Calamus erectus Roxb.

Mehmud, Selim & Roy, Himu, 2021, Diversity and distribution of palms (Arecaceae) in Assam, India, Check List 17 (1), pp. 69-93 : 74

Calamus erectus Roxb.

Figure 2D, E

Diagnostic characters. Stems clustered, non climbing, erect, ca 4 m tall; petioles with linear spines, ca 4 cm long and arranged in whorls. Internodes ca 7 cm long, and 4–6 cm in diameter, green. Leaf pinnate, ecirriate, ca 3.5 m long; ocrea spiny. Leaflets 30–46 per side, lan- ceolate, 40–65 cm long, ca 3 cm wide, acuminate, veins 3 in numbers, terminal leaflets connate at base. Inflores- cence ca 1 m long, flagella absent; partial inflorescence up to 10 in number, 20–25 cm long; staminate rachillae 6–9 cm long; pistillate rachillae 10–15 cm long with dyad flowers. Fruits ellipsoid, brown, 3–3.5 cm long, scales in 12 vertical rows, grooved.

Flowering and fruiting. July to December.

Distribution. Cachar, Dima Hasao and East Karbi Anglong districts; prefers shaded areas.

Vernacular names. Jeng Bet (Assamese).

Uses. As handle for knives (stem).

Material examined. INDIA • Meghalaya, Pynursla ; 25°10′51.10″N, 091°53′34.27″E; 30 Mar. 2012; Ramesh Kumar & party leg.; ASSAM 91796 . • NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency), Subansiri, New Head Quarters ; alt. 241 m; 26 Sep. 1959; G. Panigrahi leg.; ASSAM 20108 . • 1 ♂; Assam, Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills), Kalioni Re- serve Forest ; 06 Feb. 1977; S. K. Borthakur leg.; ASSAM 76680 . • 1♀, 80 cm, F; Assam, Cachar, Bhuban Hill ; 24°38′54.3″N, 092°53′43.4.7″ E; alt. 1 m; 09 Nov. 2018; S. Mehmud leg.; CH, ASSAM 96217 . • 1 ♂; same collection data as per preceding; S. Mehmud leg.; CH .