STEM CHARACTERISTICS AND GROWTH OF PLANTED AND WILD ROTAN BATU(CALAMUS SUBINERMIS) 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.