Babuyan rattan
Calamus usitatus

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A climbing palm that grows in clusters. The canes can be 10 m long and 5-10 mm across. The internodes are 15 cm long. The sheaths are bright green and with some scattered spines. The leaves are 90 cm long with 30 leaflets on each side. The edges are black and have bristles. The fruit are oval and 8 mm long by 6 mm wide. They have 18 vertical rows of straw coloured scales.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in coastal forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Philippines (country/location of origin), SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abet, Rotan babuyan

Synonyms

Calamus blancoi Kunth; Calamus brevifrons Mart.; and others