Abstract

The lignin and silica contents of the utilisable stem wood of seven rattan species grown in Kerala, were determined by chemical analysis. The mean lignin content varies from 17 to 27 per cent and silica content from 0. 9-2. 7 per cent among different species. Among the species, variation in lignin content is significant while it is insignificant in silica content. A small-diameter and breakable cane of non-commercial importance (Calamus metzionus), shows lowest lignin and highest silica contents