Calamus zieckii Fernando, 2014

Calamus zieckii Fernando , sp. nov.

Type:— INDONESIA. Papua Province: Timika, East Levee by drowned forest, 5 km S of Kpg Kali Kopi , 20 m, 18 February 1998, Baker 852 (holotype K! , isotypes BO! , L ).

An unusual species in sect. Podocephalus, distinct in the leaflets, which are arranged singly or in divaricate pairs, rarely in groups of up to 6 along the rachis, the brownish indumentum on the abaxial surface, and the absence of bristles on either side of the leaflets.

Clustering, moderately robust rattan, climbing to 25–30 m; stem with sheaths to 2–4 cm diameter, without sheaths to 1–1.5 cm diameter; internodes to 20–27 cm long. Leaf sheaths green, with grayish indumentum and numerous collars of slender, usually brownish acicular spines to 1.5 cm long, those at the mouth of the leaf sheath longer, to 5 cm; knee conspicuous and with prominent bulge, pale green, generally smooth and unarmed, except towards the edges; ocrea inconspicuous. Leaf cirrate, 2–3.5 m long, including petiole 3–5(–15) cm and cirrus 0.8–1.5 m; petiole to 2 cm wide, smooth above, but armed with short spines along the edges and on the abaxial, convex side; rachis 0.6–1.7 cm wide, narrowing towards the apex; leaflets 15–38 on each side of the rachis, usually arranged singly or in divaricate pairs, sometimes in 3’s or rarely up to 6 leaflets per group, spaced 7–10 cm apart, linearlanceolate, glabrous, with very short spiculae along the margins, drying grayish-green above, and with brownish indumentum on the abaxial surface; proximal leaflets 17–23 × 0.6–0.8 cm; mid-lamina leaflets 25–33 × 2–2.8 cm; apical leaflets 23 × 2 cm. Staminate inflorescence to 2 m long, branching to 3 orders, partial inflorescence (first order branches) up to 17–20; prophyll not known; primary bracts tubular, generally smooth, 10 × 0.7 cm, with a short limb; partial inflorescence 40–48 cm long, with 18 second-order branches; each second-order branch to 13 cm long, bearing up to 40 rachillae; rachilla to 1.5 cm long, gradually decreasing in length distally; all subtending bracts generally smooth, covered with peltate, lacerate brown scales. Staminate flower ovoid in bud, 2 × 1 mm; calyx tubular with 3 lobes, corolla lobes usually narrower than the sepals; stamens 6, filament short; pistillode minute. Pistillate inflorescence as the staminate but generally shorter, 1–1.3 m long, branched to 2 orders, with up to 10–11 partial inflorescences, each to 25 cm long, bearing to 10 rachillae on each side of the axis; rachilla to 3.5 cm long, gradually decreasing in length distally. Pistillate flower not known. Fruit globose or oblongoid, yellowish-orange, 6–8 × 5–6 mm, with up to 13–15 vertical rows of scales, lightly furrowed along the centre, the stigmatic remains prominent; seed plano-convex, the surface smooth, endosperm homogenous. ( Figure 3 View FIGURE 3 ).

Distribution and habitat: — Indonesia (West Papua and Papua Provinces) and Papua New Guinea (Manus, West Sepik, Western, Gulf, and Milne Bay Provinces). In swamp forest and lowland forests on alluvium near river margins.

Local names and uses: — seato ( Papua New Guinea, Western Province, Kala Village).

Etymology: —This species is named for J.F.U. Zieck of the Department of Forests, Papua New Guinea, the first known collector of this species and of many interesting rattans from Papua New Guinea.

Additional specimens examined: — INDONESIA. West Papua Province: Western Sorong, Makbalim village , 55 m, 01 July 1997, Maturbongs 541 ( K) , 30 m, 01 July 1997, Maturbongs 544 ( K) ; Kota Sorong, Klasaman km 14, Klasagan , 40 m, Baker 1393 ( BO!, K, L) ; Intimpura logging area, Klasaman km 27, 125 m , 20 September 1995, Maturbongs 291 ( K, L) , Klasaman km 24 , 18 September 1995, Maturbongs 288 ( K). Papua Province: Timika, East Levee by drowned forest, 5 km S of Kpg Kali Kopi , 20 m, 10 February 1998, Baker 829 ( BO!, K) ; Nabire, Wangar , 09 February 2001, Maturbongs 674 ( BO!, K) . PAPUA NEW GUINEA. West Sepik Province: Vanimo Subprovince, Blackwater creek logging area , 70–80 m, 11 September 1982, Kerenga LAE 56457 ( K, L) ; Krisa village, Klappa 152 ( K) . Manus Island: 1989, Mente 15 (K), Mente 20 (K), Mente 22 ( K) . Western Province: Balimo, Kala Village , 15 m, 13 December 1971, Zieck NGF 36301 ( BO!, K!, L!) . Gulf Province: logging camp on the Vailala River , 08–09 March 2000, Barfod et al. 479 ( K) ; Kikori River, 40 m, 19 November 2000, Baker et al. 109 3 ( K, L) . Milne Bay Province: Lawalawa, Alotau Subdistrict , Zieck NGF 36568 ( K) .

Notes. Calamus zieckii is a very distinct species in the Calamus erinaceus group of sect. Podocephalus with its leaflets arranged singly or in divaricate pairs (rarely in groups of up to 6) and the abaxial surface with brownish indumentum. Another species belonging to this rattan group that is common in New Guinea is Calamus warburgii K.Schum. ( Schumann & Lauterbach 1900: 203). This species, however, differs from Calamus zieckii , is much more robust with larger diameter sheathed stems, more densely armed with fine, needle-like spines, larger leaves, leaflets arranged regularly, and seeds that are oblong-ovoid and with pitted surface.