0573.000 Calamus L.

Dransfield, J. (2010) Arecaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2)

Fayaz, F. (2011) Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants Firefly Books, New Zealand

Mbandu Luzolawo, P., Lubini Ayingweu, C, Mogue Kamga, S. & Stauffer, F.W. (2020) Palmae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique

Description of the genus

Palms, usually scandent, sometimes erect; dioecious, solitary or in small clumps; usually with very long stems. Leaves pinnate 1(-9) divided into numerous segments; rhachis often with sharp hooked spines; leaf sheath usually very prickly. Inflorescence axillary, much-branched; armed often with a sterile, whip-like prolongation; flowers usually arranged in 2 ranks; bracts many, persistent. Flowers minute. Fruit usually solitary, sometimes 2 or 3; globose or ellipsoid; covered in scales.

Worldwide: 381 species in tropical Africa and tropical and sub-tropical Asia and SW pacific.

DRC: 1 taxon.

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SpeciesBotanical divisionsContent
deerratus G. Mann & H. Wendl.III,IV,VI,VII,IX,XI

Other sources of information about Calamus:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Calamus
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Calamus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Calamus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Calamus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Calamus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Calamus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Calamus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Calamus
JSTOR Plant Science: Calamus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Calamus
Plants of the World Online: Calamus
Tropicos: Calamus
Wikipedia: Calamus

Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-26

The DRC flora team (2026). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Genus page: Calamus.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=1912, retrieved 20 March 2026

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