Rotan kesup, Limuran
Calamus ornatus

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A climbing palm. There are spines along the stem. The stems are 8 cm thick. It can grow 70 m long. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. These are large and dark green. The leaves are 4-5 m long. The leaflets are lance shaped, very large and equally spaced. The leaflets are 1m long and widely spaced. There is a whip like process on the stem. This can be 6 m long. The fruit are large and the seed is four sided. The fruit are red, scaly and 3.5 cm across. They have edible flesh.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. They need a shady place and a well drained soil. They are most abundant at low and medium altitudes in virgin forests. They are found throughout the Philippines.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, Sarawak, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The bud is roasted and eaten. The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw. The freshly cut stem gives good drinking water. Fruit eaten plain or made into a sambal in Brunei.

The fruit are sold in markets in Brunei.

Edible parts

Fruit, sap, cabbage, growing tip, palm heart, shoots

How it is grown

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Limuran, Rotan dok, Wi jelayan

Synonyms

Calamus aureus Reinw. ex Mart.; Calamus ornatus var. philippinensis Becc.; and others