Calamus

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Calamus >



Read about Calamus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Calamus (Greek for reed). Palmaceae, tribe Lepidocarpae. A group of interesting, usually climbing pinnate palms of the Old World tropics, not much known to the trade although over thirty species are in the European catalogues.

Stems very slender, always more or less prickly, usually climbing and never bearing a terminal infl.: Ivs. alternate, pinnate, often ending in a terminal sometimes elongated cirrus, by which they are attached to their support; Ifts. narrow, with 1-5 nerves; If.-sheaths at first completely inclosing the internodes, sometimes split and open: spadix laterally attached at the summit of the If.-sheaths, often elongate and slender and frequently ending in a tail-like appendage (flagellum) which is thorny; spathes long and narrow, hardly if at all split, differing from Daemonorops which has a readily opening spathe; fls. dioecious, paniculate or branched 2 or 3 times; corolla coriaceous, longer than the calyx in male fls., as long as the calyx in the female: fr. globose, ovoid or ellipsoid, topped by a short permanent style.—There are more than 200 species, most of which inhabit India. See Beccari's excellent monograph Ann. Royal. Bot. Card. Calcutta 11, 1908.

Calamus is an easily grown group of palms, very ornamental, even in a young state. Some of the species have stems several hundred feet long, which enable them to unfold their leaves at the tops of the tallest trees. The leaves are peculiarly well adapted to assist the plant in climbing, having numerous hook-like processes arranged on a long continuation of the midrib of the leaf. When accommodations can be given, these plants should be selected, as their growth is rapid, and they are capable of furnishing a large conservatory quickly. Numerous suckers are produced, so that when the main stem ascends the lower part is clothed in foliage. Calamus tenuis (or C. Royleanus) and C. Rotang furnish the rattan canes. Malacca canes are furnished by C. Scipionum.—Young plants thrive best in a rooting medium containing a considerable quantity of leaf- mold. Older plants need soil of a more lasting nature; a quantity of ground bone and charcoal in the soil may be used to advantage. Old well-furnished plants need enormous quantities of water. All of them require stove temperature. (G. W. Oliver.)

C. Andreanum, Hort., Pill & Mitterb— (?).—C. calicarpus, Griff. — D aemonorops calicarpus, Mart.—C. dealbatus. Hort. — Acanthophoenix rubra, Wendl.—C. Lewisianus, Griff. — Daemonorops Lewisianus, Mart. N.Taylor.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


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