If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Daemonorops mollis

(Blanco) Merr.

Arecaceae


It has been proposed - William J.Baker; A revised delimitation of the rattan genus Calamus (Arecaceae), Phytotaxa 197 (2): 139-152; 2015 - that the genera Ceratolobus, Daemonorops, Pogonotium and Retispatha should all be subsumed into a revised and expanded concept of the genus Calamus. This revised treatment has been accepted in the 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families' and is likely to recieve further acceptance. For the time being, until there is wider acceptance of this change, we are not moving these species across into Calamus. The new name for this species in Calamus will be Calamus mollis Blanco[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Calamus gaudichaudii (Mart.) H.Wendl.

Calamus mollis Blanco

Daemonorops fusca Mart.

Daemonorops gaudichaudii Mart.

Palmijuncus gaudichaudii (Mart.) Kuntze

Palmijuncus mollis (Blanco) Kuntze

Common Name:

Daemonorops mollis
A drawing of the leaves
Photograph by: Blanco, M., Flora de Filipinas, t. 99 (1875)
Creative Commons License

General Information

Daemonorops mollis is a spiny, evergreen, climbing palm producing a small cluster of 3 - 5 unbranched stems up to 10 metres long. The stems are around 3 - 5cm in diameter[
1018
Title
A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans
Publication
Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5
Author
Aida C. Baja-Lapis
Publisher
Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines
Year
2010
ISBN
0117-3375
Description
A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
,
1022
Title
Leaflests of Philippine Botany Vol VIII
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (author)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Manila; Philippines
Year
1915 - 1919
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal from the early 20th century, although rather dated it remains a source of information about Philippine plants that is difficult to source elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a source of materials for craftwork etc, and also possibly as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1022
Title
Leaflests of Philippine Botany Vol VIII
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (author)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Manila; Philippines
Year
1915 - 1919
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal from the early 20th century, although rather dated it remains a source of information about Philippine plants that is difficult to source elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Southeast Asia - Philippines

Habitat

Primary forests at elevations from 200 - 500 metres[
1018
Title
A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans
Publication
Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5
Author
Aida C. Baja-Lapis
Publisher
Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines
Year
2010
ISBN
0117-3375
Description
A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Climber
Height10.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland moist tropics.
Most species in this genus are more or less vigorous climbing plants in rainforests. In general, they 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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
548
Title
Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden Calcutta. Vol. 12, Pt. 1
Publication
 
Author
Beccari O.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Bengal Secretariat Press; Calcutta.
Year
1911
ISBN
 
Description
A monograph of the genus Daemonorops. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

The fruit has a sweet flavour[
1022
Title
Leaflests of Philippine Botany Vol VIII
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (author)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Manila; Philippines
Year
1915 - 1919
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal from the early 20th century, although rather dated it remains a source of information about Philippine plants that is difficult to source elsewhere. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. This report does not say that the fruit is edible, though it is very unlikely to be in any way harmful[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The canes are used for craftwork and as a tying material[
1018
Title
A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans
Publication
Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5
Author
Aida C. Baja-Lapis
Publisher
Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines
Year
2010
ISBN
0117-3375
Description
A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
]. The canes are 10 - 20mm in diameter[
1018
Title
A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans
Publication
Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5
Author
Aida C. Baja-Lapis
Publisher
Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines
Year
2010
ISBN
0117-3375
Description
A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
].
The long and slender stems of rattan 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[
983
Title
Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix
Publication
 
Author
Dr Odoardo Beccari
Publisher
Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta
Year
1908
ISBN
 
Description
This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later.
].
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[
983
Title
Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix
Publication
 
Author
Dr Odoardo Beccari
Publisher
Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta
Year
1908
ISBN
 
Description
This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later.
].
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[
983
Title
Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta Vol. XI and Appendix
Publication
 
Author
Dr Odoardo Beccari
Publisher
Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta
Year
1908
ISBN
 
Description
This volume of the journal is dedicated entirely to a monograph of the genus Calamus, which remains an important treatment over 100 years later.
].

Freshly cut canes produce a milky sap[
1018
Title
A Field Guide to Philippine Rattans
Publication
Asia Life Sciences Supplement 5
Author
Aida C. Baja-Lapis
Publisher
Rushing Water Publishers Ltd; Philippines
Year
2010
ISBN
0117-3375
Description
A very useful book with concise information on the various rattan species that grow in the Philippines
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-13. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Daemonorops+mollis>

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.