Bogor, 07/08/2010. To get closer with rattan as in its habitat we must go to the dense forest in Kalimantan or Sumatera, but if we want to go to a nearer place, we can see it in the Bogor Botanical Garden.

Having recreation at Bogor Botanical Garden (KRB) is not only fun but also we can get more knowledge on the various tropical plants. So far we only know the Giant Flower in Bogor Botanical Garden, but we also can see Rattan “the climber”, who becomes the largest export commodity in the world, originated from Indonesia.

Bending climber palm (Rattans) so is written on the information board (photo inal-KpSHK.doc)

photo inal-KpSHK.doc

Do you know that rattan is a type of palm that grows climbing? It turns out that of the existing 13 genus, most species of rattan live climbing, but there are also the short-trunked rattans and grow on the forest floor. The length of its strong and flexible trunk can reach 175 meters with a diameter of 0.3 – 7 cms or more depending on its type.

Rattan is originated from Southeast Asia, grows well in areas of tropical and sub tropical climate. Rattan extends over the African continent, India, South China to the Malay Peninsula and the Fiji Islands.

Rattan trunks are used intensively in furniture and wicker industry. Young roots and the fruits are edible or used as medicines. Old leaves are used as dyes, while the young leaves are used for cigarette packages.

UPT BP Botanical Garden-LIPI, Bogor *) mentions in his writings; In the world there are 13 genus of rattan, namely: Calamus, Calospatha, Ceratolobus, Daemonorops, Eremospatha, Korthalsia, Laccosperma, Myrialepis, Oncocalamus, Plectocomia, Plectocomiopsis, Pogonotium, and Retispatha. These genus are only found in tropical Asia and Africa. Their distribution is ranging from the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Philippines, Thailand, India and West Africa. The highest genus and species diversity is found in Indonesia and Malaysia (Dransfield & Manokaran (ed), 1994).

Indonesia is one of the largest rattan diversity center in the world. It is estimated that of about 600 species of rattan in the world (13 genus), 297 species of them (50%) are found in natural forests of Indonesia. The types of rattan are composed of 9 genus, namely: Calamus 177 species, Ceratolobus 6 species, Daemonorops 83 species, Korthalsia 18 species, Myrialepis 1 species, Plectocomia 6 species, Plectocomiopsis 4 species, Pogonotium 1 species, and Retispatha 1 species. It is estimated that Indonesian rattan species amount are more than 297 species, because there are a lot of areas not yet to be inventoried and many new species are newly identified in the genus level. According to some literature, Herbarium Bogoriense data, the distribution of rattan species in Indonesia is as listed in the table:

Table of rattan species distribution in 7 large islands of Indonesia

Besides exploitation, deforestation is also threatening the sustainability of Indonesian rattan either commercial or non-commercial, especially the endemic species. In Indonesia it is estimated that there are 108 endemic species of rattan, which is Calamus 59 species, Ceratolobus 1 species, Daemanorops 46 species, Korthalsia 2 species, Myrialepis 1 species, Plectocomia 4 species, and Plectocomiopsis 1 species (Mogea, 1991).

To maintain the diversity of Indonesian rattan, conservation efforts are needed either through in-situ or ex-situ and also large-scale cultivation of commercial rattan as well.

Bogor Botanical Garden which was established to conserve the flora of Indonesia, plays a vital role in conservation efforts and Indonesian rattan development. Currently, Bogor Botanical Garden has collected five genus of rattan which consist of 47 identified species, 37 species which are Indonesian rattan and 16 species identified in the genus level. In addition there are approximately 100 numbers still in the process of adaptation and climate adjustment in nursery.

To complete the collection of Indonesian rattan, exploration activities will be continuously done especially in areas that have high diversity of genus and species, such as in Kalimantan which has 126 species, Sumatera 109 species, and Irian Jaya 41 species.

Bogor Botanical Garden is consistently committed to conserve Indonesian rattan, by sustaining existing collection and adding the species which are not yet collected. Hoping that in the future, Bogor Botanical Garden’s visitors both from within and outside the country can see all kinds of Indonesian rattan, escpecially the wet lowland habitat species.

*) CONSERVATION OF INDONESIAN RATTAN IN BOGOR BOTANICAL GARDEN
Joko R. Witono
UPT BP Botanical Garden-LIPI, Bogor
Inter-University Center for Life Science IPB
Bogor, 16 September 1999
Proceeding of the Seminar on Applied Life Research Results