Research on Cane

Cane (Plant)

Originally Cane belongs to the kingdom of plants, specifically flowering plants.They belong to the grass family which is scientifically known as “Poaceae”. 

• Poacaea, formerly called Gramineae,  grass family of monocotyledonous flowering plants.
• They are considered to be one of the most important categories in plant family.The Poaceae are the world’s single most important source of food. It includes most of the staple food grains and cereal crops.

• Bamboo also comes under this family.

The poacaea family are generally charecterised by the following:-

•  Round stems which are commonly hollow.

cane being hollow is used in making musical instruments

• Leaves are alternate , comprising an open sheathing base with overlapping margins.
• On the axial leaf  surface at the junction of  the blade and sheath is an often hairy fringe of tissue called ligule.

cane plant

“Arundinaria” is the genus name of cane which falls under the poacaea family.

Arundinaria is not nearly as sharply defined as the other subfamilies of poacaea. 

The 600 species of this heterogeneous group of primitive grasses grow mostly in the tropics and 

Southern Hemisphere.

Some species which are commonly called bamboo also fall under this subfamily.

The general charecteristics of the species that fall under this category are as follows:-

• They are mostly perennial.
• Their active growth period is mostly during spring-summer.
• Their growth rate is extremely rapid and their height can go up to 25 feet.
• Their life span is also very long, can range upto 10 years , some also die after the flowering season.

Cane of certain kinds which are colloquially also called ratan or roton fall under the palm family or “Arecaceae”

Arecaceae are found mostly in the tropical region.

“Calamae” is a subfamily that comprises of the different kinds of rattan/ roton which falls under the palm family.

The charectestics of this subfamily are as follows:---

•  They have slender stem  that is hairy and covered with bristles / spines/ thorns which sets them apart  from the other palms.
•  They have long internodes.
• They need structural support to grow on and cannot grow on their own.
•  Their stems are solid unlike that of bamboo.
•  Most of the ratan produce comes from Indonasia. Other countries that produce ratan also include Malasia, Philippines,Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.