The large genus of palms known as rattan have pliable stems that are used in constructing furniture. The genus name Calamus, derives from the Greek ÔcalamosÕ, a reed, a reference to its reedy stems. Many species have a thin layer of edible pulp surrounding the seed.
Rattans are spiny climbers native to the Old World tropics. Speckled, round, pea-size seeds are used in malas (prayer beads) in India, Burma, Nepal and Tibet where they are called ÔlotusÕ seeds.
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