Rotan Manau
Calamus manan

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

Rotan Manau or Calamus manan is a vigorous, high climbing, single stem, dioecious plant with a strong cane up to 8cm in diameter. This species in particular has the best quality cane. Stems of rotan manau are used in making furniture. Found In: Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang, Trengganu, Negri Sembilan, Johore. Sumatra, Borneo, and S. Thailand. Common names: Rotan Manau

Calamus manan is an evergreen Climber growing to 100 m (328ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 100

Where it is found

Usually confined to hill dipterocarp forest, it is rarely found in lowland dipterocarp forest, and then mainly near steep slopes. It is most abundant at elevations between 600 - 1,000 metres, with a total range between 50 - 1,000 metres.

Southeast Asia - Malaysia through to Indonesia and Borneo.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang, Trengganu, Negri Sembilan, Johore. Sumatra, Borneo, and S. Thailand.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Other Uses: The stems are used for making furniture. This species is said to produce the best quality large-diameter cane in the genus, and it is much sought after for making furniture. The cane is variable in size and colouration. It is durable, has great strength and flexibility and is used mainly as the framework of furniture. Growth rates of over 7 m a year.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

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 their stems able to grow up to the light. They are also likely to grow best in a humus-rich soil. About 24 months after field planting, the cirri develop, after which the aerial stems may grow at rates between 1 - 3 metres or more per year. Flowering may begin in the fifth year after planting and is annual thereafter Seedlings are produced abundantly in hill forests. A period of 15 years is estimated for plantation-grown plants to reach harvestable state Harvesting of the stems involves dragging the rattan from the canopy, removing dead leaf-sheaths and debris and discarding the uppermost 2 - 3 metres, which are immature and too soft for use. The leaf-sheaths and debris are usually removed by coiling and pulling the rattan stem around a conveniently placed small tree trunk, resulting in a clean stem. The cane is then cut into 3 metre lengths suitable for bundling and transport out of the forest to the processor. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - needs to be sown as soon as possible since it has a very short viability. The fruit wall and the fleshy seed-coat must be removed before sowing and the clean seeds kept moist, as any drying out will cause the embryo to die. Seeds are usually sown in seed-beds in the shade. They germinate in 3 - 15 weeks. They are potted in polybags when the first leaf has emerged. Once potted, seedlings should be kept in the shade and provided with plenty of moisture without waterlogging. Seedlings are usually ready for planting 9 - 12 months after transplanting into bags and require tree support. Seedlings require about 50% relative light intensity for establishment and growth. Seed stored will not tolerate temperatures below 10C for periods exceeding 2 months and seed moisture content needs to be about 50%; whole fresh fruits can be stored up to 2 weeks in well ventilated conditions at 22-28C without appreciable loss of viability.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Rotan Manau or Calamus manan.

Synonyms

Calamus giganteus Becc.