Calamus acanthospathus

Calamus acanthospathus is a species of flowering plant in the palm family Arecaceae.

Description

A climbing palm or rattan. It can have a single stem or be in small clusters. It climbs 30 m long and in 2-5 cm wide. The leaf sheath is green with brown hairs. It has flattened spines 1 cm long. The leaf stalk is 1.4 m long with 8-15 leaflets on each side. The middle ones are 18-30 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. The fruit are yellowish brown and oval. They are 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.

Edible Uses

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 ripe fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

It is used in medicine.

Distribution

A tropical plant. In Indochina it grows between about 1,500 - 1,800 m altitude. It is in evergreen forest. In southern China is grows in lowland forests between 800-2,400 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Tibet, 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 thinner stems are used in basketry and furniture making, whilst larger stems are used for building traditional bridges. 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.

Notes

There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia. It is used in medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Blong eur, B-nyu-mu, Gauri bel, Gouri bet, Mit-perh, Rhu, Rie, Wai hawm, Wai hom, Wai tia

References (9)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 95
• Cheng, Z., et al, 2022, Ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants used by Dulong people in northwestern Yunnan, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2022) 18:3
• 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
• Kar, A., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plant Resources used by the Mizos of Mizoram, India. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology. Vol. 9, No. 1, July, 2013, 106-126
• Li, S., et al, 2020, Monpa, memory, and change: an ethnobotanical study of plant use in Mêdog County, South-east Tibet, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. (2020) 16:5 p 16

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