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 sparsiflorus (Becc.) W.J.Baker[].

Common Name:

General Information

Daemonorops sparsiflora is a slender to moderately robust, evergreen, climbing palm producing a cluster of unbranched stems up to 10 metres tall that climb into the surrounding vegetation[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its fruit, which is used to obtain a resin.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Borneo.

Habitat

Usually found on richer soils in primary and disturbed forest, in valley bottoms, on lower slopes and riverside alluvium[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

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[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots[].

Medicinal

The resin is astringent and stimulant[]. It has been used in dentifrices and as a mouth wash[].

Other Uses

The split cane is locally used for tying[]. The sheathed stems are around 20 - 30mm in diameter[].

A red resin, known as 'dragon's blood', is extracted from the fruit scales[, ]. The fruits are first dried and the resin then removed by rubbing the fruit with cockle shells[]. The resin so collected is processed by wrapping in a cloth, dampening in hot water and then being squeezed[]. It is used in varnishes and lacquers, where it gives a mahogany-like stain[]. It is also used in photo engraving on zinc, where it protects the metal parts that are not to be etched[].

Propagation

Seed -

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