Abstract: Vascular bundle density, fibre proportion, size of vascular bundle and diameter of metaxylem vessel in canes of four rattans, i.e. Daemonorops margaritae, Calamus simplicifolius, C. tetradactylus and C. dioicus, were measured in relation to their radial positions of cross section and different cane heights. The radial and vertical distributions were expressed by 1 ×1 mm of unit, denominated 'a layer', from the bark to centre and by the number of nodes from the base to top respectively. All the measurements were done with a micro-projector. Distribution of radial direction. At all cant' heights, a distinct or even abrupt change in the measured characteristics occurs between the peripheral two layers. From this zone towards the centre, the vascular bundle density shows approximately the same in all inner layers; the fibre proportion demonstrates a decreasing tendency; the size of vascular bundle and the diameter of metaxylem vessel reveal an increasing trend at different degree. Distribution of vertical direction. The vascular bundle density in the various layers shows a little or even no difference between different heights. The fibre proportion in the outermost layer exhibits a decreasing tendency' from the base to top, and in inner layers some of them still have more or less the similar tendency. There are obvious differences, but noany pattern of variation, between the different heights in relation to both size of vascular bundle and diameter of metaxylem vessel in all the layers, except that the later in C. dioicus and D. margaritae shows an increasing trend from the base to top. In addition, the practical significance of the distribution of fibre proportion was discussed.

Key words: Rattan cane, Vascular bundle density, Fibre proportion, Size of vascular bundle, Diamete: of metaxylem vessel