Daemonorops melanochaetes (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
- Family: Palmae
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: sekei udang (Riau), rotan lelo (Sumatra, Bengkulu), howe seel (western Java), rotan legi (eastern Java)
- Malaysia: rotan getah (Peninsular).
Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java.
Uses
The cabbage is edible. In Peninsular Malaysia the core of the cane is used for broom handles and coarse furniture.
Observations
Clustering, moderately robust, high climber to 30 m tall. Stem 20 mm in diameter without leafsheaths. Leaf cirrate. Several varieties have been described, e.g. var. depresseglobosus Teysm. & Binnend., var. macrocarpa Becc., var. macrocymbus Becc., var. microcarpa Teysm. & Binnend., and var. padangensis Becc. However, in view of the great variability of this species, these varieties probably have little value since D. melanochaetes is closely related to D. angustifolia (Griff.) Mart. of Peninsular Malaysia and the two species are possibly not distinct. It usually occurs on dry ground near coasts, often forming thickets. It is also found in swampy lowland rain forest and alluvial flatlands up to 20 m altitude; however, in Java it occurs up to 1400 m elevation.
Selected sources
5, 12, 14.
