CALAMUS, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the hexandria class of plants. There is but one species, the rotang, or true Indian cane. The stem is without branches, has a crown at top, and is every where beset with straight spines. This is the true Indian cane, which is not visible on the outside; but the bark being taken off discovers the smooth stick, which has no marks of spine on the bark, and is exactly like those which the Dutch sell to us; keeping this matter very secret, lest travellers going by should take as many canes out of the woods as they please. Sumatra is said to be the place where most of these sticks grow. Such are to be chosen as are of a proper growth between two joints, suitable to the fashionable length of canes as they are then worn: but such are scarce.