C'ANKS AND RATTANS 



CALAMUS 



SPECIES 



CALAMUS, Linn, i Fl. Br. Ind., vi., 436-62; Beccari, Rec. Bot. 



ii., 197-230; Gamble, Man. Ind. Timbs., 1902, 734-7; Mason, 



/ Its People (ed. Theobald), ii., 137-9 ; Brandis, Ind. Trees., 



i -4 ; PALMED. A genus of tropical palms, often climbing ; 



ong rope-like stems of several species constitute the chief qualities 



e " Canes and Rattans " of commerce. 



History. Rattan, it may be explained, is synonymous with Cane, is 

 1. 1 identical, being the Malay word rotan a cane. In modern 

 word " reed " denotes as a rule a hollow grass-stem (the 

 iboo is an arborescent reed), and the word " cane " implies a solid 

 i-sti-iii. The separation into canes and reeds, whether etymologically 

 ct or not, is a convenient industrial distinction. In fact the only 

 iirable exception might be made in the case of the solid bamboos 

 lie bamboos, as they are often called). These are used as walking- 

 icks, lance-shafts, and even more directly for some of the purposes for 

 iich the true canes are specially employed. But certain species of one 

 two other genera of palms such as Dtt'inonoroptt and flectoctunia 

 used indiscriminately with those of Calamus as true canes. 

 Species and Varieties. Before proceeding to discuss the Indian 

 le in " Canes and Rattans " or to furnish particulars regarding the 

 ciated industry of Basket or Wicker-work, it may be desirable to 

 imerate the more important species and to exhibit, while doing so, 

 jir habitats, their better-known vernacular names, and their special or 

 idividual properties and uses : 



Calamus acanthospathus, Qriff. , the gouri-bet, pukka-bet, rue, ru, etc. An 

 ensive climber found in Eastern Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and the Khasia hills 

 altitudes of 2,000 to 6,000 feet. Gamble says, " the best of the rattan canes 

 Sikkim. The canes are rather thick, and where obtainable are used for cane- 

 Iges, chair-making, and walking-sticks, but are now getting scarce." 

 C. gracilis, Roxb., Fl. Ind., iii., 781. The mapuribet, kraipang, hundi-bet. 

 jper Assam, the Khasia hills, Cachar and Chittagong a species with very 

 ider canes. 



C. Guruba, Ham., in Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm, iii., 206, t. 175, f. 1; 

 ynorops Guruba, Mart., I.e. 330, var. Mastersianus and var. Hamiltonianus). 

 keyini (or kyeing-ni), sundi-bet, quabi-bet. A scandent plant met with in the 

 sts of Bengal, Assam, the Khasia hills, Chittagong and Burma. The slender 

 ics are used in basket-work. 



C. latifollus, Roxb., Fl. Ind., iii., 775; Beccari (I.e. 211) regards macracanthus 

 \ a subspecies. The dangribet, brul, korak-bet, sain, yama, yamata kyeir (or yan-ma- 

 hta) ; and var. macracanthus ruebee, rabi, groom, phekori-bet. A stout climber 

 found in the Sikkim Himalaya, the Terai and East Bengal to Assam, Chittagong 

 and Burma. These canes are very strong and much in demand for walking-sticks 

 and all forms of basket-work ; the brul has the reputation of being best suited 

 for walking-sticks. This is by far the strongest cane that finds its way into 

 Indian trade at all plentifully. By most persons, in fact, it would very possibly 

 be regarded as the true rattan of the commerce of the Eastern side of India 

 and of the greater part of Burma. 



C. leptospadix, Griff. The lat, chemchun a scandent slender species of the 

 dump valleys of the Eastern Himalaya and Terai swamps, the Khasia and 

 Naga hills and Manipur. Canes thin and apparently not of much value, though 

 used locally. 



C. Rotang, Linn. ,- Roxb., Fl. Ind., iii., 777 ; Fl. Br. Ind., vi., 447 ; 

 Mart., Hist. Nat. Palm, iii., 334, t. 116, f. 8 ; Blume, Rumphia, 1847, iii., 33 ; 

 C. Roxburghii, Griff., in Cole. Journ. Nat. Hist., v., 43 ; C. monicua, Roxb., I.e. 783 ; 

 C. scipionum, partly Lamk., Encycl., vi., 304; Dodge, Useful Fibre Plants of the 

 World, 102. A very numerous assortment of vernaculars might be given for this 

 plant such as : bet, bent, pepa, pemu, prabba, veta, natar, perambu, rotan, etc. 

 An extensive climber found in the Central Provinces, the Deccan, Karnatak, 

 Konkan and Ceylon. According to Roxburgh it is a native of Bengal and the 



201 



D.E.P., 

 i., 404 5 ; 

 ii., 16 24, 

 98-102. 

 Canes and 

 Rattans. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 16. 



Sikkim. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 20. 

 Assam. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 20. 



Assam and 

 Burma. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 21. 

 East Bengal 

 and Assam. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 21. 



D.E.P., 

 ii., 22. 

 Central, Western 

 and South India. 



