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[[File:Thatiyan Cuural (Malayalam- തടിയന് ചൂരല്) (5661614812).jpg|thumbnail|''Calamus thwaitesii'' in southwestern India]] [[File:Daemonorops mollis (rattan palm) - Bukidnon Philippines.jpg|thumb|Juvenile ''Calamus oblongus'' subsp. ''mollis'' in a forest understory in the Philippines]]
'''Rattan''', also spelled '''ratan''' (from Malay: ''rotan''), is the name for roughly 600 species of Old World climbing palms belonging to subfamily Calamoideae. The greatest diversity of rattan palm species and genera are in the closed-canopy old-growth tropical forests of Southeast Asia, though they can also be found in other parts of tropical Asia and Africa.<ref name="dransfield">{{cite book |last1=Dransfield |first1=John |url=http://www.fao.org/3/y2783e/y2783e.pdf |title=Rattan: current research issues and prospects for conservation and sustainable development |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) |year=2002 |isbn=92-5-104691-3 |editor1-last=Dransfield |editor1-first=John |series=Non-Wood Forest Products 14 |pages=23–34 |chapter=General introduction to rattan - the biological background to exploitation and the history of rattan research |editor2-last=Tesoro |editor2-first=Florentino O. |editor3-last=Manokaran |editor3-first=N.}}</ref><ref name="Campbell2017"/> Most rattan palms are ecologically considered lianas due to their climbing habits, unlike other palm species. A few species also have tree-like or shrub-like habits.<ref name="Campbell2017"/>
Around 20% of rattan palm species are economically important and are traditionally used in Southeast Asia in producing wickerwork furniture, baskets, canes, woven mats, cordage, and other handicrafts. Rattan canes are one of the world's most valuable non-timber forest products. Some species of rattan also have edible scaly fruit and heart of palm. Despite increasing attempts in the last 30 years at commercial cultivation, almost all rattan products still come from wild-harvested plants. Rattan supplies are now rapidly threatened due to deforestation and overexploitation.<ref>{{cite book |title=Rattan: A Report of a Workshop held in Singapore, 4-6 June 1979 |date=1980 |publisher=International Development Research Centre |location=Ottawa |isbn=0-88936-251-3 |url=https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/10625/3701/IDL-3701.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y}}</ref><ref name="Stiegel">{{cite journal |last1=Stiegel |first1=Stephanie |last2=Kessler |first2=Michael |last3=Getto |first3=Daniela |last4=Thonhofer |first4=Joachim |last5=Siebert |first5=Stephen F. |title=Elevational patterns of species richness and density of rattan palms (Arecaceae: Calamoideae) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |date=August 2011 |volume=20 |issue=9 |pages=1987–2005 |doi=10.1007/s10531-011-0070-8|doi-access=free |bibcode=2011BiCon..20.1987S }}</ref> Rattan were also historically known as '''Manila cane''' or '''Malacca cane''', based on their trade origins, as well as numerous other trade names for individual species.<ref>Johnson, Dennis V. (2004): ''Rattan Glossary: And Compendium Glossary with Emphasis on Africa''. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, p. 22.</ref><ref name="Meicherczyk">{{cite journal |last1=Meicherczyk |first1=R. |title=Forest and timber industry of Paraguay and international co-operation |journal=Plant Research and Development |date=1989 |volume=29 |pages=25–37}}</ref>
== Description == [[File:Rattan Palm (Calamus rotang) with fruits (7844049166).jpg|thumb|Close-up of the edible scaly fruits and the spiny stem of ''Calamus rotang'' in Thailand]] Most rattan palms are classified ecologically as lianas because most mature rattan palms have a vine-like habit, scrambling through and over other vegetation. However, they are different from true woody lianas in several ways. Because rattans are palms, they do not branch and they rarely develop new root structures upon contact of the stem with soil. They are monocots, and thus, do not exhibit secondary growth. This means the diameter of the rattan stem is always constant: juvenile rattan palms have the same width as when adult, usually around {{convert|2|-|5|cm|in|abbr=off|frac=8}} in diameter, with long internodes between the leaves. This also means juvenile rattan palms are rigid enough to remain free-standing, unlike true lianas which always need structural support, even when young. Many rattans also have spines which act as hooks to aid climbing over other plants, and to deter herbivores. The spines also give rattans the ability to climb wide-diameter trees, unlike other vines which use tendrils or twining which can only climb narrower supports.<ref name="Campbell2017" /><ref name="dransfield" /> Rattans have been known to grow up to hundreds of metres long.
[[File:Sulawesi trsr ph20.jpg|thumb|Base of a clustering rattan palm in Sulawesi, Indonesia]] A few species of rattans are non-climbing. These range from free-standing tree-like species (like ''Calamus dumetosa'') to acaulescent shrub-like species with short subterranean stems (like ''Calamus pygmaeus'').<ref name="Dransfield1980">{{cite journal |last1=Dransfield |first1=John |date=1980 |title=''Retispatha'', a New Bornean Rattan Genus (Palmae: Lepidocaryoideae) |journal=Kew Bulletin |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=529–536 |doi=10.2307/4109828 |jstor=4109828|bibcode=1980KewBu..34..529D }}</ref>
Rattans can also be solitary (single-stemmed), clustering (clump-forming), or both. Solitary rattan species grow into a single stem. Clustering rattan, on the other hand, develop clumps of up to 50 stems via suckers, similar to bamboo and bananas. These clusters can produce new stems continually as individual stems die. The impact of harvesting is much greater in solitary species, since the whole plant dies when harvested. An example of a commercially important single-stemmed species is ''Calamus manan''. Clustering species, on the other hand, have more potential to become sustainable if the rate of harvesting does not exceed the rate of stem replacement via vegetative reproduction.<ref name="dransfield" />
Rattans display two types of flowering: hapaxanthy and pleonanthy. All the species of the genera ''Korthalsia'', ''Laccosperma'', ''Plectocomia'', ''Plectocomiopsis'', and ''Myrialepis'' are hapaxanthic; as well as a few species of ''Calamus''. This means they only flower and fruit once then die. All other rattan species are pleonanthic, being able to flower and fruit continually. Most commercially harvested species are pleonanthic, because hapaxanthic rattans tend to have soft piths making them unsuitable for bending.<ref name="dransfield" />
== Taxonomy == [[File:Plectoc elon 071211-2481 kbdg.JPG|thumb|Free-standing juvenile ''Plectocomia elongata'' in Indonesia]] Calamoideae includes tree palms such as ''Raffia'' (raphia) and ''Metroxylon'' (sago palm) and shrub palms such as ''Salacca'' (salak) (Uhl & Dransfield 1987 ''Genera Palmarum'').<ref name="dransfield" /> The climbing habit in palms is not restricted to Calamoideae, but has also evolved in three other evolutionary lines—tribes Cocoseae (''Desmoncus'' with c. 7–10 species in the New World tropics) and Areceae (''Dypsis scandens'' in Madagascar) in subfamily Arecoideae, and tribe Hyophorbeae (climbing species of the large genus ''Chamaedorea'' in Central America) in subfamily Ceroxyloideae.<ref name="species" /> They do not have spinose stems and climb by means of their reflexed terminal leaflets.<ref name="species" /> Of these only ''Desmoncus'' spp. furnish stems of sufficiently good quality to be used as rattan cane substitutes.<ref name="species" />
There are 13 different genera of rattans that include around 600 species.<ref name="species" /> Some of the species in these "rattan genera" have a different habit and do not climb, they are shrubby palms of the forest undergrowth; nevertheless they are close relatives to species that are climbers and they are hence included in the same genera.<ref name="dransfield" /><ref name="species" /> The largest rattan genus is ''Calamus'', distributed in Asia except for one species represented in Africa.<ref name="species" /> From the remaining rattan genera, ''Korthalsia'', ''Plectocomia'', ''Plectocomiopsis'', and ''Myrialepis'' are centered in Southeast Asia with outliers eastwards and northwards;<ref name="species">Terry C.H. Sunderland and John Dransfield. Species Profiles. Ratans. http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/y2783e/y2783e05.htm</ref> and three are endemic to Africa: ''Laccosperma'' (syn. ''Ancistrophyllum''), ''Eremospatha'' and ''Oncocalamus''.<ref name="species" />
The rattan genera and their distribution (Uhl & Dransfield 1987 ''Genera Palmarum'',<ref name="Uhl y Dransfield 1987" /> Dransfield 1992):<ref name="species" />
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- !Genus!!Number of species!! Distribution |- | ''Calamus'' L.||c. 480||Tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka, China, south and east to Fiji, Vanuatu and eastern Australia (synonyms including ''Daemonorops'') |- | ''Calospatha'' Becc.||–||Synonym of ''Calamus'' |- | ''Ceratolobus'' Bl.||–||Synonym of ''Calamus'' |- | ''Eremospatha'' (Mann & Wendl.) Wendl.||10||Humid tropical Africa |- | ''Korthalsia'' Bl.||c. 26||Indo-China and Burma to New Guinea |- | ''Laccosperma'' (Mann & Wendl.) Drude||5||Humid tropical Africa |- | ''Myrialepis'' Becc.||1||Indo-China, Thailand, Burma, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra |- | ''Oncocalamus'' (Wendl.) Wendl.||4||Humid tropical Africa |- | ''Plectocomia'' Mart.||c. 16||Himalayas and south China to western Malaysia |- | ''Plectocomiopsis'' Becc.||c. 5||Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra |- | ''Retispatha'' J. Dransf.||–||Synonym of ''Calamus'' |}
In Uhl & Dransfield (1987 ''Genera Palmarum'',<ref name="Uhl y Dransfield 1987">Uhl, N.W. & Dransfield, J., 1987. ''Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of H.E.Moore Jr.'' pp 610. The International Palm Society & the Bailey Hortorium, Kansas.</ref> 2ºed. 2008), and also Dransfield & Manokaran (1993<ref>Dransfield, J. & Manokaran, N. (eds), 1993. Rattans. ''PROSEA'' volume 6. Pudoc, Wageningen. pp 137.</ref>), a great deal of basic introductory information is available.<ref name="dransfield" />
Available rattan floras and monographs by region (2002<ref name="species" />):
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- !Region!!Reference |- | Peninsular Malaysia || Dransfield, 1979<ref>Dransfield, J., 1979. A ''Manual of the Rattans of the Malay Peninsula.'' Malayan Forest Records No. 29. Forestry Department. Malaysia.</ref> |- | Sabah || Dransfield, 1984<ref>Dransfield, J., 1984. ''The rattans of Sabah''. Sabah Forest Record No. 13. Forestry Department, Malaysia.</ref> |- | Sarawak || Dransfield, 1992a<ref>Dransfield, J., 1992a. ''The Rattans of Sarawak''. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Sarawak Forest Department.</ref> |- | Brunei || Dransfield, 1998<ref>Dransfield, J., 1998. ''The rattans of Brunei Darussalam. ''Forestry Department, Brunei Darussalam and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.</ref> |- | Sri Lanka || de Zoysa & Vivekanandan, 1994<ref>De Zoysa, N. & K. Vivekenandan, 1994. ''Rattans of Sri Lanka. ''Sri Lanka Forest Department. Batteramulla.</ref> |- | India (general) || Basu, 1992<ref>Basu, S.K., 1992. ''Rattan (canes) in India: a monographic revision.'' Rattan Information Centre. Kuala Lumpur.</ref> |- | India (Western Ghats) || Renuka, 1992<ref>Renuka, C., 1992. ''Rattans of the Western Ghats: A Taxonomic Manual.'' Kerala Forest Research Institute, India.</ref> |- | India (south) || Lakshmana, 1993<ref>Lakshmana, A.C., 1993. ''The rattans of South India.'' Evergreen Publishers. Bangalore. India.</ref> |- | Andaman and Nicobar Islands || Renuka, 1995<ref>Renuka, C., 1995. ''A manual of the rattans of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.'' Kerala Forest Research Institute, India.</ref> |- | Bangladesh || Alam, 1990<ref>Alam, M.K., 1990. ''The rattans of Bangladesh.'' Bangladesh Forest Research Institute. Dhaka.</ref> |- | Papua New Guinea || Johns & Taurereko, 1989a,<ref>Johns, R. & R. Taurereko, 1989a. A preliminary checklist of the collections of ''Calamus'' and ''Daemonorops'' from the Papuan region. ''Rattan Research Report'' 1989/2.</ref> 1989b<ref>Johns, R. & R. Taurereko, 1989b. A guide to the collection and description of ''Calamus'' (Palmae) from Papuasia. ''Rattan Research Report'' 1989/3</ref> (preliminary notes only) |- | Irian Jaya || Currently (2002) under study at Kew (Baker & Dransfield) |- | Indonesia || Dransfield and Mogea [to 2002 in prep.]; more field work needed |- | Laos || Currently (2002) in prep. (Evans) |- | Thailand || Hodel, 1998<ref>Hodel, D., 1998. ''The palms and cycads of Thailand.'' Allen Press. Kansas. USA.</ref> |- | Africa || Currently (2002) in prep. (Sunderland) |}
'''Uses by taxon'''.
The major commercial species of rattan canes as identified for Asia by Dransfield and Manokaran (1993) and for Africa, by Tuley (1995) and Sunderland (1999) (''Desmoncus'' not treated here):<ref name="species" />
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- !Species!!Distribution!!Conservation status |- |''Calamus caesius'' Bl.||Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines and Thailand. Also introduced to China and south Pacific for planting||Unknown |- |''Calamus egregius'' Burr.||Endemic to Hainan island, China, but introduced to southern China for cultivation||Unknown |- |''Calamus exilis'' Griffith||Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra||Not threatened |- |''Calamus javensis'' Bl.||Widespread in Southeast Asia||Not threatened |- |''Calamus manan'' Miq.||Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra||Threatened |- |''Calamus merrillii'' Becc.||Philippines||Threatened |- |''Calamus mindorensis'' Becc.||Philippines||Unknown |- |''Calamus optimus'' Becc.||Borneo and Sumatra. Cultivated in Kalimantan||Unknown |- |''Calamus ornatus'' Bl.|| Thailand, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, to the Philippines ||Unknown |- |''Calamus ovoideus'' Thwaites ex Trimen||Western Sri Lanka||Threatened |- |''Calamus palustris'' Griffith||Burma, southern China, to Malaysia and the Andaman Islands||Unknown |- |''Calamus pogonacanthus'' Becc. ex Winkler||Borneo||Unknown |- |''Calamus scipionum'' Loureiro||Burma, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo to Palawan||Unknown |- |''Calamus simplicifolius'' Wei||Endemic to Hainan island, China, but introduced to southern China for cultivation||Unknown |- |''Calamus subinermis'' (eddl. ex Becc.||Sabah, Sarawak, East Kalimantan and Palawan||Unknown |- |''Calamus tetradactylus'' Hance||Southern China. Introduced to Malaysia||Unknown |- |''Calamus trachycoleus'' Becc.||South and Central Kalimantan. Introduced into Malaysia for cultivation||Not threatened |- |''Calamus tumidus'' Furtado||Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra||Unknown |- |''Calamus wailong'' Pei & Chen||Southern China||Unknown |- |''Calamus zollingeri'' Becc.||Sulawesi and the Moluccas||Unknown |- |''Calamus jenkinsianus'' Griff.||Southern China||Unknown |- |''Calamus validus'' W.J.Baker||Indonesia, Sulawesi and the Moluccas||Unknown |- |''Calamus crinitus'' (Blume) Miq.||Peninsula Malaysia and Borneo||Unknown |- |''Eremospatha macrocarpa'' (Mann & Wendl.) Mann & Wendl.||Tropical Africa from Sierra Leone to Angola ||Not threatened |- |''Eremospatha haullevilleana'' de Wild.||Congo Basin to East Africa||<nowiki>-</nowiki> |- |''Laccosperma robustum'' (Burr.) J. Dransf.||Cameroon to Congo Basin||<nowiki>-</nowiki> |- |''Laccosperma secundiflorum'' (P. Beauv.) Mann & Wendl.||Tropical Africa from Sierra Leone to Angola||Not threatened |}
Utilized ''Calamus'' species canes:<ref name="appIII">Rattan Glossary. Appendix III. http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/Y5232E/y5232e07.htm#P5059_100907 In: RATTAN glossary and Compendium glossary with emphasis on Africa. ''NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS'' 16. FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</ref>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- ! Species of ''Calamus'' !! Notes of utilization |- | ''Calamus acanthospathus'' Griff. || Canes for bridge cables, basketry |- | ''Calamus andamanicus'' Kurz || Excellent large-diameter canes harvested for furniture industry; leaves for thatching |- | ''Calamus aruensis'' Becc. || Excellent quality medium- to large-diameter canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus arugda'' Becc. || Entire canes for handicrafts, furniture, basketry, etc., local and export markets |- | ''Calamus axillaris'' Becc. || Small-diameter canes for basketry, fish traps and tying |- | ''Calamus bacularis'' Becc. || Canes for walking-sticks |- | ''Calamus bicolor'' Becc. || Ornamental use of young plants |- | ''Calamus blumei'' Becc. || Canes of good quality but quantities insufficient for commercial use; canes for baskets and mats |- | ''Calamus boniensis'' Becc. ex Heyne || Probably sold together with other small-diameter canes |- | ''Calamus burckianus'' Becc. || Canes for broom handles |- | ''Calamus caesius'' Bl. || Canes for commercial and traditional uses |- | ''Calamus castaneus'' Becc. || Leaves for thatch; immature fruits in traditional medicine |- | ''Calamus ciliaris'' Bl. || Slender canes for weaving and binding; seedlings used as ornamentals |- | ''Calamus conirostris'' Becc. || Canes of poor quality, rarely used; fruit eaten |- | ''Calamus convallium'' J. Dransf. || Canes |- | ''Calamus cumingianus'' Becc. || Entire canes made into handicrafts, furniture and baskets |- | ''Calamus deërratus'' G. Mann & H. Wendl. || Canes for construction and weaving |- | ''Calamus densiflorus'' Becc. || Canes for making furniture and baskets |- | ''Calamus didymocarpus'' Warb. ex Becc. || Canes inferior but used for local furniture-making |- | ''Calamus diepenhorstii'' Miq. || Canes for tying, cordage, basketry, fish traps and noose traps |- | ''Calamus dimorphacanthus'' Becc. var. ''dimorphacanthus'' || Canes used for baskets, bags, tying, etc. for home industries |- | ''Calamus discolor'' Becc. || Young plants as ornamentals; canes for binding or tying |- | ''Calamus egregius'' Burr. || Excellent small- to medium-diameter canes for binding and weaving in furniture; new shoots edible |- | ''Calamus elmerianus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture, handicrafts and home industries |- | ''Calamus erioacanthus'' Becc. || Canes of good quality |- | ''Calamus exilis'' Griff. || Canes for binding, weaving, basketry, handicrafts |- | ''Calamus flabellatus'' Becc. || Canes for tying, binding and weaving |- | ''Calamus gamblei'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus gibbsianus'' Becc. || Canes for tying and weaving |- | ''Calamus gonospermus'' Becc. || Edible fruit |- | ''Calamus gracilis'' Roxb. || Canes for handicrafts |- | ''Calamus grandifolius'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus guruba'' (Buch-Ham) ex Mart. || Canes for basketry, chair seats |- | ''Calamus halconensis'' (Becc.) Baja-Lapis var. ''dimorphacanthus'' Becc. || Canes for chair frames, cables for ferry boats, hauling logs and as rigging on small sailboats; split canes for mats, basketry, fish traps, chair seats |- | ''Calamus heteroideus'' Bl. || Canes for cordage |- | ''Calamus hispidulus'' Becc. || Canes for weaving |- | ''Calamus hookerianus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture, basketry |- | ''Calamus huegelianus'' Mart. || Canes for basketry, chair frames, etc. |- | ''Calamus inermis'' T. Anders. || Canes for police sticks, chair frames |- | ''Calamus inops'' Becc. ex Heyne || Actual use of small- to medium-diameter canes not known |- | ''Calamus insignis'' Becc. || Split canes for basketry, cordage; spiny leaf-sheaths as food graters |- | ''Calamus javensis'' Bl. || Canes for cordage, basketry, noose traps, musical instruments; edible raw cabbage as medicine; spiny leaf-sheaths formerly used to make food graters |- | ''Calamus koordersianus'' Becc. || Canes locally for basket frames |- | ''Calamus laevigatus'' Mart. || Extensively collected as small-diameter cane, end-uses not documented |- | ''Calamus latifolius'' Roxb. || Canes for basketry, walking-sticks, furniture frames; split canes for chair seats |- | ''Calamus leiocaulis'' Becc. ex Heyne || Small-diameter canes extensively used to make furniture for local and export markets |- | ''Calamus leptospadix'' Griff. || Canes for basketry and chair seats |- | ''Calamus leptostachys'' Becc. ex Heyne || Excellent small-diameter canes for furniture and handicrafts for local and export markets |- | ''Calamus longisetus'' Griff. || Coarse cane for furniture; leaves for thatch; edible fruit |- | ''Calamus longispathus'' Ridl. || Young leaves occasionally as cigarette paper; fruits as medicine |- | ''Calamus luridus'' Becc. || Canes split for tying and binding |- | ''Calamus manan'' Miq. || Most desirable large-diameter canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus manillensis'' (Mart.) H. Wendl. || Edible fruit; canes of inferior quality for tying |- | ''Calamus marginatus'' (Bl.) Mart. || Poor quality but durable canes for basket frames and walking-sticks |- | ''Calamus mattanensis'' Becc. || Canes occasionally used to make coarse baskets |- | ''Calamus megaphyllus'' Becc. || Canes for basketry and tying |- | ''Calamus melanorhynchus'' Becc. || Canes for basketry and handicrafts |- | ''Calamus merrillii'' Becc. || Entire canes for chair frames, ferry boat cables, hauling logs, sailboat rigging; split canes for basketry, chairs, fish traps, etc. |- | ''Calamus microcarpus'' Becc. || Canes for basketry |- | ''Calamus microsphaerion'' Becc. || Entire canes for basketry |- | ''Calamus minahassae'' Becc. || Canes as cordage |- | ''Calamus mindorensis'' Becc. || Popular large-diameter canes for furniture; split canes for basketry, cordage |- | ''Calamus mitis'' Becc. || Canes for basketry and tying |- | ''Calamus moseleyanus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus multinervis'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus muricatus'' Becc. || Cabbage eaten |- | ''Calamus myriacanthus'' Becc. || Canes for walking-sticks, cages, basket frames |- | ''Calamus nagbettai'' Fernandez & Dey || Canes for basketry |- | ''Calamus nambariensis'' Becc. || Canes for handicrafts |- | ''Calamus optimus'' Becc. || Canes used to make mats, for weaving, to bind furniture and cordage |- | ''Calamus ornatus'' Bl. || Major use of canes for furniture; also for walking-sticks, handles for implements and flooring; leaves, cabbage and roots as medicine; fruits occasionally eaten |- | ''Calamus ovoideus'' Thwaites ex Trimen || Split canes for basketry; entire canes for furniture frames; split cane cores for crude woven products |- | ''Calamus oxleyanus'' Teysm. & Binnend. ex Miq. || Canes for walking-sticks |- | ''Calamus palustris'' Griff. || Canes excellent for furniture frames |- | ''Calamus pandanosmus'' Furt. || Canes |- | ''Calamus paspalanthus'' Becc. || Seedlings as potential ornamental; ripe fruit pickled and young shoot eaten |- | ''Calamus pedicellatus'' Becc. ex Heyne || Canes apparently of good quality for furniture |- | ''Calamus perakensis'' Becc. || Canes occasionally used for walking-sticks |- | ''Calamus peregrinus'' Furt. || Robust canes of good quality for furniture |- | ''Calamus pilosellus'' Becc. || Canes of good appearance but probably only for local use |- | ''Calamus pogonacanthus'' Becc. ex H. Winkler || Canes of good quality for tying, binding and making coarse mats |- | ''Calamus poilanei'' Conrad || Canes for handicrafts |- | ''Calamus polystachys'' Becc. || Coarse canes used for broom handles |- | ''Calamus pseudorivalis'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus pseudotenuis'' Becc. || Canes for basketry |- | ''Calamus pseudoulur'' Becc. || Canes for basketry, etc. |- | ''Calamus ramulosus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus reyesianus'' Becc. || Canes of small diameter use for furniture and basketry, local and international |- | ''Calamus rhomboideus'' Bl. || Canes possibly used to make baskets and mats |- | ''Calamus rhytidomus'' Becc. || Canes used locally for binding |- | ''Calamus rotang'' Linn. || Canes for basketry, chair seats |- | ''Calamus rudentum'' Lour. || Canes for handicrafts; edible fruit |- | ''Calamus ruvidus'' Becc. || Canes used for basketry and tying |- | ''Calamus scabridulus'' Becc. || Canes split for tying, thatching and cordage |- | ''Calamus scipionum'' Lour. || Canes for making moderate-quality furniture; walking-sticks, umbrella handles, etc. |- | ''Calamus sedens'' J. Dransf. || Canes sometimes used to make walking-sticks |- | ''Calamus semoi'' Becc. || Excellent quality cane; under cultivation in gardens |- | ''Calamus simplex'' Becc. || Canes for basketry |- | ''Calamus simplicifolius'' Wei || Good medium-diameter cane for furniture, binding, weaving, basketry, etc.; new shoots edible |- | ''Calamus siphonospathus'' Mart. || Canes for basketry and tying |- | ''Calamus solitarius'' T. Evans et al. || Canes for handicrafts |- | ''Calamus spinifolius'' Becc. || Canes for basketry and tying |- | ''Calamus subinermis'' H. Wendl. ex Becc. || Canes for furniture frames; cabbage cooked as a vegetable; fruit sometimes eaten |- | ''Calamus symphysipus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus tenuis'' Roxb. || Canes for basketry; fruits and young shoots eaten |- | ''Calamus tetradactylus'' Hance || Small-diameter canes for handicrafts, basketry and furniture |- | ''Calamus thwaitesii'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus tomentosus'' Becc. || Canes for tying and binding |- | ''Calamus trachycoleus'' Becc. || Canes used as skin peels for weaving chair seats and back; unsplit for furniture; basketry, mats, fish traps, cordage |- | ''Calamus travancoricus'' Bedd. ex Becc. & Hook || Canes for handicrafts and furniture |- | ''Calamus trispermus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus tumidus'' Furt. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus ulur'' Becc. || Split canes for cordage |- | ''Calamus unifarius'' H. Wendl. || Canes locally for furniture |- | ''Calamus usitatus'' Becc. || Canes for basketry, furniture and handicrafts |- | ''Calamus vidalianus'' Becc. || Canes for furniture |- | ''Calamus viminalis'' Willd. || Canes locally for basketry and matting |- | ''Calamus wailong'' S.J. Pei & S.Y. Chen || Canes for weaving and furniture |- | ''Calamus warburgii'' K. Schum. || Canes locally for basket frames |- | ''Calamus ollingeri'' Becc. || Canes for furniture frames |}
Other traditional uses of rattans by species:<ref name="species" />
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- ! Product / Use !! Species |- | Fruit eaten || ''Calamus conirostris''; ''Calamus longisetus''; ''Calamus manillensis''; ''Calamus merrillii''; ''Calamus ornatus''; ''Calamus paspalanthus''; ''Calamus subinermis''; ''Calamus viminalis''; ''Calamus calospathus'' (syn. ''Calospatha scortechinii''); ''Calamus ingens'' |- | Palm heart eaten || ''Calamus deerratus''; ''Calamus egregius''; ''Calamus javensis''; ''Calamus muricatus''; ''Calamus paspalanthus''; ''Calamus siamensis''; ''Calamus simplicifolius''; ''Calamus subinermis''; ''Calamus tenuis''; ''Calamus viminalis''; ''Calamus melanochaetes'' (syns. ''Daemonorops melanochaetes'', ''Daemonorops fissa'', ''Daemonorops margaritae'', ''Daemonorops schmidtiana''); ''Calamus longibracteatus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops longispatha''); ''Calamus periacanthus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops periacantha''); ''Calamus scapigerus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops scapigera''); ''Calamus sparsiflorus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops sparsiflora''); ''Laccosperma secundiflorum''; ''Plectocompiopsis geminiflora'' (and ''Calamus jenkinsianus''.<ref name="glossary" />) |- | Fruit used in traditional medicine || ''Calamus castaneus''; ''Calamus longispathus''; ''Calamus gracilipes'' (syn. ''Daemonorops didymophylla'') |- | Palm heart in traditional medicine || ''Calamus exilis''; ''Calamus javensis''; ''Calamus ornatus''; ''Calamus melanochaetes'' (syn. ''Daemonorops grandis''); ''Korthalsia rigida'' |- | Fruit as source of red resin exuded between scales, used medicinally and as a dye (one source of "dragon's blood") || ''Calamus gracilipes'' (syn. ''Daemonorops didymophylla''); ''Calamus draco'' (syn. ''Daemonorops draco''); ''Calamus maculatus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops maculata''); ''Calamus micracanthus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops micracantha''); ''Calamus propinquus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops propinqua''); ''Calamus ruber'' (syn. ''Daemonorops rubra'') |- | Leaves for thatching || ''Calamus andamanicus''; ''Calamus castaneus''; ''Calamus longisetus''; ''Calamus calicarpus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops calicarpa''); ''Calamus oblongus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops elongata''); ''Calamus melanochaetes'' (syns. ''Daemonorops grandis'', ''Daemonorops manii''); ''Calamus ingens'' |- | Leaflet as cigarette paper || ''Calamus longispathus''; ''Calamus leptopus'' (syn. ''Daemonorops leptopus'') |- | Leaves chewed as vermifuge || ''Laccosperma secundiflorum'' |- | Roots used as treatment for syphilis || ''Eremospatha macrocarpa'' |- | Leaf sheath used as toothbrush || ''Eremospatha wendlandiana''; ''Oncocalamus'' sp. |- | Leaf sheath/petiole as grater || ''Calamus'' sp. (undescribed sp. from Bali); |- | Rachis for fishing pole || ''Calamus melanochaetes'' (syn. ''Daemonorops grandis''); ''Laccosperma secundiflorum'' |}
=== Etymology === The name "rattan" is first attested in English in the 1650s. It is derived from the Malay name {{lang|ms|rotan}}. Probably ultimately from {{lang|ms|rautan}} (from {{lang|ms|raut}}, 'to trim' or 'to pare').<ref>{{cite web |title=rattan |url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/rattan |access-date=21 May 2021 |website=Oxford Learner's Dictionaries}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=rattan |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/rattan |access-date=21 May 2021 |website=Etymonline}}</ref>
== Ecology == Many rattan species also form mutualistic relationships with ant species. They provide ant shelters (myrmecodomatia) like hollow spines, funnel-shaped leaves, or leaf sheath extensions (ochreae). The rattans in turn, gain protection from herbivores.<ref name="dransfield"/><ref name="Liu">{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Kunpeng |last2=Mansor |first2=Asyraf |last3=Ruppert |first3=Nadine |last4=Lee |first4=Chow Yang |last5=Azman |first5=Nur Munira |last6=Fadzly |first6=Nik |title=Rattan litter-collecting structures attract nest-building and defending ants |journal=Plant Signaling & Behavior |date=2019-08-03 |volume=14 |issue=8 |article-number=1621245 |doi=10.1080/15592324.2019.1621245|pmid=31132922 | pmc=6619969 |language=en |issn=1559-2324|doi-access=free |bibcode=2019PlSiB..1421245L }}</ref>
== Conservation == [[File:USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan) (39395439285).jpg|thumb|Rattan (center) in an old-growth forest in Palawan, Philippines]] Rattans are threatened with overexploitation, as harvesters are cutting stems too young and reducing their ability to resprout.<ref>MacKinnon, K. (1998) Sustainable use as a conservation tool in the forests of South-East Asia. Conservation of Biological Resources (E.J. Milner Gulland & R Mace, eds), pp 174–192. Blackwell Science, Oxford.</ref> Unsustainable harvesting of rattan can lead to forest degradation, affecting overall forest ecosystem services. Processing can also be polluting. The use of toxic chemicals and petrol in the processing of rattan affects soil, air and water resources, and also ultimately people's health. Meanwhile, the conventional method of rattan production is threatening the plant's long-term supply, and the income of workers.<ref>{{cite web |title= WWF Rattan Switch project |url= http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/greatermekong/our_solutions/sustainablerattan/benefits/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100803194026/http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/greatermekong/our_solutions/sustainablerattan/benefits/ |archive-date= 3 August 2010 |publisher= WWF |date=July 2010 |access-date=16 July 2010}}</ref>
Rattans also exhibit rapid population growths in disturbed forest edges due to higher light availability than in the closed-canopy old-growth tropical forests. Although this can mean increased rattan abundance for economic exploitation, it can also be problematic in long-term conservation efforts.<ref name="Campbell2017">{{cite journal |last1=Campbell |first1=Mason J. |last2=Edwards |first2=Will |last3=Magrach |first3=Ainhoa |last4=Laurance |first4=Susan G. |last5=Alamgir |first5=Mohammed |last6=Porolak |first6=Gabriel |last7=Laurance |first7=William F. |title=Forest edge disturbance increases rattan abundance in tropical rain forest fragments |journal=Scientific Reports |date=December 2017 |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=6071 |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-06590-5|pmid=28729670 |pmc=5519600 |bibcode=2017NatSR...7.6071C |doi-access=free }}</ref>
Rattan harvesting from the wild in most rattan-producing countries requires permits. These include the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Laos, Ghana, and Cameroon. In addition, the Philippines also imposes an annual allowable cut in an effort to conserve rattan resources. Rattan cultivation (both monoculture and intercropping) is also being researched and pioneered in some countries, though it is still a young industry and only constitutes a minority of the rattan resources harvested annually.<ref name="dransfield2">{{cite book |editor1-first=John |editor1-last= Dransfield |editor2-first=Florentino O. |editor2-last=Tesoro |editor3-first=N. |editor3-last= Manokaran |title =Rattan: current research issues and prospects for conservation and sustainable development |publisher=UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) |series =Non-Wood Forest Products 14 |year =2002 |isbn=92-5-104691-3 |url= http://www.fao.org/3/y2783e/y2783e.pdf}}</ref>
== Uses == [[File:USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan) (39395623355).jpg|thumb|Wild-harvested rattan canes being treated and dried in Palawan, Philippines]][[File:USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan) (39395668055).jpg|thumb|Worker harvesting rattan from an old-growth forest in the Philippines]] In forests where rattan grows, its economic value can play a crucial role in conservation efforts. By offering an alternative source of income, rattan harvesting can deter loggers from engaging in timber logging. Harvesting rattan canes is simpler and requires less sophisticated tools compared to logging operations. Furthermore, rattan grows rapidly, which facilitates quicker replenishment compared to tropical wood species.This economic incentive supports forest maintenance by providing a profitable crop that complements rather than competes with trees. However, the long-term profitability and utility of rattan compared to other alternatives remain subjects of ongoing evaluation and study.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
Cleaned rattan stems with the leaf sheaths removed are superficially similar to bamboo. Unlike bamboo, rattan stems are not hollow. Most (70%) of the world's rattan population exists in Indonesia, distributed among the islands Borneo, Sulawesi, and Sumbawa. The rest of the world's supply comes from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Assam, India. {{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}
=== Food source === [[File:Pickled_Littuko_Calamus_manillensis_vinegar3.jpg|thumbnail|right|Pickled ''lituko'' (''Calamus manillensis'' fruits) from Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines]] Some rattan fruits are edible, with a sour taste akin to citrus. The fruit of some rattans exudes a red resin called dragon's blood; this resin was thought to have medicinal properties in antiquity and was used as a dye for violins, among other things.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rattan |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/rattan.aspx |website=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref> The resin normally results in a wood with a light peach hue.
The stem tips are rich in starch, and can be eaten raw or roasted. Long stems can be cut to obtain potable water. The palm heart can also be eaten raw or cooked.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |others=United States Department of the Army |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60239-692-0 |location=New York |page=83 |language=en-US |oclc=277203364}}</ref>
=== Medicinal potential === In early 2010, scientists in Italy announced that rattan wood would be used in a new "wood to bone" process for the production of artificial bone. The process takes small pieces of rattan and places them in a furnace. Calcium and carbon are added. The wood is then further heated under intense pressure in another oven-like machine, and a phosphate solution is introduced. This process produces almost an exact replica of bone material. The process takes about 10 days. At the time of the announcement the bone was being tested in sheep, and there had been no signs of rejection. Particles from the sheep's bodies have migrated to the "wood bone" and formed long, continuous bones. The new bone-from-wood programme is being funded by the European Union. By 2023, experimental implants into humans were taking place.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc=9958041 | date=2023 | last1=Alt | first1=V. | last2=Walter | first2=N. | last3=Rupp | first3=M. | last4=Begué | first4=T. | last5=Plecko | first5=M. | title=Bone defect filling with a novel rattan-wood based not-sintered hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate material ({{not a typo|b.Bone™}}) after tricortical bone graft harvesting – A consecutive clinical case series of 9 patients | journal=Trauma Case Reports | volume=44 | doi=10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100805 | pmid=36851907 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.scidev.net/global/news/rattan-wood-bone-implants-near-human-trials/ Rattan wood bone implants near human trials], SciDevNet, by Andrea Rinaldi, 30 Nov 2015</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 January 2010 |title=Turning wood into bones |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446637.stm |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> A scientific payload to study a Rattan-wood artificial bone scaffold will be sent to the International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-34.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dodson |first1=Gerelle Q. |title=NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 34th Station Resupply Launch, Arrival |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-spacex-34th-station-resupply-launch-arrival/ |website=NASA |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref>
=== Rattan handicrafts and furniture === [[File:San Antonio Pasit Adaline Fashion Boutique solihiya bagF.jpg|thumb|{{lang|tl|Solihiya}}, a traditional woven rattan pattern from the Philippines]] Rattan is extensively used for making handicrafts (like baskets), furniture, and decorative art. Generally, raw rattan is processed into several products to be used as materials. Whole rattan stems can be used like wood as the framework for furniture and larger handicrafts. It can accept paints and stains much like other types of wood. The outer layers can be pared off into strips, to be used as rattan weaving material. Rattan is a popular material for furniture-making, mainly because it is lightweight, durable, and, to a certain extent, flexible and suitable for outdoor use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/y2783e/y2783e06.htm|title=THE RESOURCE, ITS USES AND PRESENT ACTION PROGRAMMES|website=www.fao.org|access-date=2020-04-24}}</ref>
[[File:The Yoda Chair, one of Kenneth Cobonpue's most iconic designs.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Yoda Chair, one of the most iconic rattan chair designs of Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue]] [[File:066a Josepinism Style Furniture.jpg|thumb|upright|Wiener Geflecht Chair, Josephinism style, typical Viennese, around 1780. The seat and back wickerwork panels are woven of rattan, while the frame is hardwood.]] Woven rattan panels in various patterns are also used for furniture whose framework can be made of rattan canes or from hardwood. One of the most common weaving patterns is the {{lang|tl|solihiya}} (also spelled ''sulihiya'', from Spanish {{lang|es|celosía}}, "latticework"), a traditional open weaving pattern originating from the Philippines. It features a distinctive repetitive grid of sunburst shapes with large hexagonal gaps, allowing air to freely flow through, a necessity in the hot tropics. This weaving pattern (originally used in wall panels and baskets) became incorporated into traditional long-armed lounge chairs ({{lang|es|butaca}}) and for siesta day beds ({{lang|tl|papag}}) during the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines before spreading throughout Southeast Asia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Material World: Reasons We Love Rattan Furniture |url=https://livingdna.sg/blogs/stories/material-world-reasons-we-love-rattan-furniture?srsltid=AfmBOordfLzQavfQpgxhxvKqH97OVl5ISbHosW3H7Vs2nmIsZPutuPTO |website=Living DNA |access-date=19 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solihiya |url=https://fameplus.com/touchpoint/solihiya |website=FAME+ |access-date=19 October 2025}}</ref>
The standard six-way {{lang|tl|solihiya}} weave with hexagonal holes is more accurately known as the {{lang|tl|sampayan}}. It has several variations, including a simpler four-way weave ({{lang|tl|sinulid}}), more intricate diamond weaves (used for high-end furniture and decorative items), and stronger double weaves (which feature two layers of rattan woven together for extra strength).<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Solihiya? |url=https://www.scandihomeph.com/what-is-solihiya/?srsltid=AfmBOoqtNhfuPZTOF-_1lvVriOl0YnAAKI3MuIEAj_5zHyE7POmP9alk |website=Scandi Home |access-date=19 October 2025}}</ref>
In Europe, an identical pattern to the six-way {{lang|tl|solihiya}} weave is known as the ''Wiener Geflecht'' ("Viennese Braiding"), as it first became popular in 18th century Vienna. This pattern was later prominently used by Thonet for their No. 14 chair.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150" style="line-height:130%"> File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Indonesiërs maken meubelstukken van rotan Zuid-Celebes TMnr 10011484.jpg|Indonesians making rattan furniture, {{Circa|1948}} File:Rattan chair.jpg|A rattan chair File:Rattan sepak tawraw ball.png|A rattan ball of Sepak takraw File:USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan) (25421842347).jpg|Craftsman in the Philippines heat bending rattan for furniture-making File:Cane Furniture Maker, Kwara State, Nigeria.jpg|Craftsman weaving a basket made from split rattan in Nigeria File:Rottingkorg - Rattan Basket - Sweden-2023.jpg |A basket made of rattan File:Bawod Chair.jpg|Bawod ("Wave") rattan chair by Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, a modern design using traditional Cebuano basket-weaving techniques </gallery>
===Clothing=== Traditionally, the women of the Wemale ethnic group of Seram Island, Indonesia wore rattan girdles around their waist.<ref>{{cite book|author=Piper, Jaqueline M. |title=Bamboo and rattan, traditional uses and beliefs|publisher= Oxford University Press|date= 1995|isbn= 978-0-19-588998-7}}</ref>
=== Corporal punishment === {{See also|Caning}} Thin rattan canes were the standard implement for school corporal punishment in England and Wales, and are still used for this purpose in schools in Malaysia, Singapore, and several African countries. Similar canes are used for military punishments in the Singapore Armed Forces.<ref name="counsga">{{cite web |url= http://www.corpun.com/counsga.htm |title= Singapore: Caning in the military forces |website= World Corporal Punishment Research |date=January 2019}} (Includes a photograph of a military caning in progress)</ref> Heavier canes, also of rattan, are used for judicial corporal punishments in Aceh, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.corpun.com/singfeat.htm |title=Judicial caning in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei |website= World Corporal Punishment Research |date=January 2019}}</ref>
=== Wicks === Rattan is the preferred natural material used to wick essential oils in aroma reed diffusers (commonly used in aromatherapy, or merely to scent closets, passageways, and rooms), because each rattan reed contains 20 or more permeable channels that wick the oil from the container up the stem and release fragrance into the air, through an evaporation diffusion process. In contrast, reeds made from bamboo contain nodes that inhibit the passage of essential oils.<ref>{{cite web|website=The Diffusery|url=http://www.thediffusery.com/faqs.htm#Q3|title=FAQS: Questions: Question 3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=Avotion|url=http://avotion.com/faqs.htm#Q2|title=FAQS: Questions: Question 2|access-date=8 June 2017|archive-date=26 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026063626/http://avotion.com/faqs.htm#Q2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reeddiffusershop.com/how-to-choose-the-best-diffuser-reeds/|website=Reed Diffuser Guide|title=How To Choose The Best Diffuser Reeds|date=14 January 2012 }}</ref>
=== Shelter material === Most natives or locals from the rattan rich countries{{where|date=June 2017}} employ the aid of this sturdy plant in their home building projects. It is heavily used as a housing material in rural areas. The skin of the plant or wood is primarily used for weaving.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}
===Tools and equipment=== Due to its durability and resistance to splintering, sections of rattan can be used as canes, crooks for high-end umbrellas, or staves for martial arts. Rattan sticks {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=in}} long, called ''baston'', are used in Filipino martial arts, especially Arnis/Eskrima/Kali and for the striking weapons in the Society for Creative Anachronism's full-contact "armoured combat".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sca.org/officers/chatelain/sca-intro.html |title=What is the SCA? |website=Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc |quote=Since we prefer that no one gets hurt, SCA combatants wear real armor and use rattan swords. |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Marshals' Handbook |url=http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/marshal_handbook.pdf |publisher=Society for Creative Anachronism |date=March 2007 |edition=March 2007 revision |access-date=16 March 2010 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610060416/http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/marshal_handbook.pdf }}</ref>
Rattan cane is also used traditionally to make polo mallets, though only a small portion of cane harvested (roughly 3%) is strong, flexible, and durable enough to be made into sticks for polo mallets, and popularity of rattan mallets is waning next the more modern variant, fibrecanes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}
Along with birch and bamboo, rattan is a common material used for the handles in percussion mallets, especially mallets for keyboard percussion, ''e.g.'', marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, etc.
===Weaponry=== [[File:Krieger 1926 Philippine ethnic weapons Plate 6.png|thumb|''Sibat'' spears from the Philippines]] [[File:Visayan talibong rattan ferrule 2.jpg|thumb|Rattan ferrule on the hilt of a Visayan {{lang|ceb|talibong}} sword from the Philippines, {{circa|early 20th century}}]] Fire-hardened rattan were commonly used as the shafts of Philippine spears collectively known as ''sibat''. They were fitted with a variety of iron spearheads and ranged from short throwing versions to heavy thrusting weapons. They were used for hunting, fishing, or warfare (both land and naval warfare). The rattan shafts of war spears are usually elaborately ornamented with carvings and metal inlays.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Krieger |first1=Herbert W. |title=The Collection of Primitive Weapons and Armor of the Philippine Islands in the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution |journal=United States National Museum Bulletin |date=1926 |volume=137}}</ref> Arnis also makes prominent use of rattan as "arnis sticks", commonly called ''yantok'' or ''baston''. Their durability and weight makes it ideal for training with complex execution of techniques as well as being a choice of weapon, even against bladed objects.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://pekiti-global-city.com/use-rattan/|title = Why use Rattan?| work=Pekiti Tirsia Kali Global City - Filipino Martial Art and Self Defense - Taguig |date = 16 January 2015|access-date = 11 December 2018|archive-date = 26 October 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221026063626/http://pekiti-global-city.com/use-rattan/}}</ref>
Round shields known as ''taming'' from various ethnic groups in the Philippines and parts of Borneo can also be made from tightly-woven rattan.<ref name="Mallari">{{cite web |last1=Mallari |first1=Perry Gil S. |title=Kalasag: THe Filipino War Shield |url=https://fmapulse.com/fma-corner/fma-corner-kalasag-filipino-war-shield/ |website=FMA Pulse |date=8 December 2010 |access-date=12 April 2025}}</ref>
Rattan shields were historically used in ancient, medieval and early modern China and Korea. According to some contemporary sources, they were reasonably effective against both arrows and early firearms.<ref name="Fu1966">{{cite book|author=Lo-shu Fu|title=A Documentary Chronicle of Sino-Western Relations, 1644-1820: Translated texts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VuXoAAAAIAAJ&q=Lo-Shu+Fu,+A+Documentary+Chronicle+of+Sino-western+Relations|year=1966|publisher=Published for the Association for Asian Studies by the University of Arizona Press|page=80|isbn=978-0-8165-0151-9}}</ref>
It sees also prominent use in battle re-enactments as stand-ins to potentially lethal weapons.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.darksword-armory.com/a-tale-of-two-western-martial-arts/ | title=Blog | work=Darksword Armory | date=3 November 2015 | access-date=11 December 2018 | archive-date=6 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806194245/https://www.darksword-armory.com/a-tale-of-two-western-martial-arts/ }}</ref>
Rattan can also be used to build a functional sword that delivers a non-lethal but similar impact compared to steel counterparts.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://willscommonplacebook.blogspot.com/2007/09/building-sword-for-rattan-combat.html |title = A Commonplace Book: Building a Sword for Rattan Combat|date = 11 September 2007}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="glossary">Rattan Glossary. https://rattantan.com/ In: RATTAN glossary and Compendium glossary with emphasis on Africa. ''NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS'' 16. FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/Y5232E/y5232e00.htm#TopOfPage</ref> }}
== Further reading == * Siebert, Stephen F. (2012). ''The Nature and Culture of Rattan: Reflections on Vanishing Life in the Forests of Southeast Asia''. University of Hawaiʻi Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8248-3536-1}}.
== External links == * {{commonscat-inline}} {{Wiktionary|rattan}} * {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Rattan|short=x}} * {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Rattan|short=x}}
{{fibers}} {{Non-timber forest products}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Calamoideae Category:Fiber plants Category:Non-timber forest products Category:Arecaceae Category:Spanking Category:Wood Category:Palm trees in culture