Rattan in Indonesia. In Indonesia, Rattan Plants are already familiar names. Rattan is known as a plant that grows very fast and is harvested in a short time. Rattan stems are usually slender with a diameter of 2-5 cm, long, not hollow, and many are protected by long, hard, and sharp spines. These spines function as a means of self-defense from herbivores, as well as help climbing, because rattan is not equipped with tendrils. One rattan stick can reach hundreds of meters in length.
Some areas in Indonesia have forests filled with rattan, such as Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan. And did you know that 70% of the world’s rattan needs are supplied by Indonesia and the rest from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. The high value of rattan exports in Indonesia is due to the large number of plants and their uses. Rattan is mainly used as a raw material for furniture, for example chairs, guest tables, bookcases, delivery baskets, Hampers baskets, Souvenir baskets, etc. Rattan has several advantages over wood, such as light, strong, elastic / easy to shape, and cheap.
The use of rattan can be distinguished based on the stem. Rattan with small diameter is mostly used for ropes, woven materials, and companion materials in the manufacture of furniture frames. Meanwhile, large diameter rattan is used more for walking sticks and furniture frames.
The details of the use of rattan are as follows:
a. The use of stems for various purposes of craft materials, and others as many as 117 types of rattan.
b. The use of rattan shoots (umbut) and fruit for vegetables and cooking spices is 9 types of rattan.
c. The use of rattan for roofs (leaves) and the construction of concrete reinforcement are 2 types.
d. The use of rattan for traditional medicine is as much as 2 types of rattan.
Apart from being a raw material for furniture, the sap (resin) from the flower stalks can be used. This sap is red in color and is known commercially as dragon’s blood. This resin is used to color the violin or as meni.
The Dayak community in Central Kalimantan utilizes young rattan stalks as a vegetable component. Rattan rods can also be made as walking sticks and weapons.
Rattan in Indonesia