Calamus caryotoides

[rozpalm]

I know that Calamus caryotoides is a palm not too many people grow due to its unruly growth habits. I have one that I have been training for about 2 years now to climb the trunk of a queen palm. The longest trunk/branch is about 15' I would guess. It was really slow in the beginning and then in the last year it has taken off and is growing like crazy. This is a pretty nasty little palm with lots of tentacles that can snag your cloths or tear your skin very easily. It also seems to grow in about every direction and will naturally climb anything in its path. This year is the first time it has set seed. Its a pretty cool sight. BTW, these seeds are as nasty as the tentacles. Anyone else is growing this palm? Post some pics if you are.

[DoomsDave]

What is that magnificent white trunk?

(Not to be, like Nazi, or nothing . . . )

[Tyrone]

That is so cool. Yours is very happy. I love Calamus. I have one Calamus that was given to me as caryotoides, but they said it came from NSW so if that is the case it's C meulleri. However if for some reason it turns out to be caryotoides even better. I love this genus. I have a heap of Calamus moti at the moment. None have started trailing yet. But I just love these climbing spiny palms. I find them captivating. Sometimes literally.

If I get some time I'll take some pictures. I would be extremely proud to have a C caryotoiders growing like that in my garden. It makes the "Stick to the paths" request more binding.

Best regards

Tyrone

[rozpalm]

Dave, that magnificent white trunk is that of the ubiquitous Queen Palm. Godwin's law is an amazing thing.

Tyrone, I love the spiney palms and I have lots of them in the garden. I love this palm becuase of its unusual growth habit for a palm. BTW, if you crack the stem, it will send a new shoot out of the crack, so you can get it to grow in thicker. I found this out by accident.

[Tyrone]

BTW, if you crack the stem, it will send a new shoot out of the crack, so you can get it to grow in thicker. I found this out by accident.

Wow that's weird.

Best regards

tyrone

[tropicbreeze]

I've done a lot of walking in areas with Calamus. Not nice to get tangled up in. But if they ever bred a "spineless" one it'd be the first plant on my wanted list. They look great ........ at a distance.

[Jeff Searle]

Ron,

I'm not sure on the sex of the flower in question, but without the other, there won't be any seeds. Males and females are required.

[rozpalm]

Ron,

I'm not sure on the sex of the flower in question, but without the other, there won't be any seeds. Males and females are required.

Thanks for the info Jeff. I just assumed they were monecious.

[Tyrone]

Ron,

I'm not sure on the sex of the flower in question, but without the other, there won't be any seeds. Males and females are required.

I didn't know that either. Well I'm just going to have to plant a ton of them then.

[Alberto]

It´s a long time I´m seeking for seeds of this palm. Don´t remember if it has been offered on RPS or other site?

I have a Plectocomia himalayana and would like to have another hardy rattan species. Who knows where to obtain seeds?

Maybe somebody has seeds to swap?

[Mandrew968]

Plectocomia is dioecious too; How many do you have, Alberto? Caryotoides can also be divided, so seed in not always required(rhapis)for cultivating.

[Alberto]

Plectocomia is dioecious too; How many do you have, Alberto? Caryotoides can also be divided, so seed in not always required(rhapis)for cultivating.

I have only one Plectocomia....

[Mandrew968]

These palms are also monocarpic(Plectocomias), so they don't live very long...

[Alberto]

These palms are also monocarpic(Plectocomias), so they don't live very long...

My Plectocomia is branching. Will all the branches flower at the same time?

Calamus caryotoides cultivated in Australia?

[Tyrone]

These palms are also monocarpic(Plectocomias), so they don't live very long...

My Plectocomia is branching. Will all the branches flower at the same time?

Calamus caryotoides cultivated in Australia?

Most palm people you mention Calamus too in Australia just shudder or laugh. I love them. I'm growing a few Calamus moti which are fantastic plants. The only places I've seen C caryotoides in Oz apart from habitat is in the Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane. I think they're a great palm.

Best regards

Tyrone

[aussiearoids]

This sp. grows around here , but is not often seen .

Been meaning to post this pic for ages , it was taken on a trip to Murray Falls,

It's a special spot near Tully with a great camping ground .

I know someone who has a large clump that was easily accesible but it may have been damaged in Yasi . I am visiting her neighbour soon and will check up ,on it .

[Alberto]

Yasi was a killer but it could be worser.....

Fortunately we don´t have hurricanes here...with exception of one (the first one some years ago.)

´´Catarina´´

[Tropicgardener]

In my previous garden I had a large Calamus australis, along with Calamus caryotoides, Calamus muelleri, Calamus moti, Calamus radicalis and Calamus hollrungii (which apparently now is lumped in with Calamus viminalis).........occasionally I would find myself in a bit of a tangle but nothing like I have been when bushwalking in north Qld and southern Qld........currently the only one I have is Calamus muelleri.

[Mr Cycad]

I think this genus is awesome too.

This particular species, as well as a couple more, grow wild at my place. Quite easy to grow from seed (I've grown a fewto make a natural fence up the front).

Interesting enough, from my observations, they are pollinated by flies.

[Eric in Orlando]

Very nice !! We are growing it here, its proven to be one of the hardier species.

[Alberto]

In my previous garden I had a large Calamus australis, along with Calamus caryotoides, Calamus muelleri, Calamus moti, Calamus radicalis and Calamus hollrungii (which apparently now is lumped in with Calamus viminalis).........occasionally I would find myself in a bit of a tangle but nothing like I have been when bushwalking in north Qld and southern Qld........currently the only one I have is Calamus muelleri.

Is Calamus radicalis the only hardier one?

Are there species that grow at the border or also in NSW?

[Mandrew968]

I hear Calamus diepenhorstii is hardy; we will see how she fairs come this winter, in Miami

[Alberto]

According RPS site: ´´ Calamus diepenhorstii

Bitter Rattan

A moderately large, clustering and variable rattan, widespread in lowland rainforests on Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and in the Philippines below 800 m (2600 ft.´´.....

This doesn´t sound a ´´cold provenance´´.....

[Tyrone]

Calamus muelleri grows in NSW and the border region with QLD. I would consider that species hardy but not to frost of course. I believe I have one. (It was given to me by Jason Cox who said it was C caryotoides but he said it came from NSW, so I'm assuming that it's actually C meulleri) It's still young, but in it's earlier days I gave it hot humid conditions that made C moti thrive and it languished. I moved it into my shadehouse which is humid but much cooler and it seems much happier and has grown in there.

Best regards

Tyrone

[ron@springhammock]

Calamus caryotoides is fairly hardy with no visible damage down to at least -4C (25F) with the exception of the growing point which is sensitive to frost. I frequently find canes that stop growing because of a dead growing point, but the canes themselves can last for years after looking perfectly healthy. Most canes do fine and continue to grow even with yearly freezes. I've never seen any kind of freeze or frost damage on the leaves themselves.

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

One nice thing about Calamus is that, if you get too tired of the spines, etc., is just put on your Leather Body Suit (and face mask) go out and cut them down, strip them and make furniture out of them. It really works!

Or, use the stems for flogging . . . .

[Tropicgardener]

In my previous garden I had a large Calamus australis, along with Calamus caryotoides, Calamus muelleri, Calamus moti, Calamus radicalis and Calamus hollrungii (which apparently now is lumped in with Calamus viminalis).........occasionally I would find myself in a bit of a tangle but nothing like I have been when bushwalking in north Qld and southern Qld........currently the only one I have is Calamus muelleri.

Is Calamus radicalis the only hardier one?

Are there species that grow at the border or also in NSW?

Calamus radicalis is probably one of the most vicious species not sure on cold hardiness....as mentioned Calamus muelleri has its range extending into northern NSW. When I was living in Nowra in southern NSW (temperate) I had Calamus australis and Calamus moti growing without any problems. Most Australian Calamus occur at reasonably high altitude so can adapt to cooler temperate conditions.