Plectocomiopsis geminiflora (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Plectocomiopsis geminiflora (Griff.) Becc.

Family: Palmae

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: rotan sotong (Sumatra), rotan rua
• Malaysia: rotan rilang (Malay), wi laleh (Iban, Sarawak), moa (Bidayuh, Sarawak), ambalua (Kedazan, Sabah)
• Thailand: waikungnampharai.

Distribution

From Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia to southern Thailand.

Uses

The cane is used as cordage and for making coarse basketware including fish traps and chicken coops. The shoot or "upak laleh", is eaten as palm cabbage and is commonly sold in markets in Sarawak. However, local people in Penisular Malaysia regard the cabbage as being poisonous.

Observations

A clustering robust hapaxanthic rattan to 50 m tall forming rather dense thickets. Stem without leafsheaths to 30 mm diameter, with sheaths to 60 mm in diameter. Found abundantly in major light gaps in lowland and hill mixed dipterocarp forest.

Selected sources

14, 18, 20, 21, 29, 35, 43, 44.