Rattans
Rattan furniture is Malaysia's most important rattan product, whose export value has increased dramatically since 1985.
Rattans and their relatives constitute a very diverse group of palms in Malaysia. Together with some common palms, such as sago and salak, they belong to the subfamily Calamoideae. A characteristic they all share are the overlapping scales on their fruits. Rattans are restricted to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, and comprise a total of 600 species, of which 200 species in 10 genera are found in Malaysia. They are used traditionally for making cordage, basketry and fishtraps and as food and medicine.
- Information in the full article includes
- Structure
- Rattan and ants
- Rattans and indigenous peoples
- Trade
- Commercial planting