STEM CHARACTERISTICS AND GROWTH OF PLANTED AND WILD ROTAN BATU(<em>CALAMUS</em> <em>SUBINERMIS</em>) IN SABAH

Abstract

Growth rates of rotan batu (Calamus subinermis) canes were observed at two sites in Sabah, Malaysia. The ones planted at Kolapis A had a mean annual increment of about 2.4 m at the age of 12 years; the mean stem diameter and mean internode length were 29 mm and 26.3 cm respectively. Wild canes on Berhala Island had a mean diameter of 22 mm and mean internode length of 26.5 cm. Length of the stern covered with dried leaf sheaths is positively related to total stem length.