list of figures - Terry Sunderland

the palm hearts from ground-level (Yumoto et al., 1994; Tutin et al., 1994). In the
case of Eremospatha, the lack of spines on the sheath makes it possible for primates to
directly handle the individual stems without incurring the irritation of numerous
spines penetrating the skin. In this respect, there is a well-known preference amongst
primates for the consumption of palm hearts of species within this genus, rather than
for species with spiny sheaths, such as Laccosperma, Calamus and Oncocalamus
(Williamson et al., 1990; Moutsambouté et al., 1994; Idani et al., 1994; Yumoto et al.,
1994; Tutin et al., 1994).
Besides being predated by member of the endemic megafauna, the stem apex of some
palms in Africa is also colonised by a beetle larva, Rhynchophorous phoenicis
(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) 3 . This larva, also referred to as “spear borer”, is
particularly associated with the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and is a significant
problem in commercial plantations where heavy infestations can lead to the death of
the individual 4 (Opeke, 1997). The adult female lays its eggs in wounds or soft areas
of tissue, such as the stem apex. The eggs hatch after 4-7 days and the larva then bores
into the interior of the stem where it remains feeding for around 30 days, often causing
significant damage.
Although previously unrecorded, this larva is also known to attack rattan palms and an
individual of Oncocalamus mannii 5 collected in Equatorial Guinea was found to be
colonised by Rhyncophorous phoenicis. The colonisation of the slender terminal bud
of this individual was significant and would have severely affected the development of
the stem, if not directly leading to its death. The presence of this borer in rattans could
have potential implications for the establishment of intensively cultivated systems of
rattan in Africa.
4.2.2 Leaflet predation
Although the leaflets of most rattans are rather spiny they are, somewhat surprisingly,
consumed by local people, both for nutritional and medicinal purposes (see Appendix
3 A beetle of the same genus, Rhynchophorus schach, is a particular pest of rattans in SE Asia and has
caused significant damage to commercial plantings of Calamus manan and C. merrillii (Zakaria et al.,
1992).
4 When commercial plantations are felled, the palm heart of the oil palm is often found to be colonised
by these larvae. These are removed, roasted and sold at the roadside for human consumption.
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