Calamus rotang
| rotang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Calamoideae |
| Tribe: | Calameae |
| Genus: | Calamus |
| Species: | C. rotang |
| Binomial name | |
| Calamus rotang L. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Calamus rotang aka rotang is a plant species native to India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Burma). It one of the scandent rattan palms used for Malacca cane in the making of furniture, baskets, walking-sticks, umbrellas, tables and general wickerwork, and is found in Southwest Asia. The basal section of the plant grows vertically for 10 metres or so, after which the slender, tough stem of a few centimetres in diameter, grows horizontally for 200 metres or more. It is extremely flexible and uniform in thickness, and frequently has sheaths and petioles armed with backward-facing spines which enable it to scramble over other plants. It has pinnate, alternate leaves, 60–80 cm long, armed with two rows of spines on the upper face.[2]
The plants are dioecious, and flowers are clustered in attractive inflorescences, enclosed by spiny spathes. The edible fruits are top-shaped, covered in shiny, reddish-brown imbricate scales, and exude an astringent red resin known medicinally and commercially as "Dragon's blood".[3]
The canes are sought-after and expensive, but have to a large extent been replaced by sticks made from plants, such as bamboos, rushes and osier willows.[4]
References
External links
- The rattan palm by Anna Guglielmo, Pietro Pavone and Cristina Salmeri
- Carl Ludwig Blume's Rumphia vol.3 with numerous plates of rattan palms
_with_fruits_(7844049166).jpg)