Calamus manan (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Calamus manan Miquel
- Protologue: J. Bot. Néerl. 1: 23 (1861).
- Family: Palmae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Synonyms
Calamus giganteus Becc. (1893).
Vernacular names
- Rotan manau (general throughout the region and trade)
- Malaysia: rotan manau telur (Peninsular).
Origin and geographic distribution
C. manan is widespread, usually confined to the steep slopes of hill dipterocarp forest, occurring in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and southern Borneo.
Uses
C. manan is the most sought after largediameter cane. It is the premier large furniture cane of unsurpassed quality.
Production and international trade
Because of its premier quality, C. manan is collected for trading wherever it is found. No production and trade figures are available. Due to overexploitation, this species is facing depletion, and several largediameter species that produce canes of similar appearance and lower quality are now used as substitutes.
Properties
Calamus manan is variable in size and colouration. It has a durable cane of great strength and flexibility and is used mainly as the framework of furniture.
Description
Solitary, massive, high climbing, dioecious rattan with stems eventually reaching over 100 m. Stem without leafsheaths to 80 mm in diameter, with sheaths to 110 mm in diameter; internodes to 40 cm long. Leaf to 8 m long including sheath; leafsheath dull greygreen, densely armed with black hairy edged triangular spines arranged in lateral groups or scattered; between spines thin white wax abundant; petiole short, to 12 cm long by 5 cm wide in mature plants, much longer in juveniles, armed densely as is the rachis with short triangular spines both on the upper surface and beneath, with scattered grey indumentum between; rachis to 15 cm long, bearing scattered reflexed spines on the lower surface, distally the rachis prolonged into a whip (cirrus) to 3 m long, bearing grapnellike groups of reflexed spines; leaflets irregular in juvenile leaves, regular in mature leaves, to 45 on each side of the rachis, lanceolate, the largest to 60 cm×6 cm, pale greygreen, bristly near the tip; knee conspicuously armed as leafsheath; ocrea illdefined. Inflorescences massive, with the male much more finely branched than the female, to 2.5 m long with up to 9 partial inflorescences on each side, up to 70 cm long; all bracts rather densely armed with triangular spines to 3 mm high and redbrown indumentum. Ripe fruit rounded to ovoid, to 28 mm×20 mm, shortly beaked, and covered with 15 vertical rows of yellowish scales with blackishbrown margins. Seed ovoid, to 18 mm×12 mm, with finely pitted surface; endosperm densely and deeply ruminate. Seedlingleaf with 2 divergent cucullate leaflets with a waxy bluegrey bloom on a pale dull green surface.
Growth and development
Seeds germinate in 3 to 15 weeks; about 24 months after field planting, the cirri develop, after which the aerial stems may grow at rates between 13 m or more per year. Flowering may begin in the fifth year after planting and is annual thereafter.
Other botanical information
The closely related C. tumidus Furtado differs from C. manan in its smaller size, different leafsheath armature and the very large bulbous swollen knee.
Ecology
C. manan is usually confined to hill dipterocarp forest and is rarely found in lowland dipterocarp forest (mainly near steep slopes). It has an altitudinal range between 501000 m and is most abundant between 6001000 m altitude. Seedlings are abundant in hill forest.
Propagation and planting
Seed stored will not tolerate temperatures below 10C for periods exceeding 2 months and seed moisture content needs to be about 50%; whole fresh fruits can be stored up to 2 weeks in well ventilated conditions at 2228C without appreciable loss of viability. In contrast, seeds separated from the sarcotesta desiccate rapidly and lose viability in a few days. Propagation is best effected from seeds. The fruit wall and the fleshy seedcoat must be removed before sowing and the clean seeds kept moist, as any drying out will cause the embryo to die. Seeds are usually sown in seedbeds in the shade and potted in polybags when the first leaf has emerged. Once potted, seedlings should be kept in the shade and provided with plenty of moisture without waterlogging. Seedlings are usually ready for planting 912 months after transplanting into bags and require tree support. Seedlings require about 50% relative light intensity for establishment and growth. Rubber smallholders may plant them in between rubber planting rows. Silvicultural trials have been established in Peninsular Malaysia. On a commercial scale, it has been planted in secondary forest. The planting distance should be 6 m×3 m.
Husbandry
Postplanting maintenance is relatively simple. Just before or after planting, the existing canopy needs to be manipulated to allow for 50% light/shade conditions for vigorous growth of the rattan seedlings. Circleweeding of seedlings is done 34 times a year for up to 3 years. Planting lines need to be kept clean, to a distance of 1 m on either side, for easy access and maintenance. Fertilizer application at 6monthly intervals in the first 3 years enhances growth.
Diseases and pests
A few diseases and pests have been recorded. In the field, collar rot disease of planted seedlings is so far the only serious disease. In the nursery, leaf diseases (shot holes, brown rings and brown spots) are evident on the leaves of young growing stock. The severity varies from mild to severe and control is by spraying appropriate fungicide at 10day intervals. Calamus leaves are reported to be attacked by Artona catoxanta (moth) , Botryonopa sanguinea, Protocerius colossus and Rhabdocnemis leprosa (all beetles). Fruits have been observed to be attacked by beetles before they are ripe. Stunted growth may result from beetle larvae damaging the swollen basal part of the stem.
Harvesting
Harvesting of the stems varies slightly from place to place. Essentially, it involves dragging the rattan from the canopy, removing dead leafsheaths and debris and discarding the uppermost 23 m, which are immature and too soft for use. The leafsheaths and debris are usually removed by coiling and pulling the rattan stem around a conveniently placed small tree trunk, resulting in a clean stem. The cane is then cut into 3 m lengths suitable for bundling and transport out of the forest to the processor. A period of 15 years is estimated for plantationgrown C. manan to reach harvestable state.
Handling after harvest
Harvested rattan is sorted into species that need treatment and those that do not. Species such as C. manan are usually treated to protect them against attack from staining fungi and powderpost beetle. The canes are boiled in a mixture of diesel and coconut oil, or of diesel and kerosene, or of diesel and palm oil, for varying lengths of time. After boiling the canes are rubbed with sawdust, ragwaste or gunnysacking and then tied loosely in a bundle at one end and stood upright with the untied end on the ground in wigwamlike fashion for drying in the sun for a period of one to two (rarely three) weeks. They may also be fumigated over burning sulphur, which not only prevents attack by diseases and pests but also improves the colour of the rattan skin.
Genetic resources
Attempts are now being made in Sabah to establish collections to represent the considerable variation found in this species in the wild. C. manan is represented in several botanical gardens, arboreta and silvicultural plots.
Breeding
Initial steps have been taken to collect seeds from different areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Seedlings produced have been planted in four different locations in the country. A comparative study of seedlings raised through tissue culture and those from seeds has been initiated.
Prospects
The future of this rattan species in the wild is uncertain owing to severe overexploitation. The steps taken by government agencies in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak to plant C. manan on a plantation scale are very encouraging. This will ensure a constant supply in years to come. The feasibility of growing C. manan in rubber plantations is being tested and the results so far seem promising.
Literature
- Aminuddin Mohamad, 1989. Effect of canopy manipulation on the growth performance of Calamus manan, a Malaysian rattan. In: Rao, A.N. & Vongkaluang, I. (Editors): Recent research on rattans. Proceedings of the International Rattan Seminar, Chiangmai, 1214 November 1987. Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thailand and International Development Research Centre, Canada. pp. 9497.
- Aminuddin Mohamad & Nur Supardi, M.N., 1986. Intercropping of rotan manau (Calamus manan) with rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). Pertanika 9(2): 161165.
- Dransfield, J., 1979. A manual of the rattans of the Malay Peninsula. Malayan Forest Records No 29. Forest Department, Kuala Lumpur. pp. 143145.
- Manokaran, N., 1977. Survival and growth of the economically important species (Calamus manan) in Ulu Langat, Selangor. Malaysian Forester 40(4): 192196.
- Mori, T., Zollpatah, A.R. & Tan, C.H., 1980. Germination and storage of rotan manau (Calamus manan) seeds. Malaysian Forester 43(1): 4455.
- Norani, A., Tho, Y.P. & Hong, L.T., 1985. Pests and diseases of rattans and rattan products in Peninsular Malaysia. In: Wong, K.M. & Manokaran, N. (Editors): Proceedings of the rattan seminar, Kuala Lumpur, 24 October 1984. Rattan Information Centre, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, Kepong. pp. 131135.
- Silitonga, T., 1989. The effect of several cooking oil compositions on manau (C. manan) canes. In: Rao, A.N. & Vongkaluang, I. (Editors): Recent research on rattans. Proceedings of the International Rattan Seminar, Chiangmai, 1214 November 1987. Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thailand and International Development Research Centre, Canada. pp. 178181.
Authors
Aminuddin bin Mohamad
