Calamus flabellatus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calamus flabellatus Becc.

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: rotan lilin, rotan berman
• Malaysia: rotan batu, wi takong (Iban, Sarawak), wi tautuk (Bidayuh, Sarawak).

Distribution

Widespread in Borneo. Local in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.

Uses

The canes are used for tying, binding and weaving.

Observations

A clustering, highclimbing, smalldiameter rattan. Stem without leafsheaths to 3 mm in diameter, with sheaths to 5 mm in diameter. The whole plant appearing dull green, with ecirrate leaves with few (14) pairs of leaflets, the lowermost pair reflexed across the stem. Locally common in lowland dipterocarp forests, rarely cultivated in Sarawak.

Selected sources

20, 21, 29, 43, 44.