Arecaceae FAMILY

Calamus scipionum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Rotan semambu is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of massive, unbranched stems that can climb to great heights in the forest. Some stems can reach lengths of 50 metres or more and 15 - 50mm in diameter with internodes 30cm long[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 983 Title Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix Publication Author Dr Odoardo Beccari Publisher Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta Year 1908 ISBN Description This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later. , 1018 Title A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans Publication Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5 Author Aida C. Baja-Lapis Publisher Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines Year 2010 ISBN 0117-3375 Description A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines ]. The stems have long been harvested from the wild by local people, who use them to make baskets and a range of other household goods. This species is said to make an excellent walking stick and has been traded internationally as such[ 983 Title Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix Publication Author Dr Odoardo Beccari Publisher Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta Year 1908 ISBN Description This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later. ]. International interest in rattan has seen exploitation of the plant increase and the stems are now traded both nationally and internationally[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. This species is unlikely to attract much attention for commercial growing in plantations - compared with several other species, its growth rates are poor and the canes are of lower quality[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheast Asia - Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Palawan.

HabitatA widespread lowland species rarely occurring above 200 metres[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. It appears to favour better soils such as alluvial soils in the floodplains of rivers[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. It is very tolerant of forest clearance, and is often found in secondary forest[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].