Abstract

Twelve anatomical features of Calamus thwaitesii (one of the largest diameter rattans) and C. travancoricus (one of the smallest) were measured. The features most important in determining density, initial moisture content and volumetric shrinkage were fibre wall thickness, fibre percentage and metaxylem vessel diameter. With the exception of volumetric shrinkage and fibre percentage, the properties differed significantly between the two species