WHAT IS RATTAN ?

DEFINITION OF RATTAN :
Rattan (from the Malay "rattan") is the name for about 600 species of palm trees from the Calameae tribe, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. (quoted and updated from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Derived from the Malay language, which means the name of a group of plant species in the Palmae family that grows to climb, called Lepidocaryodidae (Greek = includes the size of the fruit). In the structure of the world of plants - plants are included in the Divisio Spermatophyta, sub Diviasio angeospermae, class Monocotyledonae, Order Spacadiciflorae, and Family Palmae. To date, 15 Families have been recognized, namely Calamus, Daemonorops, Korthalsia, Plectocomia, Plectocomiopsis, Calopspatha, Bejaudia, Ceratolobus, Myrialepis, Bejaudia, Cornera, Eremospatha, Ancitrophylum, Oncocalamus and Scizhopatha.

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GENERAL 
In general, rattan trees grow differently from other palm trees which have slender plant stems, 2-5 cm in diameter, and long internodes between leaves, and also this rattan plant does not grow like a real tree, but like a vine that grows vines between vegetation. other plants.

Image data obtained from the website
Rattan trees are not like bamboo; in the middle, there is a cavity between the nodes, rattan tree trunks (Mallaca) are solid without cavities, and are a plant species that really need structural support and cannot stand alone.

However, some genera (eg Metroxylon, Pigafetta, Raphia) are more like a typical palm, with fatter, erect trunks. And the tree has spines that act as hooking devices to help other plants climb and deter herbivore predators. Rattan has been known to grow up to hundreds of meters. Most (70%) of the world's rattan population is in Indonesia, distributed among the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Sumbawa. The remainder of the world's supply comes from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. And Indonesia fulfills 80% of the world's (largest) need for rattan. Of the 80% of the world's rattan, 90% comes from natural forests and 10% from cultivation. The area that rattan grows is 13.2 million hectares of 143 million hectares of Indonesian forests (Inventory of the Directorate General of Forestry Production Development) which are spread across Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Java. Indonesia has 8 genera of rattan consisting of 306 species. Of these 306 species, 51 of them have been utilized.

In Southeast Asia, there are approximately 516 species from 8 genera, including:
- Calamus as many as 333 types
- 122 types of Daemonorops
- Korthalsia has as many as 30 types
- Plectocomia with as many as 10 types
- Plectocomiopsis as many as 10 types
- Calopspatha as many as 2 types
- 1 type of Bejaudia
- Ceratolobus as many as 6 types

Two of them are general of high value, namely Calamus and Daemonorops.
Of all the needs of rattan in the market, there are 68% large-diameter rattan and 32% small-diameter rattan.
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BASIC PROPERTIES OF RATTAN.
  1. Anatomical properties; The anatomical structure of the rattan stem related to durability and strength includes the large pore size and the thickness of the fiber cell wall. Fiber cells are the structural components that give rattan strength. The thick cell walls make the rattan harder and heavier.
  2. Chemical Properties; In general, the chemical composition of rattan consists of holocellulose (71 – 76%), cellulose (39 – 56%), lignin (18 – 27%), and silica (0.54 – 8%). is a long-chain linear sugar molecule. Cellulose functions to provide tensile strength to the stem due to the strong covalent bonds in the pyranose ring and between the sugar units that make up the cellulose. The higher the cellulose the higher the bending strength. Lignin is a complex polymer with a high molecular weight. Lignin serves to provide strength to the stem. The higher the lignin the higher the rattan strength. Tannins are categorized as "true artrigen" which gives rattan an astringent taste. Tannins serve as a deterrent to predators. The purified tannins are used as an anti-termite and fungus agent. Starch (carbohydrate), contains 70% wet weight. The higher the starch content, the more susceptible to attack by dry rattan powder.
  3. Physical Properties; The physical properties of rattan are those that can be observed with the naked eye. The physical properties of rattan can be briefly explained as follows:
    • Color; The color of rattan sticks always varies not only in type but also in the same type. Good and quality rattan is rattan that is green in leaves when it is still alive, this indicates that the rattan is ripe for cutting. Rattan stems that are green in leaves will turn white after the silica coating is peeled off and will become whiter after a bleaching process. What is meant by the color of rattan is the color after it has been washed or steamed or smoked with sulfur and has not received any bleaching treatment. In general, rattan is olive or whitish-yellow in color except for a few species such as Semambu Rattan (yellow-brown) and Buyung Rattan (brownish). Apart from skin color, you also need to pay attention to the color of your heart. Such as Umbulu Rattan (clean white) and Tohiti Rattan (grayish).
    • Gloss; Shine and gloom can provide special characteristics of a type of rattan and can add to its beauty of the rattan. The luster of rattan depends on the anatomical structure, the content of extractive substances, the angle of incidence of light, and the content of water, fat, and oil. The higher the water content, the darker it is, the higher the fat and oil, the darker it is.
    • Smell and Taste; Describing the freshness of the rattan, the smell and taste of fresh rattan are not conspicuous.
    • Heavy; Rattan weight depends on water content, extractive substances, and infiltration substances in rattan. The water content can be reduced by a drying process which can reduce from 40-60% to the fiber saturation point (15-30%).
    • Hardennes; Shows that the rattan rod can withstand a specific pressure/force, This property is influenced by moisture content, age when collected, and the position of the stem used (base, middle, tip).
    • DiameterRattan diameter is divided into 2 (two), namely: Small diameter, rattan with a diameter of less than 18 mm, such as Sega Rattan, Irit/Jahab, Jermasin, Pulut Putih, Pulut Merah, Lilin, Track, Manau Padi, Datuk Merah, Sega Air, Ronti, Sabut, Batu, Tapah, Paku, and Pandan Wangi. Large diameter, rattan with a diameter of 18 mm or more, such as Manau, Batang, Manau, Cucor, Semambu, Wilatung, Dahan, Tohiti, Seel, Balukbuk, Bidai, Buwai, Bambu, Kalapa, Tiga Juru, Minong, Umbulu, Telang, and Symbol.
    • Cylindrical; Cylindrical can be obtained by comparing the average diameter at the base of the segment with the average diameter at the end of the segment.
    • Segment; Segment is part of the rattan that lies between the two nodes. The length of the segment can be classified into 3 (three) groups, namely: Short Internodes (< | = 40 cm) and Long Internodes (> 40 cm, rattan segments are divided into 3 (three), namely: 
      • Standout Book-a
      • Somewhat Prominent Book 
      • Unobtrusive Book
    • Silica Film; Almost all types of rattan have a layer of silica covering their outer skin, some are specific and thick, such as Sega Rattan, Jermasin, Irit/Jahab, and Buyung. The silica layer displays luster, the work of removing the silica layer is called "Runti".
    • Crocodile Scar; Crocodile scars look like scars that scratch the skin in a transverse direction. Apart from crocodile scars, there are also physical properties in the form of sap. Rattan containing latex includes Gum/Sepat Rattan, Track, Jernang, and Jermasin.
  4. Structural Properties; Not much is known about the structural properties of rattan because there has been no specific research on the structural properties. What can be used as an identification guide is pores. Pore rattan is very simple and distinguished in several parts, among others:
    1. - Size
    2. - Form
    3. - Arrangements
  5. Mechanical Properties; The mechanical properties of rattan are related to the ability to withstand external forces, including Tenacity in Compression, Fracture, Rigidity, and Tenacity; Compressive toughness is resistance to forces that tend to crush. Fragile Tenacity is resistance to forces that will break. Stiffness is the ability to maintain shape when bent. Tenacity is the ability of rattan to withstand sudden forces in a short time.
    • Tensile Tenacity; Tensile toughness is the ability of rattan to withstand forces that tend to separate the parts of the rattan.
    • Shear Tenacity; Shear toughness is the resistance to forces that slide the rattan.
    • Split Tenacity; Splitting toughness is the resistance to the force that splits the rattan
    • Durability and Durability; Durability is the resistance of a type of rattan to various rattan damaging factors, but usually what is meant is the resistance to biological factors caused by rattan destroying organisms, namely fungi, and insects.
    • Preservation is whether or not the type of rattan is penetrated by preservatives if it is preserved by a certain process so that the rattan has been preserved with a chemical (preservative) is resistant to attack by destructive organisms that the rattan is durable.

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PROCESSING
In forests where rattan grows, its economic value can help protect forest land, by providing loggers with an alternative substitute for tropical wood. Tree rattan is much easier to harvest, requires simpler tools, and is much easier to transport. Another very important thing is that rattan also grows much faster than most tropical woods. This makes rattan a potential plant to help maintain forests.

Image data obtained from the web

Generally, raw rattan is processed into several products to be used as materials in furniture making. Various species of rattan from a few millimeters in diameter up to 5-7 cm can be used to make furniture. A piece of rattan, usually the skin is peeled off using a special tool such as a knife, which will be used as a wiping material for planting. The remaining "inner core of rattan" rattan can also be used for various purposes in furniture making. Rattan is an excellent material mainly because it is light, durable, and - to a certain extent - flexible.

The harvested rattan is rattan that is ripe for cutting with the characteristics that the lower part of the stem is no longer covered by calyx or selundang leaves, some of the leaves have dried, and the thorns and calyx have fallen off.

Harvesting is done by cutting the base of the rattan with a hook as high as 10 to 50 cm. With a hook, the rattan is pulled apart from the supporting tree. Rattan is cleaned of leaves and thorns and cut into desired sizes. Then it is transported to a temporary collection point or to a rattan stacking place by carrying it, using a boat/dinghy, or using the assistance of horsepower.

See : Rattan processing - PROCESSING OF RATTAN PLANT STEMS INTO RAW MATERIALS FOR THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY 

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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Rattan trees can be threatened due to over-exploitation, especially by harvesting/cutting tree trunks that are still too young, this will reduce their ability to reproduce and will eventually result in forest degradation which affects the forest ecosystem as a whole. And the factor that most influences the growth of rattan plants is the exploitation/logging of hard trees as vegetation that helps growth of rattan trees.

Data gambar diperoleh dari web

Processing of rattan materials can also pollute the environment. The use of toxic chemicals and gasoline in rattan processing affects soil, air, and water resources, and ultimately public health. Meanwhile, conventional methods of rattan production threaten the long-term supply of the crop and workers' incomes.

Data Gambar diperoleh dari web

In harvesting, waste usually occurs, the amount of waste when harvesting rattan is different for each type of harvesting activity, namely:
  • Traditional harvesting waste of 12.6 – 28.5 %
  • Harvesting with the help of tirfor and waste streams of 4.1 – 11.1 %
  • At the time of transportation, the amount of waste is 5-10%.
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USE
Rattan is widely used to make furniture and baskets. If cut and sliced using several types of tools and into several parts, rattan can be used as a substitute for wood to make furniture. Rattan can also be painted and given certain accents like other types of wood in general, even because the character of rattan is very flexible without reducing its strength in the process of making rattan furniture, it has better advantages compared to wood.

Image data obtained from DDO (Design Development Organization) 

Rattan is also a natural resource that is renewable and very promising for the future because it has many comparative and competitive aspects as an environmentally friendly raw material, of course, in the right way.

Important Rattan in Indonesia
Rattan is included in the plant classification:
Division : Spermatophyta
Sub Division: Angiosperms
Class: Monocotyledonae
Order: Spacaflorae
Family/Tribe: Palmae

There are 14 Tribes, among others:
  1. Calamus (370 species)
  2. Daemonorops (115 types)
  3. Corthalsia (31 types)
  4. Plectocomia (14 types)
  5. Ceratolobus (6 types)
  6. Pletocomiopsis (5 types)
  7. Myrialepis (2 types)
  8. Calopspatha (2 types)
  9. Bejaudia (1 species)
  10. cornera
  11. Schizospatha
  12. Eremospatha
  13. Ancitrophylum
  14. Oncocalamus
In Indonesia, there are 8 tribes with a total of + 306 species, including:
  1. Calamus
  2. Daemonorops
  3. Khorthalsia
  4. Plectocomia
  5. Ceratolobus
  6. Plectocomyopsis
  7. Myrialepis
  8. Calopspatha
The spread of the area includes;
  1. Kalimantan: 137 species
  2. Sumatra: 91 species
  3. Sulawesi: 36 species
  4. Java: 19 types
  5. Irian: 48 types
  6. Moluccas: 11 species
  7. Timor: 1 type
  8. Sumbawa: 1 type
                  There are 28 types of high commercial value

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