Bitter rattan, Chair-bottom cane
Calamus viminalis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A vigorous climbing palm. It has fairly stout, prickly stems. The stems climb with the aid of flagella. The leaf sheaths are woolly white. The leaves are spreading and pale green. They are about 1 m long. They are divided into many narrow leaflets. These leaflets are grouped in small clusters along the stem. The fruit are about 1 cm across. They are yellow when ripe and round with a pointed beak.

There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and warm temperate regions. In Asia it grows from sea level to 600 m altitude. It grows in open areas and near streams. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andaman Is., Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The shoots are cooked and used as a vegetable in curry. The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Shoots are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, shoots, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or suckers.

In India it produces fruit September to April.

Its other names

Local names

Bara bet, Beta Iaye, Bet gota, Beth pata, Karak bet, Karath, Katengparua, Khorkoijja bet, Kyein ka, Kyein-kha, May cat, Panibeta, Pemu, Penjalin cacing, Pepa, Perambu, Riama, Rigorusam, Ro-tae-sa-po, Rotan cacing, Rotan gelatik, Waan kom dong, Wai kom, Wai mon, Wai namhang, Wai ngamkhao, Wai sambai, Wai som, Wai toon

Synonyms

Calamus fasciculatus Roxb.; Calamus viminalis Willd. var. fasciculatus (Roxb.) Becc.; Calamus extensus Mart.; Calamus pseudo-rotang Mart.; and others