Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 50 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Singapore, Borneo, and Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a solitary, understorey, climbing palm, up to about 50 m long, which dies after flowering. Its numerous large, spreading, pinnate leaves along the climbing stem have drooping leaflets, and are covered with spines on the leaf sheath. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked, spreading leaves are up to 7 m long (including the mid-rib extension), pinnate with 45–70 linear-lance-shaped leaflets, usually grouped in 2’s to 7’s and fanned within the group, and irregularly arranged on each side of the rachis. The base of the rachis is deeply channeled on the upperside, and extends into a leaflet-less, barbed whip-tip, about 3 m long. The leaflets are about 60–75 by 8 cm, linear-lance-shaped, bluish-green above and dirty grey below, and tapering to the ends. The sheaths of the leaves are dull green, armed with oblique or horizontal rows of spines that are golden brown or deep reddish-brown, and each up to 4 cm long. |
| Flowers | Its inflorescences are produced in the axils of the top 7–10 nodes of the stem, up to about 80 cm long, and bearing about 12 closely packed, drooping branches that are up to 1 m long. The bracts are chestnut brown, with triangular tips, about 7 by 5 cm, and completely enclose up to 20 male flowers or 3–9 female flowers. |
| Fruit | Its dark, reddish-brown fruits are scaly and round, 1–3 cm in diameter, and arranged in clusters of up to 8 fruits in each bract. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland to highland rainforests, usually in wet and open areas. It occurs locally in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Lorong Gambas, and the Western Catchment area. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. Its fruits and seeds are probably eaten and dispersed by mammals. |
| Etymology | Greek plectos, plaited; Greek come, hair, referring to the plaited hair-like appearance of the inflorescence; Latin elongata, elongate, referring to the massive, long leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The stems are strong and used as canes in the manufacturing of the core of rattan chair legs and the baskets used by miners. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Reforestation |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
Foliar
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Red |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31276 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5672 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |