Calamus marginatus (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Calamus marginatus (Bl.) Mart.

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: rotan besi (Palembang), rotan manau padi (Bangka), rotan pehekan (southern Kalimantan)
• Malaysia: wi tedong, wi natahari, uwau paya (Sarawak), rotan bembangin (Sandakan).

Distribution

Sumatra and Borneo.

Uses

The cane is coarse and poor in appearance; however, it is quite durable and hence is used in making the framework of carrying baskets. In Sarawak it is also used for making walkingsticks.

Observations

Solitary, rarely clustering, climber to 15 m tall or more. Stem to 18 mm in diameter without leafsheaths, with sheaths to 35 mm in diameter. Leaves cirrate; flagellum 5 m long. C. marginatus is very variable. Populations in montane forests seem to have consistently longer spines, with specialized erect spines around the leafsheath mouth. In Sabah widespread, occurring on wetlands, heath forest and river banks, up to 1800 m altitude in primary montane forest.

Selected sources

4, 10, 18, 25, 32.