Common Name:

General Information

Calamus viminalis is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of unbranched stems and often forming thickets. One report says that the stems are up to 5 metres tall and around 8mm in diameter[], whilst others say that they are up to 35 metres tall and 15 - 20mm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its high quality stems, which are used in making baskets, mats etc. The stems are widely used in the plant's native range, where the is also sometimes harvested for food. It is sometimes planted near villages in order to provide a source of stems and shoots for food[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitat

Open areas and submaritime savannah at low elevations, usually near the coast[]. Lowland rain forests or deciduous forests, persisting in cleared areas and often present near villages, sometimes planted[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-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 - though this species is said to grow in drier conditions than most[].
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

Apical bud[].
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 - eaten when fully ripe[, ]. The whitish or yellowish, globose fruits are up to 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A very useful stem, it is used in basketry, furniture making, as a tying material, and for weaving into mats etc[, ]. Several stems are intertwined and used as cables for ships' anchors[].
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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