Common Name: Rotan Sega

General Information

Rotan sega is a spiny, evergreen climbing palm, forming a cluster of very vigorous, unbranched stems that can ultimately reach a length of 100 metres or more with a diameter of 10 - 18mm and internodes around 50cm long[, , ]. The clump is often rather close and dense[].
This species, and many other members of the genus, produces rattan, widely used in craftwork for making baskets, furniture etc. They have long been harvested from the wild and employed locally for their wide range of uses[]. Rotan sega has been cultivated on a small scale in some areas, particularly Indonesia, and larger-scale commercial plantations are being established[].
More recently, use of the plant has spread widely to other countries, leading to overexploitation in the wild. This, coupled with a loss of habitat as the forest it grows in is cut down and converted to agriculture, has led to wild stocks of the plant dwindling quickly[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia through Indonesia to the Philippines.

Habitat

Usually in the lowlands on alluvial flats, seasonally flooded river banks, and margins of freshwater or peat-swamp forest, but not in permanent swamps. Occasionally found on drier sites up to 800 metres above sea-level[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	60.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the more humid, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30°c, but can tolerate 16 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,500 - 3,200mm, but tolerates 1,700 - 4,200mm[].
Succeeds with its roots in deep shade, whilst its stems climb up to the sunlight[]. Grows best on rich alluvial flats and other fertile land[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8[]. Plants can grow on drier land, but growth is less vigorous[]. Prefers a position in the dappled shade of the forest, with its stems climbing up towards the light[]. Plants flourish under mild and seasonal flooding, but dislike severe floods[].
Overhead shade should be manipulated at about 6-monthly intervals for 2 - 3 years to ensure seedlings receive sufficient light to grow vigorously. About 50% light/shade conditions are ideal for rattan growth
Given the correct balance of shade and light, plants grow away quickly from seed. After 12 - 14 months the primary stem may exceed 1 metre; the first climbing whips and 1 or 2 sucker shoots may have already developed[]. As the plant grows older, more and more suckers will be produced every year, probably up to ten per year. Some of these will develop into aerial stems while others remain dormant as bulbil-like shoots, thus forming a relatively compact cluster of aerial stems[]. By year 10, the number of aerial stems may vary from 20 to 60 or more per cluster, depending on conditions of growing site and weather[].
Aerial stems may grow at rates exceeding 4 - 5 metres per year[].
Annual flowering may commence at an age of 4 - 5 years. Up to 4 inflorescences may be produced on one flowering stem, with each infructescence bearing 1,000 - 1,500 fruits[].
Selective harvesting of mature canes can be carried out from the eighth year after planting[]. Harvesting is carried out by cutting the rattan cane at about 30cm from the base, pulling the cane down out of the canopy as much as possible, removing the leaf-sheaths by twisting the cane around a tree trunk or hitting it with a knife. The cane, divested of its sheaths, is then cut into lengths of about 6 metres and bent, and tied in bundles of 100 pieces. Inevitably, lengths of canes will be left in the canopy and cannot be pulled out because they are entangled with the tree branches. More efficient mechanical methods of harvesting for large commercial plantation have yet to be developed. Canes should be processed soon after harvesting, in order to maintain their quality[].
Highly variable yield figures, ranging from 1.5 - 3 tonnes/ha per year, have been provided by cultivators and researchers. Based on a surviving population of 500 plants/ha in a commercial plantation, a cane growth rate of 2.5 metres/year and 36 000 metres of dry canes to yield one ton, the yield has been estimated to increase from 0.5 tonnes/ha per year in year 9 from planting to 1.5 tonnes/ha per year in year 12 and thereafter[].
This species is closely related to C. Optimus and C. Trachycoleusc. Whereas this species and C. Optimus produce short horizontal stolons not exceeding about 8 cm, C. Trachycoleus produces long horizontal stolons up to 1 metre or more long. As a result, this species produces a relatively compact cluster of aerial stems whereas .C. Trachycoleus has a diffuse colony of aerial stems which are more widely spaced and hence compete less with each other. The diffuse colony of C. Trachycoleus makes it an aggressive colonizer and a potentially higher cane yielder[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Although we have no specific information for this species, many members of this genus have potentially edible young shoots. Indeed, in Laos the shoots are considered to be a delicacy and over half the species growing there are said to be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The top 100cm of the plant is used. If the leaf sheaths are left in place until just before cooking then the shoot will remain fresh for up to one week[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are used by rural people for making furniture, baskets, mats, carpets, handicrafts, cordage, and in house construction, and sewing of 'atap' (thatch)[, , ].
The round cane, skin peel and core provide extremely important high-quality materials for the now highly developed and very sophisticated rattan furniture manufacturing industry[, ]. Its unique glossy golden cane surface makes it highly sought after for making 'tatami' mats or rattan carpets for the lucrative Japanese market[].
This species has a resilient and durable cane with a smooth golden surface. It is particularly suited for making high-quality rattan carpets ('tatami' mats) because of the siliceous glossy surface[, ]. The quality of the cane is adversely affected by poor processing; it also depends on factors such as age, moisture content and the light conditions during growth (which affect the internodal length)[].
The long and slender stems of Calamus species are put to various uses according to their size, length, flexibility, elasticity and toughness. The most slender canes are employed entire for binding purposes, and in making chairs, blinds, mats, wicker or basketwork, fishing implements, etc. Twisted together, they make very strong cables. The largest and more resistent canes are used entire as cables, the framework of wicker chairs etc. Usually, however, for many purposes the stems are split throughout their length into 2 - 4 or more strips from which the inner soft brittle and spongy portion is removed by means of a knife or same other instrument, so as to leave the external portion, which is hard, tough, flexible, elastic and has its outer surface very clean and smooth as if it had been varnished[].
Strips vary in width according to the use to which they are to be put. Those for delicate work, such as the network of furniture, small bags, hats, etc, are from 1 - 3mm wide; those employed as lashings in native housebuilding or in fastening the removable head of the Malay axe to its handle are from 5-6 mm wide[].
Collecting and preparing the stems is very simple. The stem is cut near the ground and detached from the trees by taking a strong hold of its base and thus pulling down the entire plant with its leaves. The most recent growth at the top of the plant is removed and then, handling it from the upper end, the stem is forcibly drawn in the opposite direction between two pieces of wood, thus removing the spiny coverings. It is then cut into lengths of about 5 metres, each piece is bent into two equal parts and the stems are fastened into bundles ready for market. The most valued stems are not thicker than a man's little finger and have a fine polished straw-yellow glassy surface[].

Propagation

Seed. Rattan fruits should be processed and sown as soon as possible after collection in order to maintain their viability. During processing, scales and sarcotesta are removed by repeated rubbing and washing. Cleaned seeds should be stored in a cool and shady place if they are not sown immediately after processing. Seeds are sown about 1 cm deep in a seed-bed constructed under shelter. The sowing medium should be sandy loam or loam with a top layer of 2 cm of sawdust to enhance moisture retention in the sowing medium. Regular watering is essential to keep the seeds and sowing medium moist. Most seeds germinate within 3 - 4 weeks[]. Seedlings are potted in black polythene bags of about 15 cm deep and 15 cm in diameter when the shoots have emerged 2 - 3 cm above the sawdust. Seedlings are nursed in these bags for 9 months or more under semi-shade provided by plastic shading sheet, palm fronds or other appropriate materials. Seedlings 40 - 50 cm tall are ready for planting out in the field. Rubber trees, bungor (Lagerstroemia sp.) and even fruit trees have been used by smallholders to provide shade and support[].

Although it can be propagated by using sucker shoots, cultivation is best effected using seed.

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