Meaning of Rattan
What is Rattan? Rattan is a typical tropical plant that grows in heterogeneous wet tropical rainforests. Rattan is a plant of the Palmae family that grows climbing (Lepidocaryodidae).
What is Rattan?
The use of rattan* as a product is largely determined by the strength of the rattan in addition to its durability. The value of a type of rattan for product use is largely determined by its strength to withstand the loads that work when the product is used. It is important to know the strength of rattan, because no matter how durable a type of rattan is, its use is meaningless if its strength is low. The strength value is determined by the density, MOE, MOR
Rattan Type
Small diameter rattan
diameter <18 mm
Example: Calamus caesius Blume (Saga Rattan*)
Large diameter rattan*
> 18 mm in diameter
Example: Calamus manan Miquel (Rattan* Manau).
Types of Rattan*
Genus:
Calamus
Daemonorops
Khorthalsia
Plectocomia
Plectocomiopsis
Calopspatha
Bejaudia
Ceratolobus
etc.
Cultivated:
rattan* manau (C. manan)
rattan* sega (C. caesius)
economical rattan* (C. trachyvoleus)
semambu rattan* (C. scipionum)
tohiti rattan* (C. inop)
rattan* stem (C. zolingeri / Daemonorops robustus)
Rattan Table
Properties of Rattan*
Rattan* plants generally live in clumps. Under natural conditions, this plant initially grows creeping up on the ground and then develops by climbing and wrapping around the tree trunks around it.
Physical and mechanical properties are properties that need to be considered in planning the use of rattan*, especially those related to load-bearing strength. Several types of large diameter rattan*, including strong rattan* and commonly used as furniture frames, are manau, trunk, tohiti, mandola, semambu, tarumpu, and sampang. Small diameter rattan is used by its skin for webbing and fastening furniture components with the requirement of having a high tensile strength, so that its use is able to withstand loads.The strength value is determined by density, MOE, MOR
Generally, rattan* growing places are in swampy areas, dry land, to mountainous soil.
The elevation level for rattan plants can reach 2900 masl. The higher the place to grow, the less rattan is found. There will also be less rattan* in areas with limestone.
At the base of the rattan plant, there is a weevil. The stems of this plant grow upright until they reach a height of about 2-2.5 meters. After reaching that height the rattan* stems will bend. Like bamboo plants, rattan has sections of 15-30 cm in size. Rattan plants are green when they are young and turn yellow as the plants mature. However, there are some types of rattan that do not change color and remain green, it’s just that the green is getting darker.
The character of rattan* plants is different from bamboo plants that are friendly when harvested, rattan is protected by thorny midribs on the entire stem. In general, the chemical composition of rattan consists of holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, and silica. The stem will turn white after the silica membrane peels off. The weakness of rattan is that it is easily attacked by pests.
Rattan Cultivation
Generative: Seeds
Vegetative: Leaf tops, roots, stems
Procurement of Seeds
Fruit Gathering
Ripe rattan* fruit generally has a yellowish green color, reddish (economical rattan*), and blackish brown (rattan* manau). The old seeds are blackish brown and hard. In addition, there will be many remaining fruit skins under the mother tree. The rattan fruit season is generally at the beginning of the dry season, but it varies for each type of rattan and where it grows.
Fruit Handling
The plucked fruit is put in a wet gunny sack. At the nursery, the fruit is then soaked until the skin and pulp rot. The skin and flesh of the fruit are then removed. Rattan* seeds / seeds generally cannot be stored for long, so clean seeds should be sown directly in sowing beds or planted in plastic bags filled with planting media.
Nursery Preparation
Flat or sloping ground
5% maximum tilt degree
free from standing water
free from pests and diseases
close to water sources.
Seed Making
Rattan* seeds can be germinated in baskets, stored in a humid place and watered every day. After the sprouts are 1 month old, plant them in the nursery with a spacing of 20 cm x 20 cm.
Rattan* seeds are germinated in the sowing beds. For large seeds (such as Manau rattan), the seeds are planted in rows with a distance of 2 cm x 4 cm; Meanwhile, small seeds (such as sega / economical rattan) can be sown normally. After the seeds germinate, before the first leaves develop, they are immediately transferred to a plastic bag that has been perforated at the bottom edge and the medium is watered first. These plastic bags are then placed in weaning beds and under roofs. Seedlings are cared for in the nursery until the age of 8-12 months.
Rattan* seeds are germinated directly in a plastic bag that has been given a hole at the bottom edge and filled with the planting medium that has been watered first. Seedlings are cared for in the nursery until the age of 8-12 months.
Planting
Planting is done in the morning, evening or when the weather is cloudy / cloudy. The planting time should be when the rainfall is plentiful and evenly distributed.
Maintenance
Weeding
Weeding is done regularly, every 3 months until the plants are 3 years old
Stitching
Replanting is carried out in the planting area where the percentage of growth is below the minimum required. Usually done in the rainy season by using seeds in the nursery.
Protection against pests and diseases
Several types of rattan* (such as manau, sega, and economical) are susceptible to attack by pests, beetle larvae, grasshoppers, as well as caterpillars and fungi.
Protection against fire
The construction of a yellow line combined with a green line, the construction of a fire tower in a high and strategic place, and warning signs such as kentongan.
Harvesting Rattan*

Tool: machete or ax
Time: 09.00-15.00
Harvesting system: selective cutting, that is, rattan* which is ripe, just cut it which is collected
Characteristics of Ready-to-Harvest Rattan*
the leaves are dry
the outer skin of the rattan* is yellowish
the minimum length of the rattan is> 17 meters
rattan* outer skin is dry.
Harvesting Method
Rattan felling begins by cleaning the thorns and leaf midribs that stick to the rattan stems. Cleaning of thorns and leaf midribs is carried out using a machete (+ 2 m), so that it is easy to hold and pull the rattan.
Cut the rattan* approximately 1 (one) meter from the base of the trunk and then pull the rattan until the entire length of the rattan* is free from the tree where it is twisting.
Harvesters clean the rattan* using machetes.