Daemonorops fissa
Blume
Kotok rattan
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Description
A cane or rattan. It forms clumps. The stems can be 30 m long and 3-4 cm wide. The sheaths have spines. The leaves are 2 m long. There are several leaflets that are regularly arranged. The flowering shoots are erect and male and female flowers do not have stalks. The shoots are 50-55 cm long. The fruit are round to oval and 1.3-1.4 cm across.
Edible Uses
The fruit, palm heart, and pith are edible; the pith is commonly eaten by children and the plant is sold in local markets.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in disturbed sites and swampy areas. It grows up to 800 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia,
Cultivation
A plant of the moist lowland tropics. Most species in this genus are more or less vigorous climbing plants in rainforests. In general, they are likely to grow best with their roots in the shade but with enough gap in the canopy to encourage their stems to grow up towards the light. They are also likely to grow best in a humus-rich soil. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Other Uses
The cane is used for basketry etc. The stems are used for mats. Of rather poor quality, it is used locally only. The long and slender stems of rattan are put to various uses according to their size, length, flexibility, elasticity and toughness. The most slender canes are employed entire for binding purposes, and in making chairs, blinds, mats, wicker or basketwork, fishing implements, etc. Twisted together, they make very strong cables. The largest and more resistent canes are used entire as cables, the framework of wicker chairs etc. Usually, however, for many purposes the stems are split throughout their length into 2 - 4 or more strips from which the inner soft brittle and spongy portion is removed by means of a knife or same other instrument, so as to leave the external portion, which is hard, tough, flexible, elastic and has its outer surface very clean and smooth as if it had been varnished. Strips vary in width according to the use to which they are to be put. Those for delicate work, such as the network of furniture, small bags, hats, etc, are from 1 - 3mm wide; those employed as lashings in native housebuilding or in fastening the removable head of the Malay axe to its handle are from 5-6 mm wide. Collecting and preparing the stems is very simple. The stem is cut near the ground and detached from the trees by taking a strong hold of its base and thus pulling down the entire plant with its leaves. The most recent growth at the top of the plant is removed and then, handling it from the upper end, the stem is forcibly drawn in the opposite direction between two pieces of wood, thus removing the spiny coverings. It is then cut into lengths of about 5 metres, each piece is bent into two equal parts and the stems are fastened into bundles ready for market. The most valued stems are not thicker than a man's little finger and have a fine polished straw-yellow glassy surface.
Other Information
The pith is often eaten by children. It is sold in local markets.
Notes
There are 115 Daemonorops species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Rotan kotok, Rotan sambirangan, Wi rua ai
References (5)
- Chai, P. P. K. (Ed), et al, 2000, A checklist of Flora, Fauna, Food and Medicinal Plants. Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Forestry Malaysia & ITTO. p 163
- Haynes, J., & McLaughlin, J., 2000, Edible palms and Their Uses. University of Florida Fact sheet MCDE-00-50-1 p 5
- Hoare, A., 2003, Food use of the Lundayeh SW Sabah. Borneo Research Council.
- Johnson, D.V., 1998, Tropical palms. Non-wood Forest products 10. FAO Rome. p 18
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 775
