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Calamus merrillii
Arecaceae FAMILY

Calamus merrillii

Calamus merrillii

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Climber
Growth—

Grows best in the dappled shade of semi-open forest[1]. Prefrs a warm, sheltered, moist position[2]. A fast-growing palm, the stems attain their full length of 15 metres or more after 5 - 8 years[1]. Just before or after planting seedlings of this species, the existing canopy needs to be manipulated to allow for 50% light/shade conditions in order to encourage vigorous growth of the seedlings. Circle-weeding of sthe young plants is done 3 - 4 times a year for up to 3 years. Planting lines need to be kept clean up to a distance of 1 metre on either side to allow for easy access and maintenance[1]. Gatherers cut the cane off above the surface of the ground and pull down the entire stem. The rattan is then stripped of leaves and the cane is cut into convenient lengths, ranging from 3 - 6 metres, which are then bent sharply at the middle and tied into bundles for convenient transportation. The external part may be stripped from the cane in the forest or the entire canes may be transported, depending on how the product is to be used[1].

Propagation

Seed - the fruits are thoroughly washed to remove the fleshy coat and most seeds are sown in beds. The seedlings are kept in shade and usually potted in plastic bags after some weeks, and watered daily until they attain a height of 20 - 30cm. These are then transplanted to the forest (allowing some light to penetrate through the canopy)[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Calamus+merrillii>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  2. [2]Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. — http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ ↩︎Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
  3. [3]Asean Tropical Plant Database — http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/index.jsp ↩︎Terse details, with photos, of many of the plants growing in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. Gives some details of plant uses along with a description of the plant and its range.
  4. [4]Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix — Dr Odoardo Beccari · Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta · 1908 ↩︎This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later.
  5. [5]A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans — Aida C. Baja-Lapis · Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines · 2010 · ISBN 0117-3375 ↩︎A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
  6. [6]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
  7. [7]Speciality Rattans of the ASEAN — A. C. Baja-Lapis · National Herbarium, Nederland. · 2009 · http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/blumea ↩︎A description of the uses and agricultural practices for 11 selected species of rattan.