Anatomical Characterristics in Relating to the Quality of Large-Cane Rattan

Abstract

Five species of the large cane rattan endemic to Thailand were selected for this study. The anatomical characteristics of the best quality cane, Calamus manan Miq. (waai kho dam) was investigated to be used as reference characteristics. The anatomy of the similar best quality. Calamus sp. (waai nam phueng) and the lower quality species, C. rudentum Roxb. (waii khee sian), C. longisetus Griff. (waai kam phuan) and Plectocomiopsis geminiflorus (waai kung) were invedtigated and compared to the reference species. The characteristics investigated were epidermal cell, cortical tissue, fiber cap, metaxylem, protoxylem, ground tissue and the distribution of vascular bundles. The epidermis and cortical tissue of the large canes were usually pooled off using machines. The hardness of epidermis and the stegmata, silica bodies, impregnated at the boundary of fiber bundles and fiber caps of most rattan species, cause dullness to the machine knives. In the canes of the best quality species, C. manan and Calamus sp., present only few stegmata in the cortex and none at the peripheral vascular bundles. The silica bodies, however, were frequently found in the cortex and at the peripheral vascular bundles of the lower qualuty cane species. The distribution of vascular bundles, the thickness of the fiber wall in fiber caps and the thickness of the parenchyma wall of ground tissue were found uniform from the periphery to the center of the canes of C. manan and of the similar quality species. In contrast, those anatomical characteristics were ununiform within the canes of the lower quality species. The great difference of the anatomical characteristics from the periphery to the center were found in the poor quality canes of P. geminiflorus which was the non-industrial used species.