Calamus nambariensis
Becc.
Danhang
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The New York Botanical Garden
Summary
Source: WikipediaCalamus nambariensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. It is found in Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Assam region of India and the Yunnan region of China. The natural habitat of Calamus nambariensis is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Description
A rattan. The stems are in clusters. It climbs to 30 m tall. It is 6 cm across. The leaf sheaths are green with light brown hairs. There are spines 4 cm long. The leafy stalk is 4 m long with 36-40 sword shaped leaflets on each side. These can be clustered. The middle ones are 40-55 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The fruit are white to yellowish brown and round or oval. They are 2.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide.
Edible Uses
The astringent seed is sometimes eaten as a substitute for the betel palm (Areca catechu). The following notes apply to the betel palm:- Seed - raw. The seed has mild narcotic properties, it is widely used in some areas of the tropics as a masticatory, being mixed with the leaves of a pepper plant (Piper betle), a gum and, often, lime. Betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids - these stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms. Although we have no specific information for this species, many members of this genus have potentially edible young shoots. Indeed, in Laos the shoots are considered to be a delicacy and over half the species growing there are said to be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The top 100cm of the plant is used. If the leaf sheaths are left in place until just before cooking then the shoot will remain fresh for up to one week.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It grows between 1300-1800 m altitude in Yunnan in China. It grows in subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forest.
Where It Grows
Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,
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 plant produces good quality stems that are used for making furniture and as a binding material. 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.
Notes
There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia.
Synonyms
References (2)
- Jin, Chen et al, 1999, Ethnobotanical studies on Wild Edible Fruits in Southern Yunnan: Folk Names: Nutritional Value and Uses. Economic Botany 53(1) pp 2-14 (As Calamus nambariensis Becc. var. xishuangbannaensis S. J. Prei et S. Y. Chen)
- Evans, T. D., et al, 2002, A Synopsis of the Rattans (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) of Laos and Neighbouring Parts of Indochina. Kew Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 1 (2002), pp. 1-84
