Common Name:

General Information

Plectocomia elongata is a very large, spiny, evergreen climbing palm producing unbranched stems that can be up to 50 metres long[]. The stems, which can be 40 - 150mm in diameter with internodes 30cm long, clamber into the canopy of the forest. The plant sometimes produces just one solitary stem, though it can also produce a cluster of stems[334 1018, ].
The stems are gathered from the wild and used locally in basketry. They are sometimes traded locally[]..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam.

Habitat

Lowland or montane rain forest or seasonal forest, often in disturbed places; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	50.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].
A monocarpic species, it can grow for many years without flowering, then flowers prolifically before setting seed and dying[, ]. The plant often forms buds near the base of the stem - these basal buds can sometimes come into growth and produce a new plant after the main stem has flowered and died[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The canes are used for making chair legs, frames of tables and beds, strong baskets for use by miners and also in handicrafts[, , ]. The canes are 30 - 50mm in diameter, they have poor durability and flexibility[]. The stems split too easily to be of much use[].

Propagation

Seed -

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