Daemonorops micracantha (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Daemonorops micracantha (Griff.) Becc.

Family: Palmae

Synonyms

D. draconcella Ridley (1902).

Vernacular names

• Malaysia: rotan (wi) jer(e)nang (in most localities, including Sarawak), rotan bakul (Negri Sembilan), dre sekam (Pahang), lempinit landang (Sandakan).

Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan).

Uses

The split cane is locally used for tying; ripe fruits are sold in local markets as a source of "dragon's blood"natural dye in Central Kalimantan and Sarawak.

Observations

• Clustering climber to 40 m tall or more.
• Stem without leafsheaths 12 mm in diameter, with sheaths 25 mm in diameter.
• Leaves cirrate to 2 m including cirrus to 80 cm long.

D. micracantha is immediately recognized by its low ridges bearing minute black spicules interspersed with golden spines to 15 mm on the leafsheaths. It is found in lowland forest, near streams, and occasionally in forest transitional with heath forest, up to 500 m altitude.

Selected sources

5, 14, 18, 21, 25, 32, 35, 44.