Calamus australis
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Calamus australis, commonly known as wait-a-while, hairy mary or lawyer cane, is a plant in the palm family Arecaceae which is endemic to the rainforests of north east Queensland, Australia. Like other species in the genus Calamus, this is a climbing plant with a very long and flexible stem. It uses sharp strong hooks on the fronds and tendrils to attach itself to other vegetation, such as taller established trees, thus gaining support that enables it to grow higher towards the canopy. This species is very similar to C. radicalis, with which it coexists, but is smaller in almost all respects. Sharp hooks on the plant can snag the clothing of walkers, giving rise to the name "wait-a-while".
Description
Stems may reach lengths of up to Template:Cvt and a diameter of Template:Cvt.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref The leaves (or fronds) are produced on the youngest part of the stem, and the older sections are bare as the leaves age and fall off (the same process as the more familiar upright palm with a stout stem). The older, leafless part of the stem of Calamus australis is smooth and glossy green.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
The leaves have a long leaf sheath clasping the stem, which is densely covered with needle-like spines measuring up to Template:Cvt long, but usually less. Tendrils, measuring several metres in length and armed with many stout, recurved barbs are produced from the leaf sheath. The leaf itself is pinnate, up to Template:Cvt in length, and has around 20 to 25 pairs of leaflets.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref Leaves are armed with stout recurved barbs on the lower surfaces of the rachis.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref Unlike its very similar sister species C. radicalis, it does not have spines on the leaflets themselves. The overall outline of the leaf is elliptic and the longest leaflets are at the midpoint of the frond, measuring about Template:Cvt long by Template:Cvt wide.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
The inflorescences are pendulous panicles measuring up to Template:Cvt in length, carrying either staminate (functionally male) or pistillate (functionally female) flowers.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
Fruits are a white or cream drupe, around Template:Cvt diameter, with a scaly exterior.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref They contain a single spherical seed which is surrounded by a thin layer of soft edible flesh.
Taxonomy
Calamus australis was first described 1838 by the German botanist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius in volume 3 of his highly regarded work Historia naturalis palmarum.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
Distribution and habitat
This is the most widespread of the eight Australian species of Calamus.Template:R/ref It is endemic to tropical areas of Queensland, from the tip of Cape York Peninsula south to near Rockhampton on the Tropic of Capricorn, and from sea level to about Template:Cvt. It grows in gallery forest and well developed rainforest.Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
Ecology
Fruits of this species are eaten by fruit doves (genus Ptilinopus) and southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius).Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref
Conservation
This species is listed by Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation as least concern.Template:R/ref As of 10 December 2022[update]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Uses
Indigenous Australians had many uses for this plant and its sister species. The young shoots were eaten, along with the fruits.Template:R/ref The long flexible stem was used to make shelters, axe handles, fish traps, snares, and waist straps for climbing trees,Template:R/refTemplate:R/ref and the thorny tendrils were used to catch fish.Template:R/ref
Gallery
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Rachis with spines
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Fruit
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Foliage and stem
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Tendril
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Underside of leaf, showing barbs on rachis
References
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External links
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- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver
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- Calamus (palm)
- Endemic flora of Queensland
- Taxa named by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius
- Plants described in 1838
- Vines