Calamus trachycoleus

Cultivation Details

Grows best on the raised alluvial soils of floodplains that are subject to seasonal flooding such as river levées and foothills, but is unable to withstand stagnant water^[1]. Seedlings, however, can survive being submerged under flood waters for over a month, provided the water is flowing (and thereby providing oxygen)^[1]. The species grows most profusely on river banks because of the abundant light there - it does not occur in deep peat, and is generally not planted by villagers in such areas in Kalimantan. It does not occur in areas affected by salt or brackish water^[1]. When planting out seedlings, residual trees in logged-over riverine forest are used as support for the canes. Planting lanes 2 - 4 metres wide and running east-west are cut and staked before planting^[1]. Unlike Calamus caesius, which is clump-forming, very wide spacings can be used for this species because it soon spreads over the whole planting area. It has also been successfully planted under abandoned rubber holdings which have been thinned, leaving some trees for support. Where tapping of rubber is continued, this species can spread all over the plantation and hinder access and tapping. For this reason it is not suitable for planting under fruit trees^[1]. During germination a plug emerges, pushing aside the inner integument. This occurs from the second day after the seeds have been cleaned and up to 6 weeks; most of the seeds have germinated by the 3 - 4th week. The stem begins to elongate from the 5 - 6th month followed by the production of short rhizomes and more aerial stems. This method of vegetative reproduction is the same as that for Calamus caesius; however, unlike Calamus caesius, long stolons are produced from year 2 - 3 onwards^[1]. When a stolon is 1 - 3 metres long, it metamorphoses into an aerial stem. At the point of metamorphosis, two branches are produced, one from each adjacent node, which elongate to form new stolons. The stolons are thus very invasive and there is a potential for exponential increase in aerial stems, but the distal branch of the stolon usually develops more slowly and sometimes remains dormant. In Calamus caesius, competition for growing space is greater because of the short rhizomes, and rhizomes are forced to grow upwards or downwards, producing three or even four tiers of rhizomes. The severe competition causes many of the branches to remain dormant as bulbil-like shoots and expansion is thus nowhere as rapid as in Calamus trachycoleus. Production of stolons in Calamus trachycoleus, however, does not mean that the production of short rhizomes ceases. There is thus a denser central clump surrounded by diffuse canes from stolons^[1]. Inflorescences are produced by the 4th year. Not all canes flower at the same time. Flowering canes produce between 1 - 4 inflorescences. Fruits normally abort at first flowering. Between 1,000 - 1,500 fruits are borne per infructescence^[1]. After planting, the seedlings have to be weeded 2 - 3 times a year for the first 2 - 3 years. After the third year, when stolons have been produced, weeding is not possible because workers may cut the canes accidentally^[1]. Canopy manipulation is required to allow sufficient light to reach the seedlings for rapid growth. Along the Barito River, villagers systematically girdle other trees leaving behind Lagerstroemia sp. As support trees because these trees grow evenly in height to 10- 15 metres making harvesting of canes easy. These trees are also strong enough to support the weight of the climbing canes^[1]. Older canes of the clumps are ready for harvesting 8 years after planting. The lower fronds have by this time turned brown and fallen off, leaving behind the dead leaf-sheaths. The canes are cut some 30cm from the base and the dead leaf-sheaths removed by hitting the cane with the blade of a jungle knife. Green fronds and leaf-sheaths are stripped by either standing on the fronds and pulling the cane upwards or by pulling the cane between the fork of a branch or tree. Canes are pulled down in stages, usually by two men, as the leaf-sheaths are removed. If a cane cannot be completely pulled down because the upper portion is entangled in branches, it is cut as high up as possible^[1]. After the cane has been pulled down, it is cut into 6 metre long pieces, and the apical 5 - 6 metres is discarded as it is immature and snaps easily after fumigation. A hundred pieces each 6 metres long are bent in the middle, tied into a bundle and carried to the nearest road for transportation to the processing centres. If the canes cannot be brought out the same day, they are placed over a log to drain off excess water^[1]. Yield estimates from Kalimantan are 2 tonnes of dry canes per hectare at year 8, followed thereafter by 1.5 - 2.2 tonnes dry canes pre hectare per year^[1]. It is because of the high yield that villagers along the Barito River plant more Calamus trachycoleus than Calamus caesius, although the quality and price are higher in the latter specie^[1].