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plants text index | photo
index
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| coastal plants |
| Rotan
tikus Flagellaria indica Family Flagellariaceae updated Nov 10 Where seen? This elegant and pretty climber is sometimes seen among shore vegetation and in our back mangroves. Elsewhere, it is also a common climber in moist forests, swamp forests, peat swamp forests and river forests, from sea level to about 1,600m. 'Rotan tikus' means 'Rat's rattan' in Malay. Features: A climber with a thin long stem (2-15m long), woody at the base but generally green along most of its length. Leaves narrow and long (6-7cm) with a curling tip that winds around other plants. Small white flowers in clusters at the ends of the stem. Fruits round, smooth, shiny berry, green turning pink to orange. Each fruit with only one seed. Human uses: According to Burkill, its tough stems are used for basket-making and for stitching attaps. The young leaves are used in hair-washing. Various other parts of the plants are also used for other traditional medicinal uses. According to Giesen, it is considered inferior to true rattan. The leaves may be used as a plaster on wounds. |
 Pulau Semakau, Jan 09  |
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 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09 |
 Pulau Ubin, Aug 09  |
 Pulau Ubin, Aug 09  |
 Sungei Cina, Apr 10  |
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Links
References
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Singapore University Press. 215 pp.|
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