Daemonorops didymophylla (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Daemonorops didymophylla Becc.

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: rotan tunggal, uwi jernang kecil (Palembang)
• Malaysia: rotan jergang, udat (Penan, Sarawak)
• Thailand: waikhipet.

Distribution

Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand.

Uses

The fruit produces red resin ("dragon's blood") used by local people (Semai) in Peninsular Malaysia as medicine. The fruits are first dried and the resin then removed by rubbing the fruit with cockle shells. The resin so collected is processed by wrapping in a cloth, dampening in hot water and then being squeezed. The cane is used as split rattan. In Sarawak, the fruits are sometimes eaten.

Observations

A moderatesized, clustering rattan with the fruit scales covered with red resin. Stem without leafsheaths to 12 mm in diameter, with sheaths to 30 mm in diameter. Very common in Peninsular Malaysia from almost sealevel to an altitude of 1000 m, especially common in valleys and on lower slopes of hill dipterocarp forest.

Selected sources

14, 18, 21, 24, 29, 35, 40, 43.