Calamus warburgii

Description

A climbing palm with many thorns. It forms large clumps. The stems are 35 m long and 2.5 cm wide. The leaves are 2.6 m long. The leaves climb upwards but arch over. The leaves have 80-100 shiny-green leaflets. The leaflets are 25 cm long and 2 cm wide. The leaf sheath has spines about 5 cm long. The leaflets are limp and regularly spaced. They taper towards the tip. There are 4 m long stalks at the ends of many leaves which helps the plant climb.

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.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is very frost sensitive. They need a well-drained soil. Seedlings need to be in the shade. In northern Australia it grows from sea level to 400 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Solomon Islands,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The seed germinate in 3-4 months. Seed need to be sown fresh. Seedlings are difficult to transplant.

Propagation

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

Other Uses

The stems are used for making the framework of baskets. 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.

References (10)

• Baker, W.J. and Dransfield, J., 2006, Field Guide to Palms of New Guinea. Kew p 42
• Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 405
• French, B.R., 2010, Food Plants of Solomon Islands. A Compendium. Food Plants International Inc. p 278
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 48
• Jones, D.L., 1994, Palms throughout the World. Smithtonian Institution, Washington. p 158

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