There are about 50 types of rattan which are commercial, while about 250 species are still researched. Indonesia is the largest rattan producing country in the world. As an export commodity, rattan from Indonesia fills about 80% of the world’s raw material needs. This means that rattan has a very high economic value in international trade.

Indonesia has more than 300 types of rattan, but only about 51 species are known to the world and are commercial. Many people think that rattan is the same as bamboo, even though these two plants have their own unique characteristics. Here are the characteristics of rattan plants in Indonesia so you can distinguish them from bamboo.

How to Grow
Rattan is a plant that grows by spreading or vine from the inside to the ground. The stems of rattan plant that appeared on the ground began to wrap around the surrounding trees. How to grow rattan is certainly different from bamboo which is not a vine.

Rods
Rattan rods are slender with a diameter of 2-5 cm, have many long segments and not hollow. It has no cavities which causes rattan not to break easily like bamboo sticks. Rattan rods can up to hundreds of meters length and can release water when you cut it.

Rattan rods are protected by long, sharp, and hard spines. In addition to functioning as a means of self-protection, these thorns are useful when rattan climbs into the surrounding trees. Meanwhile, bamboo is protected by soft hairy midrib that itch and will fall out when this plant is sturdy and old.

–sh