Common Name:

General Information

Calamus erectus is an evergreen palm producing a cluster of erect, non-climbing, non-branching stems up to 6 metres tall and 50cm in diameter[].
The thick, non-flexible cane is harvested from the wild for local use in construction and furniture making, whilst the leaves are sometimes used for thatching. The seed is also sometimes harvested for local use as a masticatory. The plant has been cultivated experimentally in India and Bangladesh[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southwest China, Nepal, northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos.

Habitat

Lowland or montane rain forests or drier forests usually on steep slopes; at elevations up to 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Most species in this genus are more or less vigorous climbing plants in rainforests. Leaves of young plants are normally damaged if exposed to too much light, though leaves of older plants will usually tolerate full sun. In general, plants are likely to grow best with their roots in the shade but with enough gap in the canopy to encourage their stems to grow up towards the light. They are also likely to grow best in a humus-rich soil[]. Many of the species require fairly moist conditions for good growth, in fact several of them grow in wet soils or in areas with seasonal inundation - where we have the information it will be included under the plant’s habitat.
Overhead shade should be manipulated at about 6-monthly intervals for the first 2 - 3 years of a young plant’s life to ensure they receive sufficient light to grow vigorously. About 40 - 50% light penetration is generally considered to be ideal for promoting stem growth.
Little care is needed once the seedlings are established. It is important, however, to weed the area surrounding the seedlings occasionally until the plants are more than 2 metres tall.
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The astringent seed is sometimes eaten as a substitute for the betel palm (Areca catechu)[, ].
The following notes apply to the betel palm:-
Seed - raw. The seed has mild narcotic properties, it is widely used in some areas of the tropics as a masticatory, being mixed with the leaves of a pepper plant (Piper betle), a gum and, often, lime[, ]. Betel seeds contain tannins and alkaloids - these stimulate saliva flow, accelerate heart and perspiration rates, suppress hunger and offer positive protection against intestinal worms[].

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 thick stem is not flexible. It is used in construction and in furniture making[, ].
The erect and slender stems of certain non-climbing species are used entire and cut into pieces of appropriate length to make handles, rods, walking canes and the like. Their chief merit, apart from their toughness, their elasticity, and the beauty of their surface, lies in the extraordinary length of their internodes, a single one of these being sufficient to make a very elegant walking cane[].
Collecting and preparing the stems is very simple. The stem is cut near the ground, 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[].

The leaves are used for thatching[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a fairly short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?