Rattan (ratan, bejuco), as a tying and wrapping material, is very important in many tropical regions. It is a widely used material in the creation of edged weapons, tools and scabbards, especially in South East Asia. Rattan is both flexible, strong, and durable. It comes from the climbing palms belonging to the the subfamily Calamideae.
Raw rattan cane can be processed into several useful materials. The inner core can be separated and worked into wicker. Rattan strands from the skin are more durable. The skin from the cane is peeled off and used as a weaving material. Braided rattan is often found on the hilts and scabbards of edged weapons. It is often shellacked. It is a superb fiber material.
Fire-hardened rattan canes have been used for arrow shafts aned spears, as in the illustration below of ceremonial and war spears of the Phillipines.
Palm fibers and palm woods abound in the Phillippines. Varieties useful in the production of weapons are such well-known palms as the betel-nut palm (Areca catechu), nipa palm (Nipa fructicans), buri palm {Corypha uvibraculifera) and the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Most (70%) of the world's rattan population exist in Indonesia, distributed among the islands Borneo, Sulawesi, and Sumbawa. The rest of the world's supply comes from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Assam, India.
Ornamened Ceremonial and War Spears, Plate 6.
Krieger, H. THE COLLECTION OF PRIMITIVE WEAPONS AND ARMOR OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. Bulletin 137. Smithsonian Institution. Government Printing Office. 1926. p.49.