Calamus latifolius

Calamus latifolius is a climbing plant, part of a subfamily, Calamoideae, whose members are usually called rattans in English, they are part of the Arecaceae, or palm, family.

Description

A climbing palm. The leaves are made up of leaflets. These leaves are 2.4-3.6 m long. There is a long spiny tendril at the top. The tendril which clings onto objects has spines. The male and female flowers are on separate plants. The fruit is a round one seeded fruit with a hard stone. It is about 1.5 cm across. It is shiny and brownish-yellow. The seeds have irregular wrinkles.

Edible Uses

The young shoot tips, stem pith (cooked), leaf bases (eaten raw or boiled in curries), and fruit are all edible.

Traditional Uses

The young top of the shoot can be eaten. The pith of the stem is cooked and eaten. The leaf base can be eaten raw or boiled in curries. The fruit can be eaten.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen tropical forest.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bangladesh, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand,

Cultivation

Most species in this genus are more or less vigorous climbing plants in rainforests. Leaves of young plants are normally damaged if exposed to too much light, though leaves of older plants will usually tolerate full sun. In general, plants 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. Many of the species require fairly moist conditions for good growth, in fact several of them grow in wet soils or in areas with seasonal inundation - where we have the information it will be included under the plant’s habitat. Overhead shade should be manipulated at about 6-monthly intervals for the first 2 - 3 years of a young plant’s life to ensure they receive sufficient light to grow vigorously. About 40 - 50% light penetration is generally considered to be ideal for promoting stem growth. Little care is needed once the seedlings are established. It is important, however, to weed the area surrounding the seedlings occasionally until the plants are more than 2 metres tall. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagation

Seed - it has a fairly short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Other Uses

The whole stems are used for the production of baskets, walking-sticks, and furniture frames. The split canes are used for weaving chair bottoms. The long and slender stems of Calamus species 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

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia.

Also Known As

Budum bet, Chiingmalngat, Kerak bet, Lee-ren, Rhekre bet, Ruabu, Taichiing, Takat, Ya-ma-htar-kyein, Yamata-kyein

References (8)

• Gangte, H. E., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plants used by the Zou Tribe in Manipur, India. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 5
• Guite, C., 2016, A study of wild edible plants associated with the Paite tribe of Manipur, India, International Journal of Current Research. Vol. 8, Issue, 11, pp. 40927-40932
• Jacquat, C., 1990, Plants from the Markets of Thailand. D.K. Book House p 108
• McMakin, P.D., 2000, Flowering Plants of Thailand. A Field Guide. White Lotus. p 58
• Meitei, L. R., et al, 2022, An ethnobotanical study on the wild edible plants used by forest dwellers in Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, Manipur, India. Ethnobotany Research and Application 23:15

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