This species is closely related to Calamus zollingerii[].

Common Name:

General Information

Calamus merrillii is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of very large and high climbing, unbranched, stems that can be 50 - 100 metres long. The stems are 25 - 80mm in diameter. Around 10/% of plants only produce a single stem[, , , ].
This is the most popular and most sought after rattan cane in the Philippines, the stems being used for a variety of purposes including furniture, weaving and basketry[, ]. Plants have been overexploited in the wild, though there has been some replanting in over 5,000 hectares of logged over forest in the Philippines[]. Local people also encourage the plant to grow around villages, often planting them but then giving them very little aftercare[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Philippines

Habitat

Found mostly in the interior of primary forest at low elevations, sometimes ascending to 1,200 metres. Found occasionally at the edges of primary forest or in secondary forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in the dappled shade of semi-open forest[]. Prefrs a warm, sheltered, moist position[].
A fast-growing palm, the stems attain their full length of 15 metres or more after 5 - 8 years[].
Just before or after planting seedlings of this species, the existing canopy needs to be manipulated to allow for 50% light/shade conditions in order to encourage vigorous growth of the seedlings. Circle-weeding of sthe young plants is done 3 - 4 times a year for up to 3 years. Planting lines need to be kept clean up to a distance of 1 metre on either side to allow for easy access and maintenance[].
Gatherers cut the cane off above the surface of the ground and pull down the entire stem. The rattan is then stripped of leaves and the cane is cut into convenient lengths, ranging from 3 - 6 metres, which are then bent sharply at the middle and tied into bundles for convenient transportation. The external part may be stripped from the cane in the forest or the entire canes may be transported, depending on how the product is to be used[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - eaten when fully ripe[]. The fruit is 11 - 12mm in diameter[].

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 canes are of excellent quality, being smooth, easy to work, with a high finishing quality[]. The entire stems are used for making 'bent wood' chair frames, as cables for ferry boats, for hauling logs, standing-rigging on small sailing vessels, and sometimes to support short suspension bridges[, ].
The split canes are used for making mats, hats, baskets, chairs, various types of fish traps, and the bottoms and backs of 'cane-bottomed' chairs[, ].
The interior parts of the stem, which are softer than the outer part, are used for making 'reed' furniture[].
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 - the fruits are thoroughly washed to remove the fleshy coat and most seeds are sown in beds. The seedlings are kept in shade and usually potted in plastic bags after some weeks, and watered daily until they attain a height of 20 - 30cm. These are then transplanted to the forest (allowing some light to penetrate through the canopy)[].

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: How many suns are in our solar system