Calamus erectus Roxb.

Stems clustered, non-climbing, free standing or sometimes leaning, to 6 m, to 5 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths dark green with dark brown hairs, with short rows of brown, flattened spines to 3.5 cm; ocreas present, with rows of short spines, split into 2, soon falling; knees absent; flagella absent; petioles and rachis with whorls of yellow spines; rachis to 3 m with up to 40 lanceolate pinnae per side, these regularly arranged; middle pinnae 60-80 cm, 3.5-5 cm wide at mid-point, adaxial and abaxial veins and margins bristly; cirri absent. Inflorescences to 2 m, not flagellate; inflorescence bracts tubular, tattering at apices. Fruits greenish-or reddish brown, ellipsoid, 3-5 × 2-2.5 cm, scales grooved.

A tropical plant. In Laos it grows in evergreen forest. It grows between 600-1,600 m altitude. In Yunnan.

The seeds are used as a substitute for betel nut. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also pickled. The soft fleshy inner section of the young shoots is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. It is also used in chutney.

Plants can be grown from seeds.