Calamus scipionum

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland moist tropics^[1]. Grows best in fertile soils, such as the alluvial soils of river floodplains^[1]. Prefers a position in the dappled shade of the forest, allowing its stems to climb up to the light^[1]. High light intensity accelerates the formation of sucker shoots and stem-length growth^[1]. After planting the young plants in their permanent positions, little maintenance is required, apart from initial weeding, and where necessary, opening the canopy sufficiently to allow light to reach the seedlings^[1]. Growth rates are poor compared to several other species of rattan^[1]. The mean stem growth is 0.1 metres per year, and optimum growth is 1 metre per year^[1]. It is not known at what age the cane could be harvested but it is unlikely to be less than 15 years after planting and probably longer than that because of slow initial growth^[1]. Rotan semambu is a very distinctive species, likely to be confused only with C. Ornatus. Both are very similar in the rosette stage, but the climbing stems of this plant have large terminal leaflets (ecirrate) whereas C. Ornatus has minute terminal leaflets (subcirrate)^[1]. In inflorescence structure they are very different, and the seedling-leaf of Calamus scipionum has 4 rather than 2 leaflets^[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.