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Calamus spp. - Various

Common Name Rattan Palm
Family Arecaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats
Range Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Australia
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Calamus spp. Rattan Palm


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Calamus spp. Rattan Palm
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Summary

A high-value product for shady understory especially in multilayered tropical agroforestry systems. There are about 400 species in this genus, all native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Australia. They are mostly leaf-climbing lianas with slender, reedy stems used for basketry, furniture, mats, clothing, buildings.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Calamus spp. is an evergreen Perennial growing to 50 m (164ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Many. See individual species.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Some species are edible. Check the individual plant. For example Calamus rotang has edible Shoots and Fruit. Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[ 317 ]. Fruit - raw[ 2 ]. When ripe the fruit is roundish, as large as a hazelnut and is covered with small, shining scales, laid like shingles, one upon the other. The subacid pulp which surrounds the kernel is sucked out and eaten as a means of quenching the thirst[ 2 ]. Sometimes the fruit is pickled with salt and eaten at tea-time[ 2 ]. The globose fruits are about 13mm in diameter.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


In some species the The wood is vermifuge[ 240 ]. The leaves are used in the treatment of biliousness and diseases of the blood[ 240 ]. The root is used in the treatment of chronic fevers and as an antidote to snake venom[ 240 ]. See the individual plant entries.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Other Uses: This is the species which yields the best Rattan Cane of commerce. Other species are, however, used as substitutes. It is split into strips and plaited or woven into baskets, chairs, sofas, and carriages. It is twisted into ropes, or stretched entire across rivers, as the main supports of indigenous suspension bridges[ 387 ]. The core of the cane is made into furniture, basketry etc[ 317 ]. The skin peel is used for weaving of chair seats and bags[ 317 ]. Carbon Farming Solutions - Other Systems: multistrata.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Coppice  Other Systems: Multistrata  Regional Crop

Climate: Tropical. Humidity: Humid. There are an estimated 400 species in this genus, all native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Australia. They are mostly leaf-climbing lianas with slender, reedy stems. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: coppice (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1]. .

Carbon Farming

  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Other Systems: Multistrata  Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

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 their stems able to grow up to the light. They are also likely to grow best in a humus-rich soil[ K ]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Calamus species. Rattan, Rotang, Rattan Cane, Bet, Chachi bet, Heart, Pemu, Perambu, Raigong, Tingdon, Vetasa, Vetra, Rotan Rays. Radial Leaf Rotan,

Native Range

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Acorus calamusSweet Flag - CalamusPerennial1.0 4-11 MLMHNWeWa344
Calamus caesiusRotan SegaClimber100.0 10-12 FLMHSNM204
Calamus mananRotan ManauClimber100.0 10-12 FLMHSNM004
Calamus ovoideusEgg-shaped Rattan. Rotan OvoidClimber70.0 10-12 FLMHSNM204
Calamus radiatusRotan Rays. Radial Leaf RotanClimber50.0 11-12 FLMHSNM004
Calamus rotangRattan, Rotang, Rattan CaneClimber25.0 11-12 FLMHSNM224
Dendrocalamus asperGiant Bamboo, Dragon bamboo, Sweet bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHNM403
Dendrocalamus brandesiiVelvet Leaf Bamboo, Clumping BambooBamboo25.0 9-10 FLMHNM304
Dendrocalamus giganteusGiant Bamboo, Bhalu bans, Dhungre bansBamboo30.0 9-12 FLMHSNM214
Dendrocalamus hamiltoniiTama Bamboo. Tufted bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHSNM303
Dendrocalamus hookeriBhalu bans, Bhutan Green BambooBamboo20.0 10-12 FLMHSNM203
Dendrocalamus latiflorusSweet Bamboo, Sweet bamboo shoot, Taiwan giant bambooBamboo20.0 10-12 FLMHNM402
Dendrocalamus membranaceusWhite bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHSNDM304
Dendrocalamus strictusMale Bamboo. Calcutta Stricta or BambooBamboo15.0 9-12 FLMHSNDM313
Himalayacalamus asper Bamboo6.0 - FLMHSNM002
Himalayacalamus brevinodus Bamboo9.0 - FLMHSNM202
Himalayacalamus cupreus Bamboo6.0 - FLMHSNM302
Himalayacalamus falconeri Bamboo6.0 7-10 SLMHSNM302
Himalayacalamus fimbriatus Bamboo6.0 - FLMHSNM102
Himalayacalamus hookerianusPadangBamboo9.0 7-10 FLMHSNM203
Indocalamus latifolius Bamboo1.0 7-10  LMHSM001
Thamnocalamus aristatus Bamboo6.0 5-9  LMHSNM203
Thamnocalamus spathaceusUmbrella BambooBamboo4.0 5-9  LMHFSNM002
Thamnocalamus spathiflorus Bamboo6.0 5-9  LMHSNM203
Thamnocalamus tessellatusBergbamboesBamboo3.5 -  LMHSNDM002

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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