160 PHILIPPINE PALMS 
Locally, the rattan palms are of very great importance, yet 
the exports of the prepared cane are negligible at the present 
time. The stems vary considerably in size, depending on the 
species, the Philippine forms ranging from less than one-half 
centimeter to as much as 5 centimeters in diameter. All of 
our species are climbing, some of them reaching such lengths 
as 100 to 200 meters. In a few species, the slightly swollen 
basal part, just above the surface of the ground, contains a 
considerable amount of starch and is sometimes roasted and 
eaten by woodsmen who run out of food. The bud of some 
species is likewise edible, but in most species is too bitter. The 
species commonly eaten have a mild bitter flavor, very like that 
of dandelion salad. A few species have an edible, gelatinous 
pulp, either sweet or sour, surrounding the seed. The stems 
of certain forms produce good drinking water, a feature of 
considerable importance to the woodsman when drinking water 
is not otherwise available. 
The real value of the rattan palms, however, is found in the 
very long stems, which are of uniform diameter throughout, 
except for the very base and apex. 
The outer portion of these stems, or so-called canes, has great 
tensile strength, while the outer surface is very hard. 
The rattan-gatherer enters the forest, selects the cane he 
desires, cuts it off just above the surface of the ground, and 
pulls down the entire plant, whose tip is in the tops of the 
tallest trees. The palm is then stripped of leaves and the cane 
cut into convenient lengths, ranging from 3 to 6 meters, which 
are bent sharply at the middle and tied into bundles for con- 
venient transportation. The external part may be stripped from 
the cane right in the forest, or the entire canes may be trans- 
ported, depending on how the product is to be utilized. The 
entire stems of species that are of a proper size are used for 
making ‘“bent-wood”’ chair frames, as cables for ferry boats, 
for hauling logs, standing-rigging on small sailing-vessels, and 
sometimes to support short suspension bridges. The split canes 
are used for making mats, hats, baskets, chairs, various types 
of fish traps, and the bottoms and backs of the so-called “cane- 
bottomed” chairs, these latter being the most familiar products 
made from the rattan palm. The interior part of the stem is 
softer than the outer part; but split into strips, or in the form of 
round rods left after peeling off the cortex, it is much utilized 
in making so-called “reed’’ furniture. Among the Moham- 
medan inhabitants of the Philippines, the entire canes are used 
for making a peculiar kind of mat or screen. The canes are 
