Calamus brandisii
_with_fruits_(7844049166).jpg/800px-Rattan_Palm_(Calamus_rotang)_with_fruits_(7844049166).jpg)
Family: ARECACEAE/PALMAE
Malayalam Name(s): Kazhakhadan, Vallichooral
Habit: Climber
Flowering & Fruiting: October-May
Habitat: Evergreen forests
Description: Clustering small sized canes; stems to 4 m long, with sheath to 1.5 cm diam. without sheath, 0.6 cm; sheath pale green, densely armed with small spines and intermediate with large spines, to 2 cm long, flat, greenish-brown, inner sparsely brown-tomentose, knee conspicuous; ocrea short and bearing narrow spines; mouth of the sheath with long papery spines, to 8 cm long. Leaves to 60 cm long, greenish brown when dry; petiole to 10 cm long; armed with spines; spines to 2 cm long; leaflets alternate or subopposite, acuminate; tip and margins with small hairs, terminal pairs free at base; flagellum to 1 m long, armed with hooked spines. Male and female inflorescence up to 1 m long, carries 3 partial inflorescence to 20 cm long, arising above the mouth of the sheath. Rachillae 5-8 pairs, distichous, 3 cm long, involucrophorum not stalked, involucre cupular. Fruit 1 x 0.9 cm, sub-ovoid, scales 15 rows, broader than long, bordered with reddish brown line.