Daemonorops hystrix (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Daemonorops hystrix (Griff.) Mart.

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: rotan sepet, uwi kalang, sintang (Palembang)
• Malaysia: rotan tahi landak (Peninsular Malaysia), wi duduk (Iban, Sarawak), wae dangah (Penan, Sarawak).

Distribution

Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore, Borneo and probably Java.

Uses

The cane is used to make furniture frames but is of low quality. The ripe fruits are said to be eaten by forest dwellers in Sarawak.

Observations

A moderatesized, clustering and climbing rattan, up to 10 m tall. Stem without leafsheaths to 13 mm in diameter, with sheaths to 1530 mm in diameter. The leafsheaths are armed with huge erect spines around the sheath mouth. A very common species. Three varieties are known, var. hystrix , var. minor Becc. and var. exulans Becc. Usually found on lower slopes, river banks and ridge tops in lowland forest.

Selected sources

14, 18, 21, 35, 44.