Common Name:

General Information

Calamus tenuis is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing long, rather slender, unbranched stems around 5 - 15mm in diameter[].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. The stem is of high quality for handicrafts and is often traded, both locally and internationally. The cultivation of this species for the production of edible shoots is becoming increasingly widespread in Laos and also occurs in northeast Thailand[].
This species occurs throughout much of Asia and southeast Asia south into Indonesia. Although it often occurs in areas under heavy human population pressure, its ability to survive in degraded forest suggests that it is unlikely to be threatened with extinction in the near future.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia.

Habitat

Forest within the active floodplain of rivers, including very degraded habitats and fairly scrubby stands[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Soils with a high moisture level are preferred by this species. Regular flooding of the planted area has been shown to increase shoot production[]. 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[].
Seedlings are raised in nursery and planted out at the onset of the rainy season. When planted, they can be mixed with other crops like peanut[].
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.
In an experimental trial of this species, better survival and growth performance was attained at somewhat higher elevations under tree canopies[].
When fertilized with green manure or without any fertilizer, shoot length growth and production of new shoots was better than when biofertilizers were applied[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Young shoot - cooked[, ]. Locally considered to be a delicacy in Laos, where they are 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[].

Fruit - roasted when fully ripe[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are of high quality for such uses as basketry and weaving mats etc[, ]. The stems have a light-yellowish, vitreous surface[].
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 - it has a fairly short viability and is best sown as soon as it is ripe.

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