Korthalsia laciniosa (Griff.) Mart. is a climbing rattan used as a source of durable and flexible cane. In the present study, the draft genome of K. laciniosa was sequenced, de novo assembled and annotated. Genome-wide identification of MADS-Box transcription factors revealed loss of Mβ, and Mγ genes belonging to Type I subclass in the rattan lineage. Mining of the genome revealed presence of 13 families of lignin biosynthetic pathway genes and expression profiling of nine major genes documented relatively lower level of expression in cirrus when compared to leaflet and petiole. The chloroplast genome was re-constructed and analysis revealed the phylogenetic relatedness of this genus to Eugeissona, in contrast with its present taxonomic position. The genomic resource generated in the present study will accelerate population structure analysis, genetic resource conservation, phylogenomics and facilitate understanding the unique developmental processes like gender expression at molecular level. •Draft genome of Korthalsia laciniosa was assembled and annotated.•Phylogenetic analysis revealed relatedness of Korthalsia and Eugeissona.•Divergence time of Korthalsia was estimated at 57.86 Mya in Palaeocene.•Loss of Mβ, and Mγ belonging to Type I MADS-Box genes documented in rattan-specific lineage.•Down-regulation of lignin biosynthetic pathway genes in cirrus documented.