the corolla tube. Female inflorescence branched to 2 orders. A sterile male flower and a female flower subtended by a bract. Female flower larger than sterile male flower; calyx tubular, shallowly 3-lobed; corolla rarely exceeding the calayx, divided deeply into 3 valvate lobes; staminodes 6; stigmas 3, apical, reflexed. Fruit 1-seeded, scaly, apiculate.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide 411 species distributed in tropical regions (Henderson 2020). Six species in Nepal.
Calamus erectus probably occurs in eastern Nepal (Henderson, 2020), but I have not yet seen the specimen(s).
Key to Species
1 a. Flagella present. Cirri absent …………………………………………………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….……………… 2
b Flagella absent. Cirri present………………………………….…………………………….……………………….……………………….……………………..………………. 4
2 a Leaflets 8–15 on each side of rachis, broadly lanceolate; costae 5–7, glabrous ……………………………..……………… 1. C. acanthospathus
b Leaflets 27–65 on each side of rachis, linear or lanceolate; costae 3, setose …….……………………….……………………….………………….……… 3
3 a Sheath spines are of one type (short and deflexed with crescent-shaped bases); ocreas very small.
Rachis lacking rusty-red hairs .……………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….…………………. 5. C. tenuis
b Sheath spines are of two types (long, straight, singly inserted spines and short bristle like spines); ocreas prominent. Rachis rusty-red tomentose ………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….……………………….…………… 2. C. leptospadix
4 a. Inflorescence shorter than leaf. Prophyll and rachis bracts spilt their entire lengths, boat- shaped ………………6. C. melanochaetes
b Inflorescence longer than leaf. Prophyll and rachis bracts sheathing, tubular …..…………………………….……………………….…………………… 5
5 a Fruits ˃20 mm long, ˃11 mm diameter; fruiting perianths tubular……………………………….……………………….…………………… 4 . C. inermis
b Fruits ˂20 mm long, ˂ 11 mm diameter; fruiting perianths explanate …………………………….……………………….………………. 3. C. latifolius
Key for C. inermis and C. latifolius is based on Andrew Henderson (personal communication 2023). I have not yet seen fruits in the herbarium specimens.
1. Calamus acanthospathus Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5: 39 (1845).
गौरी बेत Gauri Bet (Nepali)
Climbing shrubs to 4 m. Stems 2–2.5 cm wide, solitary or weakly clustered. Leaf sheaths flagellate, densely covered with spines, spines 1–3 cm, densely hairy, longer spines confluent at base, Ocrea ca. 3 mm, flagella 5–6 m. Petiole 10–15 cm, armed with singly inserted and confluent spines, scarcely kneed. Leaves 2–2.5 m, ecirrate, leaflets to 15 on each side of rachis, rachis covered with deflexed hooks on underside; leaflets 60–80 X 3–5 cm, lanceolate, costae 5–7, glabrous, sometimes with a few small spines, margins spinulose, apex acuminate. Male inflorescence 25–30 cm, branched to 2 orders, male rachillae 4–6, 10–20 cm. Female inflorescence up to 2 m, branched to 2 or 3 orders, flagellate, prophyll and peduncular bract tubular, spiny, female rachillae 8–12 on each partial inflorescence, recurved, 3–6 cm. Fruit orange-brown, ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 X 1 cm, apiculate, 5–6 on each rachilla, scales grooved. Seeds ca. 1 X 0.5 cm, pitted.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–400 m
Flowering: March–July. Fruiting: February
Ecology: In semi evergreen broad-leaved forest.
2. Calamus leptospadix Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5:49 (1845).
धाङ्ग्रे बेत Dhangre Bet (Nepali)
Climbing shrubs to 25 m. Stems slender (ca. 1.3 cm diameter), clustered. Leaf sheaths reddish-brown tomentose, covered with straight, flattened spines (up to 1.5 cm) and bristle like spines (up to 0.5 cm), ocreas prominent, ca. 2.5 cm, covered with dark rusty brown hairs, flagella slender (0.5 cm wide). Petiole 5–10 cm, with straight spines, knee prominent. Leaves to 80 cm, ecirrate, leaflets 30–35 on each side of rachis, rachis rusty tomentose with a row of deflexed spines on underside; Leaflets linear, 15–20 X 0.6–1.2 cm, costae 3, setose, margins setose, apex filiform. Male inflorescence branched to 2 orders, slender, flagellate, rachillae to 3 cm. Female inflorescence branched to 2 orders, slender, flagellate; prophyll and peducular bracts tubular; partial inflorescence zig zag, 15–20 cm; female rachillae 3–5 cm (at fruiting), 20–22 on each partial inflorescence; rachilla bracts tubular, overlapping; calyx ca. 3 mm, 3 lobes, lobed to half way; corolla lobes ca. 3 mm, acuminate; stigmas 3, in apex of young fruit. Fruit white or yellowish, globose, ca. 1 cm, apiculate, scales grooved. Seeds c. 0.5 X 0.3 cm, pitted.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–300 m
Flowering: February–April (ref. Flora of Bhutan). Fruiting: October
Ecology: Moist places beside rivers and streams in subtropical forest.
3. Calamus latifolius Roxb., Hort. Bengal.: 73 (1814), nom. cons.
Calamus humulis Roxb., Calamus palustris Griff.
फेक्री बेत Phekree Bet (Nepali)
Climbing Shrubs to 30 m. Stems ca. 2 cm wide, clustered. Leaf sheaths eflagellate, reddish brown, covered with large deflexed, decurrent spines (to 2.5 cm) and small spines. Ocrea present. Petiole up to ca. 30 cm, spiny, knee prominent. Leaves to 2.5 m, cirrate, cirrus to 1.2 m, leaflets up to 15 on each side of rachis, rachis and cirrus covered with deflexed hooks on underside and short spines on upper side, leaflets alternate, elliptic, 20–35 X 4–8 cm, costae 5–8, glabrous, margins setulose towards apex, apex acuminate. Male inflorescence to 1.7 m, branched to 2 or 3 orders, eflagellate, prophyll and peduncular bracts spiny. Partial inflorescence bracts funnel shaped, spiny; rachillae 13–15 on each partial inflorescence, 4–6 cm; rachilla bract rather open, margin ciliate, bracteole present. Female inflorescence to 1.7 m, branched to 2 orders, eflagillate; prophyll and bracts tubular, rachillae to ca. 6 cm. Fruit yellowish, ellipsoid to ovoid, 12.6–16.4 mm long, 9.1–11.0 mm diameter; fruiting perianth explanate, without stalk, apiculate, scales not grooved. Seed ca. 1 X 0.8 cm, roughly pitted.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 400–500 m
Flowering: March—April. Fruiting: December–January
Ecology: Hill sal forest.
4. Calamus inermis T.Anderson, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 11:11 (1869).
Calamus nambariensis Becc.
Climbing shrubs to 20 m. Stems ca. 2 cm wide, clustered. Leaf sheaths eflagellate, unarmed, ocrea 3–4 mm. Petiole up to ca. 50 cm, sparsely armed with singly inserted spines, knee prominent. Leaves to 2 m, cirrate, cirrus to 1.2 m, leaflets up to 30 on each side of rachis, rachis and cirrus covered with deflexed hooks and spines on underside, leaflets fascicled in groups of 2 or 3, 30–35 X 3.5–4 cm, 3-costate, costae glabrous, margin setose. Male inflorescence to ca. 2 m, branched to 2 or 3 orders, eflagellate. Female Inflorescence to ca. 2 m, eflagellate; prophyll and bracts tubular; rachillae to ca. 10 cm. Fruit whitish or yellowish brown, globose to ovoid, 21.7–30.5 mm long, 10.8–27.7 mm diameter; fruiting perianth tubular, stalked, scales grooved. Seeds c. 2.2 X 1.4 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalayan, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 600–700 m
Flowering: March–April Fruiting: December-January
Ecology: Beside streams in subtropical forest.
5. Calamus tenuis Roxb., Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 3: 780 (1832).
पानी बेत Panee Bet (Nepali)
Climbing shrubs to 20 m. Stems slender (1–1.2 cm diameter), clustered. Leaf sheaths flagellate, with a few short spines, spines 3–5 mm, with decurrent bases, ocreas 3 mm, papery, flagella slender, 0.7–1.5 m long, 2–3 mm wide. Petiole 15–20 cm, spiny, knee prominent. Leaves 0.8–1 m, ecirrate with 27–30 leaflets on each side of rachis, deflexed spine on underside of rachis, leaflets 15–25 X 1–1.2 cm, costae sparsely setose, setae dark at base, 3–5 mm, margins setose at acuminate apex. Male inflorescence to ca. 1.5 m, branched to 2 or 3 orders, eflagellate; prophyll spiny, rachillae 6–12. Female inflorescence to ca. 1 m, branched to 2 orders, eflagellate; prophylls up to ca. 20 cm, tubular, covered with deflexed spines; peduncular bracts spiny, tubular, funnel-shaped; partial inflorescence distant, 8–15 cm; rachillae alternate, 6–15 on each partial inflorescence, 4–6 cm; bracts funnel-shaped, ca. 1 cm; calyx ca. 3 mm, persistent in fruit. Fruit pale yellowish-brown, globose, 1.2 X 1 cm, beaked. Seeds 1 X 0.8 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–600 m
Flowering: January Fruiting: June
Ecology: Moist, swampy areas in subtropical forest.
Fruit edible (VL Gurung et al. 376/76). Stems are used to make baskets and furniture (Plant and People of Nepal: Manandhar, 2002).
6. Calamus melanochaetes (Blume) Miq., Verh. Kon. Akad. Wetensch., Afd. Natuurk. 11(5): 28 (1868).
Daemonorops melanochaetes Blume, J.J. Roemer & J.A. Schulters, Syst. Veg., ed. 15
(bis.). 7:1333 (1830); Calamus jenkinsianus Griff; Daemonorops jenkinsiana (Griff) Mart.
Climbing Shrubs to 25 m. Stems ca. 2 cm wide, clustered. Leaf sheaths eflagellate, spiny, covered with black, flattened, triangular spines (to ca. 4 cm) and smaller bristle-like spines, Ocrea obscure. Petiole 15–20 cm, stout, flat, spiny, knee conspicuous. Leaves to 3 m, cirrate, cirrus to 1.5 m; leaflets up to 100 on each side of rachis, alternate, dense, up to ca. 22 X 1.4 cm, apex acuminate, margins setulose throughout, midrib prominent, setae to ca. 6 mm on upper surface of midrib and lateral costae. Male inflorescence to ca. 60 cm, branched to 4 orders, eflagellate, prophyll spiny, rachillae several, ascending. Female inflorescence to c 40 cm, branched to 2 orders; prophyll large, spiny, boat shaped; rachis bracts 20–40 cm, unarmed; partial inflorescence 5 or 6, 12–15 cm, rachillae 15–20 on each partial inflorescence, 5–10 cm, zigzag, rachilla bract tubular. Fruit yellowish brown, globose to ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 X 1 cm, corolla lobes 3, persistent, 3–4 mm, stigmas 3, persistent. Seeds 1.4 X 0.8 cm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 100–200 m
Flowering: January Fruiting: March–April
Ecology: In moist, deciduous sal forest.
The specimen of SM Amatya et al. s.n., was misidentified as Plectocomia himalayana by GD Bhatt (2010), KR Rajbhandari and SK Rai (2017) and KK Shrestha et al. (2022).