Malacca cane plant, Semembu rattan
Calamus scipionum

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A stout cane or rattan. It grows in clusters. It is 1.2 m between the nodes. It is fairly thick. The stems are 5 cm across. They can be 50 m long. It is spiny with whip like flagella that enables it to climb. The leaflets are 40 cm long. The fruit are green or yellow. They are scaly.

There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia. It contains alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) content of 32.87 mg per 100 g .

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest up to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sarawak, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Shoots, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Lataik kida, May nuoc, Rotan raja, Rotan semambu, Semambu rattan, Simambu, Sumambu, Wi marau

Synonyms

Palmijuncus scipionum (Loir.) Kuntze; Rotang scipionum (Lour.) Baill.;