Daemonorops jenkinsiana- a spiny, climbing Rattan Palm

[Eric in Orlando]

Daemonorops jenkinsiana is a type of Rattan Palm native from northeastern India to SE Asia, southern China and Taiwan where it grows in low mountainous rainforests. It forms thick clumps and the flexible stems get to 6cm in diameter and can climb 70-80 ft into the trees. The canes make are used to make a quality rattan.

This is a spiny spiny spiny palm. The stems, leaf petioles and the undersides of the leaves are armed with sharp spines. In addition the tips of older leaves develop cirrus, a whip-like modification armed with hooked spines. These hook on to surrounding vegetation or tree branches and aid the palm in climbing.

Our biggest specimen has grown about 25ft u tall so far and is climbing a Quercus virginiana. It is also flowering for the first time.

Here is the base of the clump;

2 of the vining stems about 25ft up into a tree

a zoom-in of one of the tall stems flowering

[Eric in Orlando]

closeup of the spines

a couple zoom-ins of a cirri, the spiny leaf structure that grabs the nearby vegetation that helps the palm climb

[edric]

Great photos Eric, just what I needed for Palmpedia, thanks, Ed

[Palmə häl′ik]

OhNo. Not happenin here.

I poked my finger just scrollin the phone!

[Trópico]

Very very cool Eric! Takes me back to Thailand.

[tjwalters]

Wow...that's one spiny palm! Does each leaf end in a cirri?

[Eric in Orlando]

Great photos Eric, just what I needed for Palmpedia, thanks, Ed

Ed, use whatever of the photos you would like !

[Eric in Orlando]

Wow...that's one spiny palm! Does each leaf end in a cirri?

On our specimens, they only have gotten the cirri once the stems got taller and out of the juvenile phase. None of the younger leaves have it. Which is good. We have a Calamus usiatatus and they get flagella when they are young. They easily hook into skin or clothers and are not easy to remove without ripping.

[Merlyn]

I was just looking through photos from my visit to Leu Gardens in November, and couldn't read the sign on this palm.  It's in the "Tropical Stream Garden" area.  I *think* it says Daemonorops Jenkinsiana, and it seems to look in about the same spot as a photo on Palmpedia.  Is this the right plant?  If so, how do they handle the cold at Leu? 

Edited January 17, 2019 by Merlyn2220

[Eric in Orlando]

On 1/16/2019 at 11:00 PM, Merlyn2220 said:

I was just looking through photos from my visit to Leu Gardens in November, and couldn't read the sign on this palm.  It's in the "Tropical Stream Garden" area.  I *think* it says Daemonorops Jenkinsiana, and it seems to look in about the same spot as a photo on Palmpedia.  Is this the right plant?  If so, how do they handle the cold at Leu? 

yes, that is Daemonorops jenkinsiana. It is one of the hardier climbers. has tolerated down to 28F with minor damage.

This palm is now known as Calamus jenkinsianus. The genus Daemonorops has recently been placed into Calamus.

[Pal Meir]

»Our garden collections include several highly ornamental plants, such as … D. Jenkinsianus …« (1871)