89 



The leaves appear to be arranged alternately on the stem, 

 due to the rapid growth of the internodes. That they really 

 have a spiral arrangement may be determined by examining 

 the crown of the plant. The whole leaf is of a feathery 

 appearance and is made up of leaflets which vary in number 

 for the different species. These leaflets are usually long 

 and slender, though other types also occur. They diminish 

 in width toward the petiole (rachis) and are attached to 

 it by a very narrow base. The blades of the leaflets are 

 fine in texture and although of the same green color on 

 both sides, the upper surface is usually shiny and the lower 

 dull. The basal portion of the leaf is called the leaf sheath 

 and envelopes the stem completely so that the whole stem 

 of the growing rattan is made up on the outside of these 

 leaf sheaths. 



At present about 17 species of Calamus are known in 

 the Philippines. The most important commercially being 

 Calamus mollis which is used in the manufacture of hats. 



UAY. 



(Calamus mollis.) 



Uay (Bulacan, Cavite, Cebu, Bohol, Oriental Negros, Pangasinan) ; 

 babuyan (Zambal in Zambales) ; bari (Iban.) ; barit (II. in 

 Tarlac, Union, Zambales) ; bejuco (Sp.) ; hanapas (Albay) ; oey 

 (Pangasinan) ; tagalwa (Leyte) ; tagocan (Oriental Negros) ; 

 yantoc (Cavite). 



This plant is a slender, climbing palm from two to many 

 meters in length and with stem from 10 to 12 mm. in 

 diameter. The longer palms especially are armed with 

 sharp, slender spines. The leaflets are from 40 to 80 cm. 

 long and are made up of leaflets, the largest of which are 

 20 to 40 cm. in length and 20 to 25 mm. in width. The 

 flowers are yellow and fragrant and the fruits are numerous, 

 ellipsoid in shape, and about 1 cm. long. 



PREPARATION. 



Like all rattans, the stems of this species are easily pre- 

 pared by removing with a sharp knife the leaf sheaths that 

 surround them. The stems are then cleaned and cut off 

 at the joints; the internodes being about 45 cm. in length 



