BAMBOOS OF INDI A

1

Bamboos of India 

BAMBOOS 

OF 

INDI A 

a compendium 

K. K. Seethalakshmi 

M. S. Muktesh Kumar 

Assisted by 

K. Sankara Pillai 

N. Sarojam 

BAMBOO INFORMATION CENTRE - INDIA, 

KERALA FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PEECHI 

and 

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN 

Beijing ◆ Eindhoven ◆ New Delhi 

1998

Glossary 

©1998 

Kerala Forest Research Institute 

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be 

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, 

electronical or mechanical, including photocopy, recording 

or any information storage and retrieval system, without 

permission in writing from the publisher 

Published jointly by: 

Kerala Forest Research Institute 

Peechi 680653, Kerala, India 

and 

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan 

Anyuan Building No. 10, Anhui Beili 

Asian Games Village, Chaoyang District 

Beijing, People’s Republic of China 

ISBN 81-86247-25-4 

Technical Report No. 17 

KFRI Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data 

Seethalakshmi, K. K. and Muktesh Kumar, M. S. 

Bamboos of India: A compendium. 

1. Muktesh Kumar, M. S. and Seethalakshmi, K. K. 

I. Bamboo Information Centre - India 

II. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan 

Illustrations: Sheeja Karalam 

Transparencies: Subash Kuriakose 

Design and production: Art Options, New Delhi 

II


FOREWORD 

Bamboo is one of the most ubiquitous, multi-use plant 

species in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It prominently features in the everyday lives of people in 

many living cultures of ancient lineage, particularly so in Asia. With the plant finding many industrial applications as 

well (such as in the manufacture of paper and rayon), the pressure on this resource has increased many-fold. 

Among Asian countries, India is second only to China in terms of the quantity and variety of bamboo species. However, 

a problem that India has in common with many other nations is the lack of adequate information on bamboo. This Old 

World grass is taxonomically difficult to classify and study, and the resultant confusion has come to stand in the way of 

sustainable management and utilization of bamboo. 

Recognizing the immense socio-economic values of bamboo, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) 

and the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), have been in the forefront of efforts aimed at a better 

understanding of bamboo taxa. Both organizations have chosen to work closely with national programs to build and 

enhance national research and development capacities. 

The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has been one of the collaborating institutions for several IDRC and 

INBAR projects on Indian bamboos and rattans. Bamboos of India - a Compendium is the fruit of one such project. 

This compendium by K. K. Seethalakshmi and M. S. Muktesh Kumar of KFRI is a fairly exhaustive account of Indian 

bamboos, and we hope, will form a solid foundation for further work on the subject. 

I. V. Ramanuja Rao Cherla B. Sastry 

Senior Manager (Programs), INBAR 

Director General, INBAR 

iii

Glossary 

IV


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The authors are gratefully indebted to the International 

Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada for supporting the establishment of Bamboo Information Centre - 

India (BIC - India) at KFRI, this work being the fulfillment of one of the objectives of the project. We are also deeply 

indebted to Dr. Cherla B. Sastry, Dr. I. V. Ramanuja Rao and Dr. Madhav B. Karki of the International Network for 

Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), New Delhi for their co-operation all through the project period and for undertaking the 

printing of the work. Our thanks are also due to Mr. Clive Wing and Mr. Paul Stinson of IDRC who were associated 

with the project at various periods. 

We are deeply grateful to Dr. C. T. S. Nair and Dr. S. Chand Basha, former Directors of KFRI and Dr. K. S. S. Nair, 

Director, KFRI for encouragement and facilities. 

Special thanks are due to Shri K. Ravindran, former Librarian and Project Leader and Mr. K. H. Hussain, Project 

Associate for their contributions during the formulation of this work. 

The services rendered by Ms. N. Maya, Ms. K. Jayalakshmi, Mr. Santhosh John, Mr. Stephen Sequiera, Mr. C. C. Joy, 

Ms. H. B. Nisha, Ms. M. K. Thanuja and Mr. K. F. George during the compilation and collection of literature is 

gratefully acknowledged. 

We gratefully acknowledge Dr. R. Gnanaharan, Dr. K. V. Bhat and Shri T. K. Dhamodaran, Division of Wood Science, 

Kerala Forest Research Institute and Prof. M. Sivadasan, University of Calicut, for their editorial scrutiny and comments. 

We sincerely thank Mrs. D. Sumangala Amma, Mr. A. Ramakrishnan, Mr. P. M. Venugopalan for typing the manuscript 

during various stages. 

We express our deep gratitude to the Director, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta and Dr. E. Vajravelu former Joint 

Director, BSI, Southern Circle, Coimbatore for the help rendered for the consultation of the herbarium sheets on 

Indian Bamboos and Shri K. K. Singh, IFS, CCF (Special Forestry), Shri S. S. Bist, IFS, Silviculturist, Shri R. P. Singh, 

IFS, Bakurthpur Division, Siliguri (West Bengal) and all the Forest Officials of the Forest Department of Kerala State 

for various helps rendered during the field trips for specimen collection. 

We are also thankful to Dr. K. Haridasan, State Forest Research Institute, Itanagar, Dr. U. M. Chandrasekhara, 

Dr. George Mathew, Dr. E. M. Muraleedharan, Dr. R. C. Pandalai and Dr. R. V. Varma, Kerala Forest Research Institute, 

Peechi for sparing some of their valuable slides. 

Authors 

v

Glossary 

VI


CONTENTS 

Foreword 

iii 

Acknowledgements 

v 

Introduction 1 

Arundinaria 27 

A. gracilis 28 

A. racemosa 28 

Bambusa 31 

B. affinis 32 

B. atra 33 

B. auriculata 34 

B. balcooa 37 

B. bambos 40 

B. bambos var. gigantea 46 

B. burmanica 47 

B. cacharensis 49 

B. copelandi 50 

B. griffithiana 52 

B. jaintiana 53 

B. khasiana 53 

B. kingiana 54 

B. longispiculata 56 

B. mastersii 58 

B. multiplex 59 

B. nutans 62 

B. oliveriana 66 

B. pallida 67 

B. polymorpha 70 

B. pseudopallida 74 

B. striata 74 

B. teres 78 

B. tulda 79 

B. vulgaris 83 

B. wamin 87 

Chimonobambusa 95 

C. callosa 96 

Dendrocalamus 99 

D. brandisii 100 

D. calostachyus 103 

D. collettianus 105 

D. giganteus 105 

D. hamiltonii 109 

D. hookeri 113 

D. longispathus 114 

D. membranaceus 118 

D. parishii 121 

vii

Glossary 

C o n t e n t s 

D. patellaris 122 

D. sahnii 124 

D. sericeus 125 

D. sikkimensis 126 

D. somdevai 128 

D. strictus 129 

Dinochloa 141 

D. andamanica 142 

D. compactiflora 144 

D. gracilis 146 

D. indica 146 

D. maclellandii 147 

D. nicobariana 148 

Gigantochloa 151 

G. albociliata 152 

G. apus 154 

G. atroviolacea 156 

G. atter 158 

G. macrostachya 159 

G. pseudoarundinacea 161 

G. rostrata 163 

Melocanna 167 

M. arundina 168 

M. baccifera 169 

Ochlandra 177 

O. beddomei 178 

O. ebracteata 180 

O. scriptoria 182 

O. setigera 185 

O. sivagiriana 188 

O. talboti 189 

O. travancorica 191 

O. travancorica var. hirsuta 196 

O. wightii 199 

Oxytenanthera 203 

O. abyssinica 204 

O. parvifolia 205 

Phyllostachys 207 

P. assamica 208 

P. aurea 208 

P. bambusoides 210 

P. mannii 212 

P. puberula 213 

Pleioblastus 215 

P. simonii 216 

Pseudosasa 217 

P. japonica 218 

Pseudoxytenanthera 221 

P. bourdillonii 222 

P. monadelpha 224 

P. ritcheyi 225 

P. stocksii 227 

viii 

VIII


Racemobambos 229 

R. clarkei 230 

R. mannii 230 

R. prainii 231 

Schizostachyum 233 

S. arunachalensis 234 

S. beddomei 235 

S. brachycladum 237 

S. capitatum var. capitatum 238 

S. capitatum var. decompositum 240 

S. dullooa 240 

S. flavescens 242 

S. fuchsianum 243 

S. griffithii 245 

S. helferi 246 

S. kurzii 248 

S. latifolium 249 

S. mannii 250 

S. pallidum 251 

S. pergracile 252 

S. polymorphum 255 

S. rogersii 257 

S. seshagirianum 258 

Sinarundinaria 261 

S. anceps 262 

S. arunachalensis 264 

S. densifolia 264 

S. elegans 266 

S. falcata 268 

S. floribunda 270 

S. griffithiana 271 

S. hirsuta 273 

S. hookeriana 274 

S. intermedia 276 

S. jainiana 278 

S. kurzii 279 

S. longispiculata 279 

S. microphylla 280 

S. nagalandiana 281 

S. pantlingii 282 

S. polystachya 283 

S. rolloana 285 

S. suberecta 286 

S. walkeriana 287 

S. wightiana 289 

Thamnocalamus 293 

T. aristatus 294 

T. falconeri 295 

T. spathiflorus 297 

Thyrsostachys 301 

T. oliveri 302 

T. regia 306 

Glossary 310 

Sources of Illustrations 327 

Bamboo Species Index 335 

ix

➤ 


INTRODUCTION 

Bamboos are arborescent grasses belonging to the family 

Poaceae and are grouped under the subfamily Bambusoideae. Bambusoideae are differentiated from other members of 

the family by the presence of petiolate blades with tessellate venation, three, four, six or more stamens, gynoecium with 

a single style, one to three stigmas and fruit or caryopsis. There are three major growth forms of bamboos in India. Tree 

forms constitute about 45 per cent and are generally found in deciduous forests, shrubs are about 36 per cent and they 

are found in restricted habitats such as stream 

banks or in the ecotones of evergreen forests 

and the rest are climbers which occur in 

evergreen forests (Prasad and Gadgil, 1981). 

TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION 

1 

The compilation on Bamboos of the World 

brought out by Ohrnberger and Goerrings 

(1985) reported the occurrence of 110 genera 

and 1110-1140 species of bamboos in the world. 

In India, studies on the taxonomy of bamboos 

started with two genera, Bambusa and 

Ochlandra, as early as 1678 with the publication 

of Hortus (Rheede, 1678-1703). The basic work 

on bamboo taxonomy was that of Munro (1868) 

in which he had described 21 genera and 170 

species of bamboos of the world and classified 

Gregarious flowering of B. bambos 

1

Introduction 

the genera into three divisions. Kurz (1876) was the first to work on living specimens from botanical gardens of Bogor 

(Indonesia) and Calcutta (India). He realised the importance of vegetative characters like culm-sheath in the identification 

of bamboo species. The first comprehensive monograph on Indian bamboos was that of Gamble (1896). He reported 15 

genera and 115 species. This was followed by the work of Camus (1913) from India and China. A systematic analysis and 

arrangement of species was attempted by Parker (1929) and Blatter (1929). Other important publications on bamboo 

taxonomy are that of McClure (1936, 1954, 1966), Dransfield (1980, 1982), Soderstrom (1985), Widjaja (1987), 

Soderstrom and Ellis (1988), Chao and Renvoize (1989), Bennet and Gaur (1990b), Tewari (1992), Kumar (1990, 

1995) and Dransfield and Widjaja (1995). Nomenclatural aspects have been studied by a number of researchers (Bahadur 

and Naithani, 1976, 1983; Majumdar, 1983; Naithani, 1986, 1990a, 1990b, 1993, 1994a, 1994b; Bennet, 1988, 1989; 

Bennet and Gaur, 1990a, 1990b; Naithani and Bennet, 1991 and Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). Most of the taxonomic 

descriptions, including recent ones, are based on scanty herbarium specimens. As per the latest taxonomic descriptions, 

there are 18 genera and 128 species of bamboos in India, which include 87 naturally occurring and 41 introduced or 

cultivated species (Table 1). 

Table 1. Genera and number of species of bamboos naturally occurring and 

cultivated in India 

Sl. No. Genus Naturally Introduced/ Total No. of 

occurring cultivated species 

1 Arundinaria 2 0 2 

2 Bambusa 12 14 26 

3 Chimonobambusa 1 0 1 

4 Dendrocalamus 7 8 15 

5 Dinochloa 5 1 6 

6 Gigantochloa 2 5 7 

7 Melocanna 0 2 2 

8 Ochlandra 9 0 9 

9 Oxytenanthera 1 1 2 

10 Phyllostachys 2 3 5 

11 Pleioblastus 1 0 1 

12 Pseudosasa 0 1 1 

13 Pseudoxytenanthera 4 0 4 

14 Racemobambos 3 0 3 

15 Schizostachyum 17 1 18 

16 Sinarundinaria 18 3 21 

17 Thamnocalamus 3 0 3 

18 Thyrsostachys 0 2 2 

Total 87 41 128 

2


FLOWERING AND FRUITING 

Table 2. Flowering cycle of various bamboo species 

Based on the flowering cycle, bamboos are 

classified into three types. 

1. Annual or continuous flowering: species 

which flower every year and do not die. 

2. Gregarious or periodic flowering: the whole 

clump flowers in an extensive area and dies 

after seed setting. The flowering may continue 

for two to three years in an area or in the 

same clump. 

3. Sporadic or irregular flowering: occurs in 

isolated clumps (in one or two in an area) or 

in parts of one clump (in one or two culms). 

The flowering interval in periodically 

flowering bamboos varies from three 

(Schizostachyum elegantissimum) to one 

hundred and twenty years (Phyllostachys 

bambusoides). Different cohorts of the same 

species may differ in their flowering cycle. 

Flowering cycles so far reported for various 

bamboo species are given in Table 2. 

Descriptions of floral parts of 20 species of 

bamboos are lacking (Table 3). From India, 

the major part of the literature on bamboo 

flowering is limited to the reports on incidence 

of flowering. Whether flowering is controlled 

by environmental conditions or by the 

physiological calendar is not clearly 

established. In vitro flowering has been 

reported from India (Rao & Rao, 1990; 

Nadgauda et al., 1990). 

Arundinaria 

Ochlandra 

A. racemosa 30 O. scriptoria 01 

Bambusa O. travancorica 07 

B. atra 01 Oxytenanthera 

B. balcooa 35-45 O. abyssinica 07 

B. bambos 30-49 Phyllostachys 

B. copelandi 48 P. bambusoides 120 

B. khasiana 35* Pseudoxytenanthera 

B. longispiculata 20-25 P. monadelpha 4-6* 

B. multiplex 28-31* Schizostachyum 

B. nutans 35 S. capitatum var. 04-08* 

B. polymorpha 35-60 capitatum 

B. tulda 30-60 S. latifolium 44* 

B. vulgaris 80-88 S. pallidum 06* 

Chimonobambusa 

Sinarundinaria 

C. callosa 23-28* S. anceps 45-55 

Dendrocalamus S. falcata 48-58* 

D. giganteus 40 S. hirsuta 20-48* 

D. longispathus 30-32 S. hookeriana 30-35* 

D. hamiltoni 30-40 S. intermedia 20* 

D. membranaceus 19-20* S. pantlingii 35* 

D. strictus 25-45 S. polystachya 30* 

Dinochloa S. wightiana 01 

D. compactiflora 7-14* Thamnocalamus 

Gigantochloa T. aristatus 20* 

G. albociliata 27-30* T. falconeri 30 

G. rostrata 30-50 T. spathiflorus 16-17 

Melocanna 

Thyrsostachys 

M. baccifera 40-45 T. oliveri 48-50 

T. regia 40-47 

Observations on floral biology in * Flowering cycle based on earlier reports from same area 

Dendrocalamus strictus and Ochlandra 

travancorica revealed dichogamy with 

protogyny (Venkatesh, 1984 and Nadgauda 

et al., 1993) Although insects are found 

visiting the flowers, their role in pollination is not clear. There are also reports of albinism and natural selfing in 

Bambusa bambos (Indira, 1988, Adarshkumar et al., 1995). 

3

Introduction 

2 

The size and shape of bamboo fruits vary according to the species. The 

morphology of fruit is a dependable character for identification of bamboos. 

McClure (1966) has given an account of bamboo fruits belonging to 17 

genera and 22 species. Fruits of 60 species belonging to 14 genera are yet 

to be described (Table 4). Although bamboo fruit are generally known as 

caryopsis, based on the morphology, Wen and He (1989) classified them 

into three types : 

1. Caryopsis: The pericarp is membranous, thin, soft and adheres to the 

seed coat. The fruit has an apparent ventral suture which is nearly as long 

as the whole fruit. An orbiculate navel is located at the fruit base 

(e.g. Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Gigantochloa, Phyllostachys, 

Thyrsostachys). 

2. Glans: have hard, smooth, crustaceous pericarp, separated from the 

seed coat. The fruit has no ventral suture and navel. (e.g. Dendrocalamus, 

Schizostachyum). 

➤ 

A flowered clump of Arundinaria 

3. Bacca: has thick fleshy pericarp, separated from the seed coat. (e.g. 

Melocanna, Ochlandra). 

They indicated that the morphology of starch 

grains can also be used as a distinguishing 

character for identification. Fruit development 

in a few species has been reported by Harigopal 

and Mohanram (1987). 

CYTOLOGY AND GENETICS 

Cytological investigations reveal that there are 

triploids, tetraploids, pentaploids, hexaploids 

and aneuploids in bamboos. (Parthasarathy, 

1946; Darlington and Wylie. 1955; 

Janakiammal, 1959; Christopher and 

Abraham, 1971 and Sobita Devi and Sharma, 

1993; Banik, 1995). The somatic chromosome 

number varies as 24, 38, 48, 54, 60, 70, 72 

and 108 in different species (Table 5). 

Considering the high returns reported for 

bamboo farming (Chadurvedi, 1986; Wagh 

and Rajput, 1991), selection of elite clones for 

large scale planting is an important aspect 

which requires immediate attention. There is 

Table 3. Bamboos of India for which floral descriptions 

are lacking 

Sl. No. Species Sl. No. Species 

Bambusa 

Racemobambos 

1 B. auriculata 10 R. mannii 

2 B. bambos var. gigantea Schizostachyum 

3 B. jaintiana 11 S. arunachalensis 

4 B. mastersii 12 S. capitatum var. 

5 B. pseudopallida decompositum 

6 B. wamin 13 S. mannii 

Dinochloa 14 S. seshagirianum 

7 D. gracilis Sinarundinaria 

Melocanna 15 S. arunachalensis 

8 M. arundina 16 S. kurzii 

Phyllostachys 17 S. microphylla 

9 P. mannii 18 S. nagalandiana 

19 S. rolloana 

20 S. suberecta 

4


3 4 

➤ 

Freak flowering of a seedling of D. strictus 

In vitro flowering 

➤ 

variation among different species and within species in nature. Because of the peculiar flowering pattern, it has been 

difficult to produce better varieties by breeding. However, reports from China show that intergeneric and interspecific 

hybrids have been produced using Bambusa, Dendrocalamus and Phyllostachys (Zhang et al., 1985). Treatment of 

seeds of Dendrocalamus strictus with colchicine increased seedling vigour indicating the possibility of inducing polyploidy 

(Rao, 1960). Recently, work has been initiated in many parts of the country for collection of germplasm of various 

bamboo species. 

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY 

India has the second largest reserve of bamboos. Bamboos are naturally distributed in all the states of India except in 

Jammu and Kashmir. Maximum number of genera has been reported from West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh (11). 

The state-wise distribution of bamboo genera is given in Table 6. Bamboos are distributed in the country starting from 

sea level to an elevation of 3600 m above msl. Although bamboos prefer regions of high rainfall of about 1200 mm to 

6350 mm, Dendrocalamus strictus is reported from regions of Rajasthan where the rainfall is about 700-1000 mm. 

Different species of bamboos have different optimum temperatures, humidity, soil types, altitudes and physiography for 

their best performance. Architectural studies carried out on two species from North-Eastern India showed that the 

structure is adapted to capitalise the high light regime of the early successional environment (Rao et al., 1990). 

ANATOMY 

Anatomical characters of bamboos have considerable importance in identification of genera and species. Furthermore, 

the general properties of the bamboo culm are based on the anatomical, chemical, physical and mechanical characteristics. 

The outer part of bamboo culm consists of two epidermal layers, the inner one is thicker and highly lignified and the 

5

Introduction 

Sl. No. 

Species 

Sl. No. 

Species 

Bambusa 

1 B. affinis 

2 B. auriculata 

3 B. balcooa 

4 B. bambos var. gigantea 

5 B. cacharensis 

6 B. griffithiana 

7 B. jaintiana 

8 B. khasiana 

9 B. kingiana 

10 B. longispiculata 

11 B. mastersii 

12 B. pallida 

13 B. pseudopallida 

14 B. striata 

15 B. teres 

16 B. vulgaris 

17 B. wamin 

Dendrocalamus 

18 D. calostachyus 

19 D. colletianus 

20 D. hookeri 

21 D. sahni 

22 D. sericeus 

23 D. somdevai 

Dinochloa 

24 D. andamanica 

25 D. gracilis 

26 D. indica 

27 D. nicobariana 

Gigantochloa 

28 G. atroviolacea 

29 G. atter 

Melocanna 

30 M. arundina 

Ochlandra 

31 O. sivagiriana 

Oxytenanthera 

32 O. parvifolia 

Phyllostachys 

33 P. assamica 

34 P. bambusoides 

35 P. mannii 

36 P. puberula 

Pleioblastus 

37 P. simonii 

Pseudosasa 

38 P. japonica 

Pseudoxytenanthera 

39 P. stoksii 

Racemobambos 

40 R. clarkei 

41 R. mannii 

Schizostachyum 

42 S. arunachalensis 

43 S. brachycladum 

44 S. capitatum var. 

decompositum 

45 S. dullooa 

46 S. flavescens 

47 S. mannii 

48 S. seshagirianum 


49 S. arunachalensis 

50 S. densifolia 

51 S. elegans 

52 S. griffithiana 

53 S. jainianum 

54 S. kurzii 

55 S. longispiculata 

56 S. microphylla 

57 S. nagalandiana 

58 S. rolloana 

59 S. polystachya 

60 S. suberecta 

outer one is covered by a cutinised layer with 

a wax coating. In culm, the cells are axially 

oriented in the internodal region and they 

provide transverse interconnections in the 

nodal region. The culm consists of about fifty 

per cent parenchyma, forty per cent fibre and 

ten per cent conducting tissues with some 

variation depending on species. The 

parenchyma cells are vertically elongated 

with short cube-like cells interspersed 

between them. The elongated cells are 

characterized by thicker walls with 

polylamellate structure and they become 

lignified in the early stages of shoot growth. 

The short cells have denser cytoplasm and 

thinner walls. They retain their cytoplasmic 

activity for a long time. The vascular bundles 

in bamboo culm consist of one or two 

protoxylem elements, two large metaxylem 

vessels and the phloem with thin walled, 

unlignified sieve tubes connected to 

companion cells. There is a protective layer 

in the parenchyma cells adjacent to 

metaxylem vessels consisting of cellulose and 

hemicellulose (Liese, 1987). 

Table 4. Bamboo species for which 

caryopsis is not described 

6


Table 5. Somatic chromosome number of various bamboo species 

of India 

Genera and species 

Chromosome no. 

Genera and species 

Chromosome no. 

Arundinaria 

A. racemosa 48 

Bambusa 

B. atra 72 

B. balcooa 70 

B. bambos 70, 72 

B. burmanica 70 

B. kingiana 76 

B. multiplex 70, 72 

B. nutans 70 

B. oliveriana 38 

B. polymorpha 64, 72 

B. tulda 70 

B. vulgaris 72 

Dendrocalamus 

D. brandisii 72 

D. giganteus 72 

D. hamiltonii 70, 72 

D. hookeri 36 

D. longispathus 48,72 

D. membranaceus 46 

D. sericeus 60, 72 

D. stricuts 56, 70, 72 

Dinochloa 

D. compactiflora 72 

Gigantochloa 

G. atroviolacea 72 

G. macrostachya 72 

G. pseudoarundinacea 72 

Melocanna 

M. baccifera 72 

Ochlandra 

O. travancorica 72 

Phyllostachys 

P. aurea 48 

P. bambusoides 48 

P. puberula 48 

P. simonii 48 

Pseduosasa 

P. japonica 48 


S. capitatum 60 

S. dullooa 56 

S. kurzii 54, 108 

S. pergracile 48, 54, 60, 72 

S. polymorphum 48 

S. anceps 48 

S. falcata 48 

S. hookeriana 48 

S. pantlingi 48 

S. wightiana 48 

Thamnocalamus 

T. aristatus 48 

T. falconeri 48 

T. spathiflorus 48 

Among the anatomical characters, morphology of vascular bundles has been widely used for bamboo identification. In 

bamboos, four to five major types of vascular bundles are reported (Grosser and Liese, 1971; Liese, 1987; Wen Taihui 

and Chou Wenwei, 1987). 

7

Introduction 

5 

Type I. Consists of one central vascular strand, 

supporting tissue only as sclerenchyma sheaths. 

Type II. Same as type I, but the sheath at the intercellular 

space (protoxylem) is strikingly larger. 

Type III. Consists of two parts; the central vascular 

strand with sclerenchyma sheaths and one isolated 

fibre bundle. 

Type IV. Consists of three parts; the central vascular 

strand with small sclerenchyma sheaths and two 

isolated fibre bundles outside and inside the central 

strand. 

Type V. A semi-open type representing a further 

link in the evolution. 

Fruits of bamboos: Ochlandra travancorica 

var. hirsuta (bacca); Bambusa bambos 

(caryopsis) and Dendrocalamus strictus 

(glans) 

Difference in the lumen of bamboo culms 

➤ 

New shoot initiation in B. bambos 

➤ 

(opposite page) Branching out from the new 

culms after three months 

➤ 

➤ 

7 

8


8 

crop from bottom 

9

Introduction 

Table 6. State-wise distribution of bamboo genera in India 

States 

Genera 

Andhra Pradesh 

Arunachal Pradesh 

Assam 

Bihar 

Goa 

Gujarat 

Haryana 

Himachal Pradesh 

Karnataka 

Kerala 

Madhya Pradesh 

Maharashtra 

Manipur 

Meghalaya 

Mizoram 

Nagaland 

Orissa 

Punjab 

Rajasthan 

Sikkim 

Tamil Nadu 

Tripura 

Uttar Pradesh 

West Bengal 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Pseudoxytenathera and Schizostachyum 

Arundinaria, Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, 

Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Schizostachyum, Sinarundinaria, Thamnocalamus and 

Thyrsostachys 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Melocanna, Oxtenanthera, 

Phyllostachys, Racemobambos and Schizostachyum 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa and Schizostachyum 

Pseudoxytenathera 

Bambusa and Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys and Sinarundinaria 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Thamnocalamus, Melocanna, Ochlandra, Schizostachyum, 

Thyrsostachys and Pseudoxytenanthera 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Ochlandra, Pseudoxytenanthera, Schizostachyum, 

Sinarundinaria and Thyrsostachys 


Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa and Pseudoxytenanthera 

Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Melocanna, 

Racemobambos, Schizostachyum and Sinarundinaria 

Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Melocanna, 

Racemobambos, Phyllostachys, Schizostachyum and Sinarundinaria 

Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Melocanna, 

Oxytenanthera, Schizostachyum and Sinarundinaria 

Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Racemobambos, Schizostachyum and 



Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus 

Arundinaria, Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Melocanna, Phyllostachys, Racemobambos, 

Schizostachyum, Sinarundinaria and Thamnocalamus 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Ochlandra, Pseudoxytenanthera, Schizostachyum and 


Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Melocanna and Schizostachyum 

Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Oxytenanthera, Phyllostachys, 

Pseudosasa, Schizostachyum, Sinarundinaria, Thamnocalamus and Thyrsostachys 

Arundinaria, Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Melocanna, 

Pseudosasa, Schizostachyum, Sinarundinaria, Thamnocalamus and Thyrsostachys 

In addition to these, species of Dinochloa and Schizostachyum are reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

10


The leaf lamina has an upper epidermis, two or three layers of mesophyll with or without a distinct palisade layer, fairly 

large air spaces, lower mesophyll and lower epidermis. Groups of bulliform cells alternate with the air spaces. The 

plicate or lobed condition is common in many of the outer mesophyll layers. The vascular bundles in the leaves show 

the regular monocotyledonous structure and a group of sclerenchymatous cells interconnect the vascular bundles with 

upper and lower epidermis. Stomata are commonly present on the lower epidermis and the guard cells appear smaller 

than the epidermal cells (Rao, 1987). 

Anatomical studies on Indian bamboos are limited mainly to culms and leaves. Ghosh and Negi (1960) studied the stem 

epidermis of six bamboo species. Pattanath and Rao (1968) worked on twelve species and they found that epidermal 

features and internodal structures can be used for distinguishing species. A study conducted by Appasamy (1989) on 

five species revealed that bundle morphology can be used as a diagnostic character. Observations on epidermal features 

of eight species of Dendrocalamus (Bisen et al., 1989), culm and leaf epidermal studies on Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, 

Oxytenanthera and Gigantochloa (Sharma et al., 1986, 1987; Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988; Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan 

1991, 1992) further proved the role of anatomical characteristics as diagnostic features. Information on root anatomy is 

very limited. Anatomical and morphological studies carried out on fruits of five species of Bamboos (Appasamy, 1993) 

reported variations in the structure of seed coat and storage tissues. Work on anatomical aspects carried out so far is 

confined to about 48 species. No reports are available on species of Arundinaria, Chimonobambusa, Phyllostachys, 

Pleioblastus, Racemobambos and Schizostachyum occurring in India. 

MORPHOLOGY 

The vegetative parts of a bamboo plant consist of roots, rhizome, culm, culm-sheaths, branches and leaves. The profuse 

fibrous roots of bamboos form a dense network in the soil. The basal portion of the culm which grows horizontally 

under the soil surface with short internodes is called the rhizome. The constricted portion of the rhizome is known 

as the neck. Based on the structure of the rhizome two types of bamboos are reported. 1. Pachymorph (sympodial): 

This type is solid, and usually short and thick. Bamboos with this type of rhizome are clump-forming. There are few 

exceptions. 2. Leptomorph (monopodial): Bamboos with this type of rhizome continue their horizontal growth 

without forming clumps. Their lateral buds give rise to new culms directly; very few produce long, slender, hollow 

rhizomes (Bennet and Gaur, 1990b). 

Culms in the majority of bamboos are hollow and the wall thickness varies with the species. The culms may be arching 

or erect, semiscandent or scandent. Species of Dinochloa have the unique nature of zig-zag culms and Bambusa wamin 

is characterized by pitcher shaped internodes. The sprouting of new culms occurs soon after the rains and the height 

growth is completed within three to four months. The new growing culms are protected by culm-sheaths which are 

modified leaves. Culm-sheaths are arranged in two ranks and they fall off when culms are mature, leaving the scars. 

Culm-sheaths have imperfect blades, auricles and ligules. The general appearance, size, texture and shape of the culmsheaths 

and their blades are useful characters for identification and based on these, a key for 22 species has been 

developed by Chatterji and Raizada (1963). When the culm attains maximum height growth, the branches open out 

from the nodes of the culms and the pattern of branching is characteristic to each genus. The typical branching behavior 

is seen in the mid-culm regions with more branching towards the tip. On the basis of branching pattern, three types 

of branching are recognised viz., single, triple and multiple branching in monopodial bamboos (Wenyue et al. 1987). 

CHEMISTRY 

The major chemical constituents of bamboo culm are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and the minor constituents are 

resins, tannins, waxes and inorganic salts. The chemical composition varies with species, conditions of growth, age, 

11

Introduction 

9 

10 

➤ 

Collection of seeds after gregarious flowering 

➤ 

Separation of seeds by winnowing 

➤ 

One year old seedling suitable for multiplication 

season and part of the culm. The nodes contain less water soluble extractives, pentosans 

and lignin but more cellulose than internodes. Silica content is high in the epidermis, with 

very little in the nodes and is absent in the internodes. Cellulose in bamboo is holocellulose 

and consists of 1, 4 bonded hydroglucose units and the degree of polymerization is 

higher than that of dicotyledonous woods. The bamboo hemicellulose consists of 

4-O-methyl D-glucuronic acid, L-arabinose and D-xylose. Bamboo lignin, which is typical 

of the grasses, is built up from three phenyl-propane units, p-coumaryl, coniferyl and 

sinapyl alcohols interconnected through biosynthetic pathways (Liese, 1987). 

11 

The chemical composition of 18 species belonging to 10 genera is known from India (Singh 

et al., 1976; Singh and Bhola, 1978). Hemicellulose studied for three species showed a 

difference in the yield of sugars (Rita Dhawan and Singh, 1982). The difference in lignin 

content of various species is negligible. A few reports are available on nutritive value of 

12


seeds of Bambusa, Dendrocalamus and Ochlandra (Rao et al. 1955; Mitra and Nayak, 1972, Appasamy, 1993) and 

fodder value of leaves of Dendrocalamus (Negi et al. 1980). Possibility of using isoenzymes as a tool for identification of 

species has been attempted in Bambusa (Lalithakumari et al., 1985). In addition to its use as a vegetable, bamboo shoot 

is a rich source for phytosterols (Srivastava, 1990). Limited studies on leachates from degrading bamboo leaves have 

shown an allelopathic effect on growth of groundnut and maize (Eyini et al., 1989). 

SILVICULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 

Seed handling: Seeds can be collected in bulk when gregarious flowering occurs from the area by sweeping the forest 

floor. A small quantity of seed is also available during sporadic flowering. The seeds can be separated from the chaff by 

winnowing. The germination tests and observations in flowered areas have indicated that the seeds have no dormancy. 

High percentage of germination (80-100) is obtained if seeds are sown soon after collection under shade. Germination 

is hypogeal and starts within 2-10 days after sowing (Banik, 1995). Seeds can be sown directly in nursery beds or soil 

filled polythene bags. A direct relation exists in some species between seed size and seedling vigour (Banik, 1987, 1991). 

Variation is reported in seedlings with regard to growth pattern and direction of opening of leaves (Bahadur, 1978 and 

Kondas, 1982). Seed longevity varies with species from one to eight months. Caryopsis and glans types can be stored by 

controlling moisture content and temperature (White, 1947; Gupta and Sood, 1978; Somen and Seethalakshmi, 1987; 

Sur et al., 1989; Thapliyal et al., 1991) but for bacca type no storage methods are found successful. 

Vegetative propagation: Since seeds are not available regularly and viability of the seeds of many species is very short, 

propagation by vegetative methods is required for many bamboos. The following methods are generally used for vegetative 

propagation based on the nature of species. 

1. Seedling multiplication: When the seedlings start developing rhizomes, the new sprouts with a portion of rhizome 

are severed from the mother seedling and planted separately. About 3-5 planting units can be obtained from oneyear-old 

seedlings (Adarsh Kumar, 1992). 

2. Offset or clump division: The rhizome portions and offsets are separated from themother plant during the active 

phase of bud development. Offsets or rhizomes of one to two-year old culms are found better. A part of the clump 

consisting of more than one rhizome also gives promising results (McClure, 1966). 

3. Rhizome cuttings: This is mainly done for bamboos with leptomorph rhizomes. Rhizome cuttings of about 40 to 

50 cm are taken from the mother clump and planted. 

4. Layering: The mother culms from the parent clump are bent and held in contact with the soil in such a way that the 

nodes come in contact with the soil and remain like that till the roots are developed. Then the rooted nodes are 

separated and used for planting. 

5. Culm cuttings: Different types of culm cuttings such as single-noded, two-noded and three-noded cuttings are 

used for rooting. The mother culm is cut into pieces using sharp tools. The rooting of culm cuttings is based on 

various parameters like age of the mother culm, portion from which the cutting is taken, method of planting and the 

period of the year selected for rooting (Pathak, 1899; Dabral, 1950; Gupta and Pattanath, 1976). The rooting 

response of culm cuttings is enhanced considerably by use of growth regulating substances (Surendran and 

Seethalakshmi, 1985; Nath et al., 1986). 

6. Pre-rooted and pre-rhizomed branch cuttings: Chopping of the top of one-year-old culms and removal of all 

the emerging culms induced in situ roots and rhizome formation at branch bases of many bamboo species. The pre- 

13

Introduction 

rooted and pre- rhizomed branches are removed from the main culm by hack-saw and planted in the fibreglass tents 

without mist for development (Banik, 1984). 

7. Branch cuttings and nodal bud chips: The branches which are trimmed off while processing bamboo culms are 

used for propagation. Up to 50 per cent rooting can be obtained by providing proper environmental conditions and 

growth regulator treatments. Similarly, trials with the meristematic portion of the node (nodal bud chips) have also 

indicated the possibility of rooting (Surendran and Seethalakshmi, 1985). 

8. Tissue culture: Tissue culture has been found successful for different bamboo species. The various explants used 

are seeds, seedling, embryo, stem and leaves. The success rates vary with the species and cultural conditions. Many 

successful protocols are used for commercial production of planting stock by various research organisations and 

private enterprises in India. The work on micropropagation of bamboos has recently been reviewed by Rao et al. 

(1990) and Zamora (1994). 

Planting: For field planting of bamboos, pits are prepared two months in advance. The spacing and size of the pits 

depend on the species and the type of planting material. The time of planting is a very critical factor in the establishment 

of plantations. Planting should be done soon after the onset of the monsoon. Cultural operations like soil working, 

tending and fertilizer application increase the yield considerably (Lakshmana, 1990; Patil and Patil, 1990; Thomas, 

1991). It is also reported from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu that irrigation increases productivity. In a comparative study 

with other tree crops, Wang and Rajput (1991) reported that bamboo plantations have higher rates of return than 

rubber and cashew. 

Management: The important factors for consideration of management of bamboo forests are felling cycle, felling 

intensity and method of felling. Most of the recommendations on management practices of bamboos are based on the 

observations on Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus strictus which are widely distributed in India. The general 

felling rules are: 

1. Culms should be cut, according to a thinning out principle so that the culms left are distributed around the young 

shoots in order to prevent their bending. 

2. Immature culms should not be cut unless they are damaged or infected. 

3. The oldest and deteriorating culms which cannot last for another cycle should be removed first before any of 

the good culms are felled. 

4. Cutting along the periphery should be avoided as far as possible in accordance with the principle of thinning. 

Cutting of clumps at the periphery restricts the outward growth of the clump. 

5. Culms should be cut at a height of about 15-30 cm from the ground. 

6. Cutting at heights more than 60 to 90 cm above ground level should be avoided, as this results in wastage and the 

stump later causes congestion due to the sprouting of buds. 

7. Flowering culms and clumps should not be cut before seed fall is completed. 

8. Tending operations should be done along with the felling by cutting any malformed, dead, diseased or otherwise 

useless culms, stumps and climbers. 

9. No clump is considered mature for exploitation unless it contains more than eight mature culms. 

10. In a mature clump, culms of current season and eight culms of the previous year should be retained. 

14


11. Digging of rhizome, cutting of tops of bamboo for fodder and use of tender bamboo for building are prohibited. 

12. Sharp instruments are to be used during the extraction process. 

MYCORRHIZAE 

Occurrence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) associated with species of Bambusa, Dendrocalamus and 

Ochlandra is reported from Southern India. The species of VAM recorded are Glomus albidum, G. fasciculatum, 

G. mosseae, G. pubescens, G. reticulatum , Gigaspora sp. and Sactellospora sp. (Appasamy and Ganapathy, 1992). 

PESTS AND DISEASES 

From India, a number of insects are reported to attack bamboos (Singh, 1990; Mathew and Varma, 1990). Nearly two 

hundred species of insects are reported to damage various species of bamboos from India and depending on the nature 

of attack, they are classified into eight types: 

1. Defoliating insects. 2. Sap-sucking insects. 3. Shoot and culm-boring-insects. 4. Gall-making insects. 5. Rhizome and 

root insects. 6. Seed insects. 7. Nursery insects. 8. Post-harvest insects (Wang et al., 1995). 

They belong to five orders viz., Coleoptera, Homoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, and Thysanoptera. Various treatments 

are found effective against the damage caused by many of these organisms. Recently a manual on bamboo insect pests 

in Asia has been done by Wang et al., (1995). 

A number of diseases are reported from bamboo nurseries, plantations and natural forests. Seed borne fungi also cause 

serious damage to stored seeds and reduce germinability. A review on the diseases found in bamboos from Asia has 

been done by Mohanan (1995). The major nursery diseases are damping off, wilt, seedling stem infection, leaf blight, 

leaf rust, smut on stem, on spikes and ergot. The diseases reported from plantations and natural forests are rhizome bud 

rot, rhizome decay, decay in the base of the culm, culm rot, culm sheath rot, stem infection, sheath and culm blight, leaf 

rust, tip blight, leaf spots, leaf rusts, little leaf, witches broom and sooty mould (Mohanan, 1990; Tewari, 1992). Many 

of these diseases can be controlled by proper management and chemical treatments. 

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES 

The density of bamboo varies from 500 to 800 kg/m 3 , based on the anatomical structure and moisture content. It 

increases from the central to the peripheral parts of the culms. Bamboos possess a very high moisture content which 

varies with age and season of felling. The moisture also varies from bottom to top and from the innermost layers to the 

periphery, and decreases with age. Studies on shrinkage at various moisture content levels have shown that bamboo 

starts shrinking right from green condition, even when the moisture content is about 100 to 150 per cent, unlike wood 

which starts shrinking below the fibre saturation point. The term fibre saturation point (FSP) is not applicable to 

bamboo (Gnanaharan, 1993). The shrinkage in bamboo, which is higher than in wood, is about 10-16 per cent and is 

related to wall thickness and culm diameter. There is large variation in shrinkage leading to drying defects. Bamboo is 

known for its high tensile strength. To possess optimum strength there is an age of maturity for each species. In air dry 

bamboos depending on the species, moisture content varies from 7 to 18 per cent, specific gravity from 0.428 to 0.817, 

fibre stress at elastic limit from 16 to 120 N/mm 2 , modulus of rupture from 33 to 160 N/mm 2 , modulus of elasticity from 

3 to 22 kN/mm 2 and compression strength parallel to grain from 26-78 N/mm 2 (Tewari, 1992). The methods used to 

study the strength properties vary. Gnanaharan et al., (1994) compared different testing procedures for determining 

15

Introduction 

➤ 

Culm-cutting in the nursery 

➤Root formation in culm cuttings 

13 

14 

15 

12 

16 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

Rooted culm cutting ready for planting 

Root development in branch cutting 

Tissue culture of Bambusa bambos 

A plantation of bamboo reeds 

(Ochlandra sp.) 

17 

16


18 

➤ 

➤ 

A plantation of Thyrsostachys oliveri 

Bamboo planting under teak 

bending strength. There is no information on 

strength properties and the correlations 

between moisture control, anatomical structure, 

growth factors, drying and preservation for most 

of the species (Kumar et al., 1994). 

19 

NATURAL DURABILITY AND 

PRESERVATION 

The natural durability of bamboos is found to 

vary from 9 to 84 months depending on the 

species. Variation in durability has also been 

observed along the length of the culm and the 

thickness of the wall. The basal portion is more 

durable than the middle and top portions. 

➤Extraction of bamboos 

➤ 

A clump of B. bambos ready for harvesting 

21 

20 

17

Introduction 

Due to the presence of large quantities of starch and less toxic substances, bamboo is easily attacked by fungi and borer 

beetles. They cause immense damage during drying, storage and subsequent use. Biodegradation of bamboos is a 

serious problem for pulping. The major fungal problems reported are white rots and brown rots, both of which result in 

decreases in pulp yield and fibre strength and an increase in pulping costs. Prophylactic treatments are effective but not 

usually undertaken since they are expensive (Kumar et al., 1994). 

In stored bamboos, loss from fungal and insect attack can be significantly reduced by proper treatments at the time of 

stacking, even under open storage (Kumar et al., 1980). In some instances like reed bamboos the pest attack is sporadic 

and depends much on felling age of the culms and season of felling. To save the bamboos from termite attack, storing on 

raised platforms prepared from powdered lime sludge containing 2% BHC is recommended (Nair et al., 1983). It has 

also been reported that vertical stacking and monthly treatment with borax-boric acid reduces damage (Gnanaharan et 

al., 1982). 

Both traditional and chemical treatments can be used to enhance the service life of bamboos. Traditional non-chemical 

treatments of bamboos include, felling of bamboo during the period when the sugar content is low, felling of bamboo at 

maturity, post-harvest transpiration of bamboo culm and water soaking of the culms. Baking the bamboo culms over 

fire after applying suitable coatings like oil, tar or lime-wash are some other traditional methods for increasing the 

service life of bamboos. Chemical treatments of bamboos ensure longer life. Some of the generally used chemical 

preservatives are (1) coal-tar, creosote and fuel oil, (2) copper-chrome-arsenic composition, (3) borated copper-chromearsenic 

composition, (4) acid copper-chrome-composition, (5) copper-chrome-boron composition, (6) ammoniacal 

copper-arsenite composition, (7) boric acid - Borax, (8) copper naphthenate/abietate and zinc naphthenate/abietate, 

(9) sodium- penta-chlorophenate-boric acid- borax, (10) sodium pentachlorophenoxide (Kumar et al., 1994). The 

treatment can be given both in green and dry conditions by various methods. For treatment of green bamboos, the 

methods used are: 1. Sap displacement. 2. Steeping. 3. Diffusion process and 4. Boucherie process. Dry bamboos can be 

treated by the following methods: 1. Soaking. 2. Hot-cold process and 3. Pressure treatment (Kumar et al., 1994). 

Tests on treated bamboos showed variation in durability depending on species and service conditions (Kumar et al., 

1994). 

USES 

Bamboo has received the attention of mankind mainly due to its multifarious uses. Bamboo culms are widely used as 

structural material for building purposes, and as raw material for pulp, paper and panel board industries. Recently, it 

was reported that bamboo skin can be used in cottage industries (Kabir et al., 1993). In rural areas, branches of thorny 

bamboos are widely used for fencing and the culms are used as water pipes. Thin diameter culms with thick walls are 

used for umbrella handles, pluckers and fishing rods. Bamboo leaves are used for fodder and thatching. An analysis of 

the nutritive value of bamboo leaves revealed high nutrient contents (Negi, 1977; Khatta and Katoch, 1983). Bamboo 

roots, leaves, sprouts and grains are used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of many diseases. Also 

the silicaceous deposit Banslochan found in the interior parts of the hollow culms is used for the treatment of asthma, 

cough, paralytic complaints and other debilitating diseases. Young bamboo shoots are a delicacy and offer good export 

opportunities in many Asian countries. Goldsmiths prefer the charcoal made from bamboos. Different types of musical 

instruments, bows and arrows are made from bamboos. Bamboo rhizomes are used for decorative handicraft items. 

Bamboo roots are considered poisonous due to the presence of cyanogenic glucosides, but the burnt roots are used for 

the treatment of ring worm, bleeding gums, painful joints and wounds. 

18


THE SCOPE OF THIS BOOK 

This is a comprehensive compilation on bamboo species occurring in India, primarily based on a literature survey. 

Information on Indian bamboos is presently scattered in numerous publications, floras and other treatises. The diverse 

and dispersed sources of information add to the difficulties in understanding this group of plants in a holistic manner. 

Contradictory reports on various aspects of bamboos, especially those of taxonomic and phytogeographic observations 

have increased the confusion for bamboo classification and for the generic and specific delimitations. The number of 

bamboo genera and species occurring in India have been reported arbitrarily by various taxonomists, with each author 

giving a different figure. Some of the bamboos have been merged with another genera or species or have been treated 

as synonyms. Recently, several changes have been suggested with regard to the taxonomic status as well as nomenclature 

of several Indian bamboo genera. Many species have been assigned different names by different investigators e.g. the 

genus Oxytenanthera. This genus was described by Munro (1868). Holttum (1956) considered it to be monotypic with 

O. abyssinica. The rest of the species treated earlier under this genus were shifted to Gigantochloa or Dendrocalamus. 

Soderstrom and Ellis (1988) maintained Oxytenanthera as a new taxon, Pseudoxytenanthera, to which they transferred 

O. monadelpha. Majumdar (1989) described it as yet another genus Pseudotenanthera which Naithani (1990b) later 

considered a superfluous name, and treated it as a synonym of Pseudoxytenanthera, making new combinations. Some 

species have been placed under two or more genera by various workers. Similarly, many genera like Arundinaria, 

Chimonobambusa, Drepanostachyum, Indocalamus, Melocalamus and Teinostachyum are treated differently by various 

authors (McClure, 1936; Holttum, 1958; Bahadur and Naithani, 1983; Majumdar, 1983, 1989; Das, 1995). The genus 

Arundinaria Michaux was the largest genus under Bambusoideae at one time having 380 binomials under the name 

Arundinaria and representing, taxonomically, a heterogenous group of bamboos. Japanese and Chinese botanists have 

recognised that certain species in Asia, originally included under Arundinaria, differed in various ways and they, therefore, 

published a new genus to accommodate these divergent species, e.g. Sinobambusa Makino ex Nakai, Chimonobambusa 

Makino, Indocalamus Nakai, Pleioblastus Nakai, Oreocalamus Keng, Hsueh & Yi, Yushaina Keng. f., Drepanostachyum 

Keng. f., Himalayacalamus Keng. f., Oligostachyum Wang and Ye., Bashania Keng. f. and Yi. In some cases, these 

segregate from Arundinaria are justified, i.e. Sinobambusa, Chimonobambusa, Indocalamus and Sinarundinaria; but 

in others they lead to more confusion and have subsequently been reduced to synonyms (Chao and Renvoize, 1989). 

Various publications indicate considerable disparity in the number of genera and species reported from different 

phytogeographic regions of India. This disparity emphasizes the need for a review of the literature on bamboos and 

compilation of the information on various species, including their synonyms. 

The first monograph on Indian bamboos was that of Gamble (1896) and dealt with taxonomy, distribution and uses. 

McClure (1966) in his book, The Bamboos - A Fresh Perspective, made an extensive coverage of vegetative and 

reproductive characteristics of the bamboo plant, including descriptions of elite species with their propagation methods, 

flowering and fruiting behaviour and taxonomic keys to various genera and species. During the last decade the 

International Development Research Centre, Canada, concentrated their attention on bamboo and rattan research in 

Asian countries, Five International Bamboo Workshops were organised - in Singapore (1980), China (1985) India, 

(1988) Thailand (1991) and Indonesia (1995). An account of bamboo resources and research in India was presented in 

these meetings (Varmah and Bahadur, 1980; Gaur, 1987, Thomas et al., 1987; Sharma, 1987) which helped to arrive at 

an overall picture of bamboos in India and the major information gaps that exist. One of the major problems highlighted 

was the correct identification of bamboo species. Bennet and Gaur (1990b) brought out a book, Thirty Seven Bamboos 

Growing in India, which included descriptions of vegetative characters, habit and habitat, distribution, flowering and 

uses of bamboos grown in the arboretum of the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. The illustrations of vegetative 

19

➤ 

➤ 

Introduction 

pix 1-ss 

cut out 

characters given in this book are helpful for field identification. The latest comprehensive work, Indian 

Bamboos, by Tewari (1992) described 23 genera and 128 species with illustrations included for 55 

species. For each species, a taxonomic description, distribution, flowering and uses are given separately 

and information on other aspects like genetics, silviculture, growth, economics, pests and diseases, 

properties and utilisation is compiled under various chapters. 

In this compendium information on 128 bamboo species belonging to 18 genera is presented with 

detailed illustrations for 113 species. All of the genera and species are arranged in alphabetical order, 

and the information is categorised under the following headings (1) Description (2) Flowering and 

fruiting (3) Distribution and ecology (4) Anatomy, morphology and fibre characteristics (5) Chemistry 

(6) Silviculture and management (7) Pests and diseases (8) Physical and mechanical properties 

(9) Natural durability and preservation (10) Uses. References are given at the end of each genus. For 

preparing the illustrations, mostly live specimens and various herbaria were consulted. In certain cases, 

illustrations were redrawn from earlier 

publications. The sources of such 

illustrations are given in the Appendix. 

Estigmena chinensis - a borer beetle 

Damage caused by Dinoderus minutus 

22 

pix 2 

A population of 

Udonga montana 

- a serious seed pest 

of bamboo 

➤ Bamboo flutes 

➤ 

24 

20


23 

➤ 

A bamboo fence 

REFERENCES 

Adarsh Kumar; Mohinder Pal and Shiv Kumar, 1992. Mass production of field planting stock of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii 

vegetatively through macro-proliferation. Indian Forester, 118: 638-646. 

Adarsh Kumar; Sharma, V. K. and Dhiman, R. C. 1995. Natural selfing in Bambusa bambos (L) Voss, Besh. (Syn. 

B. arundinacea (Retz.) Willd.) as estimated from albino frequencies. Indian Forester, 121: 156-158. 

Agrawal. S. P. and Luxmi Chauhan. 1991. Culm and leaf epidermis of Indian Bamboos IV. Oxytenanthera Munro. 

Indian Forester, 117: 1073-76. 

Agrawal, S. P. and Luxmi Chauhan. 1992. Culm and leaf epidermis of Indian bamboos V. Gigantochloa Kurz ex Munro. 


Appasamy, T. 1989. Histo-morphological and histochemical studies of some Indian bamboos. M. Phil Dissertation. 

University of Madras: 41 p. 

Appasamy, T. 1993. Studies on Bamboo seed-biology and its propagation. Doctoral thesis, Bharathidasan University, 

Thiruchirappally: 72 p. 

21

Introduction 

Appasamy, T. and Ganapathy, A. 1992. Preliminary survey of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) association with 

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23

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24


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26


ARUNDINARIA MICHAUX 

Usually tufted, erect plants. Rhizome monopodial. Culms 

hollow, terete, with 3-7 branches at each node, glabrous or hairy; internode striate, glabrous or scabrous; node prominent 

with 1-3 branches. Culm sheath deciduous or persistent, striate, straw-coloured, chartaceous or coriaceous, glabrous or 

scabrous, with or without oral setae. Leaves linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, tip acute to acuminate with conspicuous 

transverse veinlets; petiole short or long; leaf sheath striate, glabrous or scabrous or covered with bulbous based hairs, 

callus with or without bristled auricles. Inflorescence generally raceme or racemose-panicle with few to many spikelets; 

spikelets 2-8-flowered. Stamens 3; anther basifixed. Style undivided with 3 long plumose stigmas. 

The genus Arundinaria was erected by Michaux in 1803. There are about 380 binomials under the name Arundinaria 

including American, Asian and African species, 

thus representing a taxonomically heterogenous 

group of bamboos. McClure (1973) excluded many 

American species formerly included under the genus 

Arundinaria. However, his studies did not include 

the Asian and African species of 

▼● 

▼● Arundinaria, included Munro (1868) included 29 

species of Arundinaria in the world in his monograph, 

28 species in the Himalayan region by 

Gamble (1896) and 14 species from Indo-China 

▼● 

and Madagascar by Camus (1913). Chao and 

Renvoize (1989) based on their revisionary 

studies on South-east Asian and African species 

of Arundinaria included only two species in 

this genus, while the other species were transferred 

into Sinarundinaria, Thamnocalamus, 

Racemobambos, Chimonobambusa, Indosasa, 

Sinobambusa and Acidosasa. Among the five 

Indian species of Arundinaria recognized by Tewari 

(1992), three species have been transferred 

under the genus Sinarundinaria as per the 

revisionary studies of Chao and Renvoize (1989). 

➡ 

▼ A. gracilis 

● A. racemosa 

➤ 

Distribution map of Arundinaria 

27

Arundinaria 

Arundinaria gracilis 

Arundinaria gracilis Camus in Revue Horticole 490. 1886 and Les Bambusees 38. 1913; Blatter, Indian For. 55: 

546. 1929; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 1. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo, 23.1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Plants caespitose. Culms about 4-5 m in height, 2 cm diameter, green at first, turning yellow with age; branchlets 

numerous, fasciculate. Culm-sheaths 12-15 cm long, narrowed towards the apex; imperfect blade absent in lower culmsheath. 

Leaves 9-10 cm long and 0.8-1 cm broad, bright green, apex acuminate, base attenuate into a short petiole. 

Inflorescence divaricate panicle; spikelets pedicelled and provided with 1 to many membranous longitudinally striate 

bracts, 2-3-flowered; empty glumes 2, lanceolate, outer smaller than the inner; lemma ovate, violet, many-nerved; 

lodicules 3, small, rounded, tip ciliate; stamens 3, pendulous, filaments long. Ovary with 2 stigmas, plumose. Caryopsis 

ovoid, oblong, acuminate at the apex. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Found in North-East India, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal. 

Arundinaria racemosa 

Arundinaria racemosa Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 17. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7:9. 1896, in Hook. f. Fl., Brit. India 7: 379. 1897; Blatter, Indian For. 55: 542. 1929, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 902. 

1930; Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 238. 1979; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo, 25.1992. (Fig. 1). 

Fargesia racemosa (Munro) Yi in J. Bam. Res. 2(1): 39. 1983. 

VERNACULAR NAMES 

Sikkim - Sanu maling, Pummoon, Pat-hioo; Lepcha and Bhutia - Miknu, Mikner. 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect, gregarious shrubs with long rhizomes. Culms ca. 4 m high, ca.5 cm in diameter, glaucous when young; internodes 

ca. 11 cm long, scabrous, yellow, with prominent nodes; branches 1-3, fascicled at the node. Culm-sheaths ca. 6 cm 

long, ca. 2.5 cm broad at base, striate, chartaceous, pubescent and narrowed towards the tip; imperfect blade ca. 1.5 cm 

long, narrow, ciliate on the margin, acute at the tip; auricles bristly; ligule ca. 2 mm long, fimbriate. Leaves ca. 10 cm 

long and 1 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, apex sharply acuminate, base attenuate into a 3 mm long petiole, ciliate on the 

edges, glabrous on the surface; midrib prominent, secondary veins 3 pairs, intermediate 6, transverse veinlets many; 

28


➤ 

Fig. 1. A. racemosa A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering branch; C - a portion of 

culm; D - culm-sheath; E - spikelet; 

F - flowering glume; G - palea; 

H - lodicules; I - lodicules with stamens 

and pistil; J - stamen; K - pistil. 

line 1 

Leaf-sheath striate, straw-coloured, 

scabrous on the surface, edges glabrous 

and ending in a callus with auricles having 

brown bristles on both sides; ligule short, 

blunt. Inflorescence an axiliary panicle 

on leafy branches; rachis glabrous, with 

3 spikelets; spikelet ca. 3.5 cm long, with 4-8 florets on glabrous pedicels, upper most floret empty; rachilla ca. 5 mm 

long, clavate, pubescent with tuft of hairs below the flowers; empty glumes 2, very small, ovate, acuminate, papery, 

hairy at the tip; outer glume ca. 4 x 1 mm, 3-nerved; inner glume ca. 5 x 2.5 mm, 5-nerved; lemma ca. 10 x 4 mm, ovate, 

tip longacuminate, ciliate, margin minutely ciliate, brownish- red, 9-nerved; palea shorter than lemma, ca. 8 mm long, 

tessellate, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, tip bimucronate and ciliate; lodicules 3, ovate-lanceolate, acute, ciliate, 

5-nerved, ca. 2 mm long, one shorter. Stamens 3; anther ca. 4.5 mm long, bilobed, basifixed, tip-bifid, acute, yellow; 

filament ca. 1 mm long; ovary ca. 1 mm long, ovoid-oblong, glabrous, orange in colour; style undivided, short; stigmas 3, 

plumose. Caryopsis ca. 5 mm long, elliptic, acute, glabrous, furrowed on one side with persistent base of style and 

stigmas. 

Chromosome number n = 24. 

29

Arundinaria 

FLOWERING 

Flowering cycle is reported as 30 years. Flowering recorded from Sikkim in 1857, 1887, 1890, 1892, and 1897. 


This species is distributed in North-East Himalaya, East Nepal and Sikkim at a height of 2000-3700 m. It is also found 

commonly growing at higher altitudes in Darjeeling. Gamble (1896) recognised two forms of this species based on 

distribution, size and flowering behaviour. This bamboo forms a dense undergrowth impeding the natural regeneration. 

When fire occurs in such areas, the fierce conflagration causes destruction of vegetation. 

SILVICULTURE 

The species can be propagated by division of the clumps and using rhizome cuttings (Lawson, 1968). 

USES 

The culms are used for mat-making, roofing, fencing, garden support and the leaves are used as fodder. 

REFERENCES 

Bahadur, K. N. 1979. Taxonomy of bamboos. Indian Journal of Forestry, 2: 222-241. 

Chao Chi-son and Revoize, S. A. 1989. Revision of species described under Arundinaria (Gramineae) in South-East 


Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, 7: 22-24. 

Lawson, A. H. 1968. Bamboos: A Gardener’s Guide to their Cultivation in Temperate Climates. Faber and Faber Ltd., 

London: 106-107. 

McClure, F. A. 1973. Genera of Bamboos Native to the New World. Smithsonian Contribution to Botany, No.9: 21-40. 

Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on Bamboos. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun: 23-27. 

30


BAMBUSA SCHREBER 

Tufted, arborescent or shrubby, or rarely climbing bamboos; 

rhizomes sympodial, pachymorph, rarely with elongated necks. Culms usually dense, self-supporting; internodes shallowly 

sulcate above the point of bud or branch emergence, hollow, rarely solid; nodes flat or with ridges, branch-buds broad 

at nodal line, secondary branches from the lateral primordia while major primordium remains dormant within the 

prophyllum. Branching intravaginal. Branch complements at mid-culm nodes. Culm leaves variable. Leaf blades petiolate. 

Inflorescence usually a large leafless compound panicle. Pseudospikelets solitary or more commonly forming fascicles, 

dense caespitose clusters. Spikelets terminating in a perfect floret; transitional glumes one to several; functional florets 

1-many, bisexual, rarely staminate with the pistil obsolete. Glumes 1-3. Lemmas ovate-lanceolate, many-veined. 

Palea 2-keeled, tips mostly entire. Lodicules 3, 

membranous, obtuse, ciliate. Stamens 6; filaments 

free, often exerted; anthers narrow, tip obtuse or 

apiculate or penicillate. Ovary solid, oblong, 

✦ 

✦ 

✦✬✲ 

✬▲ 

✦ 

✩✢◆■ 

✾✿✜ 

✬✲✇ 

✾ 

✤■✲ 

✛✜✬❑ 

✥✲▲ 

✩✤✢▼ 

●✛❂✜ 

✬❍✥▲ 

➡ 

➡ 

✷✩✤ 

✢◆✛❖ 

■✾✿ 

✜✬✥ 

➡ 

➡ 

➡ 

✤●✛✜ 

✬❑✥✲▲ 

➡ 

✱✷✛✜ 

✬❑✥✲▲ 

✱✤✢■ 

✾✜✬✲ 

➡ 

➡ 

➡ 

✤✛✜✬ 

❑✥✲ 

✦❋✬ 

✾❑▲ 

✛❖✿✜ 

✬✲▲ 

obovoid, hairy at the tip; style short or long, 

branched or unbranched; stigmas 3, 2 or 1, 

plumose. Fruit a caryopsis, ovate to oblong, beaked, 

with the base of style and upper part of the pericarp 

markedly thickened, furrowed on one side; pericarp 

thin, adherent; embryo conspicuous. 

This genus is widely distributed in Southern and 

Eastern-Asia. About 91 species of this genus are 

distributed in different parts of the world. In India 

26 species are known to occur. In the present 

compendium, all 26 species have been included. 

✤✦✪■ 

✬✇ 

➡ 

✬ 

✱ B. affinis 

✷ B. atra 

✩ B. auriculata 

✤ B. balcooa 

✦ B. bambos 

✪ B. bambos var. gigantea 

✢ B. burmanica 

▼B. cacharensis 

◆ B. copelandi 

❋ B. griffithiana 

● B. jaintiana 

✛ B. khasiana 

❃ B. kingiana 

❖ B. longispiculata 

❂ B. mastersii 

■ B. multiplex 

✾ B. nutans 

✿ B. oliveriana 

✜ B. pallida 

✬ B. polymorpha 

❑ B. pseudopallida 

❍ B. striata 

✥ B. teres 

✲ B. tulda 

▲B. vulgaris 

✇ B. wamin 

cultivated/ 

introduced 

➤ 

Distribution map of Bambusa 

31

Bambusa 

Bambusa affinis 

Bambusa affinis Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 93. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 39. 

1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 390. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 120. Pl. 72. 1913; Naithani, Fl. Pl. India, Nepal 

and Bhutan 512. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 28.1992. (Fig. 2). 

DESCRIPTION 

A low, tufted, shrubby bamboo. Culms 5-7 m high, 2.5-5 cm in diameter, pale green or striped green and white, striate, 

appressed-hairy; nodes marked with black hairs below, slightly thickened; internodes 30-60 cm long, hollow. Culmsheaths 

10-12.5 cm long, as broad as long, round at tip, glabrous or with brown appressed hairs in small patches, bright 

green when young, later becoming straw-coloured; imperfect blade 2.5-5 cm long and 0.75-1.25 cm broad, lanceolate, 

usually recurved, appressed, brown hairy within, slightly rounded at base and decurrent to form a very narrow entire 

wing on the top of the sheath, longer on young shoots; ligule narrow, entire. Leaves 15-25 cm long and 2.5-3.7 cm 

broad, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, tip scabrous, twisted, smooth above, except the scabrous points on 

marginal veins, pale and scabrid below, scabrous on the edges; secondary veins 8-10, intermediate 6-8, pellucid-punctate, 

giving the appearance of transverse veinlets beneath; petiole minute; leaf sheaths keeled, striate, covered on the back 

with stiff brown hairs, ending above in a short callus. 

Inflorescence a terminal spike or panicle, usually on 

leafy branchlets; rachis 10-15 cm long, bearing 2-3 

branchlets with few shining ca.2.5 cm long coriaceous 

spikelets in small verticils. Spikelets 6-10-flowered, pale 

brown, shining; rachillae short, striate, shortly hairy 

at the apex; flowering glume acuminate, folded at the 

base, more than 20-nerved; palea much narrower, 2- 

keeled, 7-nerved between the keels, 4-nerved outside, 

ciliate on the keels; lodicules 3, the two longer ones 

often united at the base, many-nerved and somewhat 

line 2 

folded. Ovary almost obovoid, almost hairy at the apex 

and tapering into a style; stigmas 3. 

➤Fig. 2. B. affinis. A - Leafy branch; B - culm-sheath. 

32


FLOWERING 

The years of occurrence of gregarious or sporadic flowering of this species has not been recorded. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Chakraborty (1988) reports the 

occurrence of this species in the 

State of Tripura. It is also grown in 

the National Botanic Gardens, 

Calcutta. 

➤ 

Fig. 3. B. atra. A - flowering branch; B - culm sheath (ventral view); C - culm 

sheath (dorsal view); D - spikelet; E - empty glume; F - flowering glume; G - palea; 

H - pistil; I - stamen; J - young shoot; K - a portion of culm. 

USES 

This is the main species used in 

Tripura and other states for fishing 

rods and javelins. 

Bambusa atra 

Bambusa atra Lindl., Penny, 

Cyclop. 3: 357. 1835; Merrill, 

Interpr. Rumph. Herb. Amb. 98. 

1917; Holttum, Kew Bull. 21: 268. 

1967; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 

28.1992. (Fig. 3). 

line 3 

Bambusa lineata Munro, Trans. 

Linn. Soc. London 26: 120. 1868; 

Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 46. 1896. excl. specimen 

of Andaman Islands. Bambusa 

rumphiana Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. 

Bengal 39(2): 86. 1870 (excl. Syn. 

B. amahussana), Indian For. 1: 341. 

1876. 

DESCRIPTION 

A tufted reed-like bamboo. Culms 

5-8 m tall, 3-4 cm diameter near 

33

Bambusa 

base; green or dark-green, or yellowish with green stripes; internodes 40-70 cm long; nodes marked by prominent ringlike 

sheath scar. Young shoots slender, sheath flame-shaped, auricles distinct, ciliate. Culm-sheaths 12-18 cm long, 8-10 

cm broad at base, soon drying, with golden-brown hairs on back towards base, top truncate; ligule 1 mm tall, fringed 

with 5-7 mm long stiff hairs; auricle 1-1.5 cm long, horizontal each side of the blade, with long bristles; blade as long as 

the sheath, erect, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, base 5 cm broad and rounded, attached by a narrow constriction. Leaves 

on main culms up to 60 cm long and 10 cm broad, on branches upto 30 cm long and 5 cm broad, dull green above, pale 

beneath, ovate-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate; auricles with long bristles and ligule with short bristles; petiole short and 

broad. Inflorescence a terminal spike or panicle at the tip of leafy branchlets, bearing clusters of sessile spikelets 

supported by a truncate bract; rachis rounded flattened on one side, striate. Spikelets ovate-acute, 1-1.25 cm long, about 

5 mm broad, much compressed, and often spirally twisted, bearing usually 1 to 2 basal empty glumes, about 10 fertile 

flowers and a terminal imperfect flower; rachillae short, glabrous; empty glume ovate, long-mucronate, 5-7-veined; 

flowering glume similar but longer, and white-ciliate on the margins; palea a little shorter than the flowering glumes, 

narrow, 2-keeled, minutely ciliate on the keels, sometimes bifid at the apex; lodicules apparently none. Stamens exserted; 

anthers narrow, the connective penicillate, apiculate; filaments often apparently monadelphous but separable. Ovary 

oblong, whitish, pubescent, gradually passing into an elongated style which is finally divided into three purple plumose 

stigmas. Caryopsis not recorded. 

Chromosome number 2n = 72, hexaploid. 

FLOWERING 

Kurz (1876) mentioned that it flowered regularly and the culms do not die after flowering as in other bamboos; flowered 

abundantly in the Botanical Gardens of Java and in Calcutta, however, without setting any fruit. It is often described as 

constantly flowering and observations of cultivated plants for more than 100 years at Bogor, Calcutta and Peradeniya 

confirm that the plants do not die after flowering (McClure, 1966). 


Native of Moluccas and New Guinea; planted elsewhere. Holttum pointed out that the plants have been sent at various 

times from Bogor to the Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, Peradeniya and Singapore. It is grown along river banks and 

on lower hill slopes. B. atra is also found on lime stone. 

USES 

Culms are used for basketry, handicrafts, building materials and fish traps. 

Bambusa auriculata 

Bambusa auriculata Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 39: 86. 1870; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 55. 1896, 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 396. 1987. Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 31.1992. (Fig. 4). 

Gigantochloa auriculata Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 557. 1877. 

34


➤ 

Fig. 4. B. auriculata 

A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; 

D - a portion of culm; 

E - young shoot. 

line 4 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen, tufted bamboo. Culms 12-16 m high, 5-7 cm in diameter, glossy green, scurfy when young, yellowish 

when old; branches curving downwards; nodes brown, strigose; internodes 45-75 cm long, the lower ones shorter, walls 

thick. Young shoots spear-shaped, green or yellowish-tinged green, sheath with wavy margin, blade erect with 2-4 

horizontal ridges. Culm-sheaths 25-30 cm long, 22-25 cm broad at base, attenuate upwards and convexly truncate top 

with about 10 cm in breadth, thickly black ciliate on the margins, the abaxial side covered with appressed black or tawny 

bristles except for a vacant patch down the middle; blade 16-23 cm long, triangular, acute, base about 10 cm broad and 

slightly rounded, striate on both sides, hairy within, densely appressed-hairy outside; ligule 5 mm high, sharply dentate; 

auricles rounded, naked, green when fresh. Leaves 20-40 cm long, 2.5-6 cm broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 

ending above in long twisted scabrous point, smooth above, minutely puberulous beneath when young, glabrous or 

rough on aging, often glaucous; petiole 2.5-5 mm long, rounded or attenuate at the base; leaf-sheath striate, hairy when 

young, smooth when old, auricles rounded, naked and often dark. 

35

Bambusa 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Bangladesh, Myanmar and North-Eastern regions of India. It has been introduced in 

Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and at Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 

ANATOMY 

Leaf epidermal stomata arranged in two bands in 1 to 3 alternate rows; subsidiary cells high-domed to triangular, 

surrounded by 8 to 9 globose papillae. Interstomatal cells short to long with sinuous walls and almost straight ends, 

width uniform. Papillae conspicuous, in a row in the middle. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork 

cells, costal inconspicuous, intercostal distinct. Silica cells common. Silica bodies, costal saddle to acute angled, intercostal 

‘8’ shaped. Prickles frequent; intercostal with round base and long acute apex, base surrounded by a ring of papillae. 

line 5 

➤Fig. 5. B. balcooa A - leafy 

branch; B - part of leafy 

branch; C - culm sheath; 

D - a part of flowering 

branch; E - spikelet; 

F - flowering glume; 

G - palea; H - lodicules; 

I - stamen; J - pistil; 

K - young shoot; 

L - a portion of culm. 

36


Microhairs common, apical and basal cell equal in length, apex 

long, tapering. Macrohairs absent. 

In culm epidermis stomata evenly distributed, square in shape, 

14-20 mm long and 14-18 mm wide; subsidiary cells parallel 

sided to low-domed, not surrounded by papillae. Epidermal 

cells long and narrow, uniform in width, 40-75 mm long and 

5.5-7.5 mm wide; papillae small, scattered. Short cells solitary, 

occasionally paired. Cork cells silicified, equal or slightly larger 

than silica cells, small, rectangular. Silica bodies rod shaped to 

rectangular. Prickles, macro hairs and micro hairs absent 

(Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1989, Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 

1992). 

26 

➤ 

➤ 

B. balcooa - New shoot 

B. balcooa - A clump 

25 

Bambusa balcooa 

Bambusa balcooa Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 196. 1832; 

Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 100. 1868; 

Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 42. 1896, in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 391. 1897; Brandis, Indian 

Trees 670. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 122. 1913; 

Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 31. 1992. (Fig. 5). 

Dendrocalamus balcooa (Roxb.) Voigt, Hort. Suburb. 

Calcutta 718. 1845. 

37

Bambusa 


Assam - Baluka; Bengal - Balku bans, Duars - Boro bans; Garo - Wamnah, Beru; Tripura - Barak. 

DESCRIPTION 

A tall caespitose bamboo. Culms 12-20 m high and 8-15 cm in diameter, grayish green, thick-walled, the diameter of the 

cavity about one-third of that of the culm; nodes thickened with a whitish ring above, hairy below; internodes 20-40 cm 

long; branches from the lower nodes leafless and hard, mostly spreading, sometimes thorn-like; young shoots blackishgreen, 

green with yellow, brown or orange tinged culm-sheath, clothed sparsely with dark brown hairs: Culm-sheaths 

green when young, deciduous, tapering above and rounded at tip, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface with densely 

appressed dark brown hairs, margin ciliate; lower ones much shorter and broader than upper ones; blade 6-8 cm long, 

5-7 cm broad, triangular, acute to acuminate, adaxial surface with dark brown pubescence, margin ciliate; ligule 5-8 mm 

high, denticulate, membranous; auricles absent or very small, ciliate. Leaves 15-30 cm long, 2.5-5 cm broad, oblonglanceolate, 

glabrous above, pale and puberulous beneath, margins rough, apex pointed, sub cordate, or rounded at base 

with a short petiole. Inflorescence a large panicle, bearing spikate branching with bracteate heads, 0.6-1.2 cm long, 4- 

6 mm broad with 0-2 empty glumes; empty glumes ovate-acute, many- nerved; flowering glumes similar but larger, 

ciliate on the edges; palea as long as flowering glumes, ovate-acute, 2-keeled, long, fimbriate on the edges. Stamens 

hardly exserted; anthers glabrous; style hairy; stigma 3, plumose. 

The species is distinguished by the following characters: (1) Young shoot blackish green with acute tip; (2) Culm coarse, 

stout, dull grayish-green with pointed recurved branchlets towards the base; (3) Culm-sheath without auricles (Alam, 

1982). 

Chromosome number n = 35, 2n = 70, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Gregarious flowering is reported in this species. The clump dies after flowering without setting any seed. Flowering 

cycle is 35-45 years. It flowered gregariously twice in Bangladesh during 1983-85 and in Eastern Uttar Pradesh in 1986 

(Rawat, 1987). Flowering was reported from Manipur during 1987-88 (Sharma - personal communication). 


The species is indigenous to North-Eastern India distributed in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam, W. Bengal and 

Bihar extending to Eastern-Uttar Pradesh. It is cultivated in villages of different states in India. B. balcooa is grown up 

to an altitude of 600 m in any type of soil, but prefers heavy textured soil with good drainage. 

ANATOMY AND FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS 

Internode shows alternate arrangement of vascular bundles and sclerenchymatous bundle sheaths. At middle and inner 

region vascular bundles are double broken type. In the nodal region 2-3 layers of sclerenchymatous hypodermis is found 

below the epidermis. Next to that 5-6 layers of parenchyma cells occur. The arrangement of vascular bundles is not in 

order as in internode and it is closed at the outer region. The protoxylem elements in vascular bundle vary from 8 to 12. 

There is a gradual decrease in size of the bundle sheath sclerenchyma towards inner region (Appasamy, 1989). In culm 

macerates very thick, thick and thin walled fibres and septate fibres are present. Fibre tips pointed or blunt, wall 

38


lamellation 3-10 layers. Fibre length 2807 µm, lumen width 5.1 µm and wall thickness 8.2 µm. Slenderness ratio 241.9, 

flexibility ratio 43.9 and Runkel ratio 3.2 (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

Leaf epidermal stomata arranged in two bands in 1 to 3 alternate rows; subsidiary cells low-domed to triangular, surrounded 

by 6 to 8 elliptical papillae. Interstomatal cells shorter and broader than the long cells, walls wavy. Papillae scattered in 

the middle. Long cells narrow with uniform width. Papillae conspicuous, in a row in the middle. Short cells solitary and 

paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells, costal inconspicuous, intercostal distinct. Silica cells common. Silica bodies, 

costal saddle shaped, intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’ shaped. Prickles common, intercostal with round base and short to 

medium acute apex, base filled with vitreous silica and surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs common, bicelled, 

apical and basal cell equal, apex rounded to tapering. Macrohairs infrequent, medium to long, base surrounded by a 

ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1989). 

CHEMISTRY 

Electrophoretic pattern of peroxidases revealed one dark band in the zone of low mobility, three medium intense bands 

in the zone of medium mobility and two bands of high mobility in this species (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). Spectral 

absorbance values (FTIR) recorded for cellulose and lignin have been 0.425 and 0.383 respectively (Sekar and 

Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

SILVICULTURE 

The species can be propagated vegetatively by branch and culm cuttings pre-treated with growth promoting substances 

such as coumarin or NAA or a mixture of both. Cuttings from 2 and 3-year old culms and basal part of the culm gave 

maximum rooting response (Seethalakshmi et al., 1983). Genetic improvement work has been initiated in Arunachal 

Pradesh during 1980. Annual production of 1200-1600 culms/ha is reported from Bangladesh. 


Affected by bamboo blight caused by Sarocladium oryzae. Blight affects the culms in August, the disease progresses by 

November. The disease can be controlled by cultural practices such as removal of blighted culms, burning debris in situ, 

adding new soil around clumps before the onset of the monsoon in April and application of a fungicide, dithane M45 

as a soil drench (Rahman, 1990). 


Moisture content decreases from 100 to 66 per cent from base to top, specific gravity (based on oven dry weight) varied 

from 0.57-0.74 from base to top in green and 0.79-0.85 in oven dry. Shrinkage in wall thickness reduced from 11.1 to 

4.8 per cent, while shrinkage in diameter reduced from 4.2 to 2.5 per cent. The compressive strength ranges from 39.4 

to 50.6 N/mm 2 in green and 51.0 to 57.3 N/mm 2 in air dry condition from base to top. Modulus of rupture varied 

between 85.0-62.4 N/mm 2 in green and 92.6-69.6 N/mm 2 in air dry condition. Modulus of elasticity 7.2-10.3 kN/mm 2 

in green, 9.3-12.7 kN/mm 2 in air dry condition (Kabir et al. 1991). 

NATURAL DURABILITY AND PRESERVATION 

Physical treatments like soaking in muddy pond for 1-8 weeks and slow drying under shade were found to reduce 

insect attack. Chemical treatments with copper, arsenic, boron and fluoride compounds were effective. Treatment of 

green bamboo is done by diffusion and dry bamboo by Boucherie (sap displacement) method. Commercial oil 

39

Bambusa 

preservatives can also be used. Chemical treatment costs 25 per cent more, but durability is extended almost 5-6 times 

(Chowdhury, 1993). 

USES 

The best and strongest species for building purposes much used for scaffolding. This is also used for agarbathi sticks and 

in bamboo wood chip industry. 

Bambusa bambos 

Bambusa bambos Voss in Vilmorin, Blumengartneri 1: 1189. 1896; McClure, Blumea Suppl. 3: 95. 1946; Nicolson et 

al., Regnum Vegetable 119: 306. 1988; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 19. 1990; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 33. 1992. (Fig. 6). 

➤ 

B. bambos - Natural growth 

27 

40


Arundo bambos L., Sp. Pl. 81. 1753. Bambusa arundinacea Retz., 

Observ. 5: 24. 1789; Roxb., Pl. Corom. 1: 56, t79. 1796. Bambusa 

arundinacea (Retz.) Willd., Sp. Pl. 2: 245. 1799; Munro, Trans. Linn. 

Soc. London 26: 103. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 51. 1896; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 395. 1897. 


English - Thorny bamboo; Assam - Kotoba; Bengal - Baroowa, Behor; 

Manipur - Saneibo; Orissa - Daba. 

DESCRIPTION 

A very densely tufted bamboo, producing large dense clumps of closely 

28 

line 6 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

B. bambos - A clump 

Fig. 6. B. bambos A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering panicle; C - part of culm with 

leafy branch; D - culm sheath; E - young 

shoot; F - a portion of culm. 

B. bambos - Inflorescence 

29 

41

Bambusa 

packed culms. Culms strong, cylindrical, erect, hollow, dark green-coloured, up to 30 m tall, 15-18 cm diameter, the 

walls very thick with a lumen; branching at all nodes, those from the lower nodes recurved and bent downward towards 

the ground with the upper branches arching and producing a fan like plume, the upper leafy branches bearing small 

spines. Nodes slightly swollen and few lower nodes produce short aerial roots. Nodes contain a single branch bud at the 

ridged nodal line. Central dominant branch is produced first, with one or two laterals from the lower nodes, usually the 

primary and one secondary branch produced at the lower nodes of the culm, often spine-like, usually 3 branches 

produced at the upper nodes, leafy, with some branches. Culm-sheaths coriaceous, glabrous to pubescent with dark 

brown velvety hairs. Leaves diffuse in complements, 15-30 cm long and 8-15 mm broad, with about 10 leaves in each 

complement. Leaf blades linear and variable in size, lanceolate, narrowed to an acuminate tip, with mid-vein inconspicuous 

on the abaxial side and prominent on adaxial side. Inflorescence an enormous panicle, branchlets spicate with loose 

clusters of about 5 pale spikelets; rachis variable, usually stiff, shining, smooth, striate, occasionally angular. Spikelets 

lanceolate, acute, 1.25-2.5 cm long and 0.5 cm broad, sessile. Fertile florets, without empty glumes. Lemma broadly 

obovate - triangular; palea elliptic, 2-keeled; lodicules 3. Stamens 6, filaments long, filiform, anthers free, basifixed. 

Ovary with the styles and arising from shortly above the summit variable in length and fusion, stigmas 3. Caryopsis 

elliptic, the hilum situated in a groove and extending almost the whole length. 

Chromosome number 2n = 70-72 (Parthasarathy, 1946; Janaki Ammal, 1959). 


Different flowering cycles of 30-34, 30-45 and 44-49 years are reported. Gregarious flowering reported from South 

Kanara and Malabar in 1866, Satapuras in 1874-1884, Karnataka in 1881, Kumaon Hills in 1896, Walayar in 1913-1915, 

Wynad and Kollegal in 1913, 1991, Bihar and Orissa in 1913-1915, Coorg in 1977-79, Chalakudy in 1981, Parambikulam 

in 1984-85, Nilambur in 1991, Wynad, 1991-92 and in Attappady 1994-95. 

Though no natural hybrids are found in bamboos, segregation in seedling characteristics showing the hybrid status of 

the parent has been observed. On analysis of the frequencies of the albinos produced by two albino gene carriers, it has 

been inferred that this species prefers selfing. It is reported from the progeny trial that albinos segregated in 3: 1 ratio. 

The albinos survived only for about 15 days after germination (Indira and Koshy, 1986). 

Fruit is a fusiform caryopsis, pale brown in colour and covered by three persistent glumes. Average length and width 

varies from 7.2-8 mm and 1.5 to 2mm respectively. Rostrum mucronate resulting from acute extended apex, erect or 

curved. Surface is smooth, navel at one side of the fruit base, orbiculate with a protuberance at the centre. Ventral 

suture extends from fruit base to the apex (Appasamy, 1993). 

A single clump on flowering gives about 50-100 kg of seeds with a total production of 50-100 quintals of seeds/hectare 

(Prasad and Gadgil, 1985). About 70,000 to 85,000 seeds weigh one kilogram. Seeds are generally viable for a period of 

6-8 months. Viability can be prolonged by adopting suitable storage conditions by controlling moisture content and 

temperature (White, 1947). Storing in low temperature under refrigeration as well as under low moisture content using 

desiccants prolonged the viability for about 3 years (Somen and Seethalakshmi, 1989). Biochemical analysis of the 

seeds stored in different storage conditions showed qualitative and quantitative changes in food reserves specially 

sugars and proteins (Appasamy, 1993). 

Embryological observation shows that the terminal and basal cells resulting from a transverse division of the zygote 

undergo further segmentation by transverse walls producing a 4-celled assemblage. The first vertical division takes 

place in the terminal cell of the 4-celled proembryo which at a later stage extends to the subterminal tiers also. 

42


Later each of these cells divides in such a way that a central core of cells is surrounded by its own sister cells. The latter 

divides only anticlinally and functions as protodermal cells. The cells of terminal tier undergo an overall increase in 

volume. One half of the terminal tier grows at a faster rate. Shoot apex is terminal as the proembryonal axis and both 

the loci of epicotyl and scutellum are situated adjacent to each other (Philip, 1972). 


This species occupies 15 per cent of the total bamboo area in India. Native to South-East Asia, widely introduced and 

cultivated throughout the tropics. Found almost throughout India in the wild. It is one of the species commonly found 

in homesteads of Southern India. The species prefers rich, moist, soil and grows along perennial rivers and valleys. It 

attains the best development in moist deciduous forests up to an altitude of 1000 m and receiving nearly 2000-2500 

mm rainfall. Good seed setting is found in dry deciduous forests receiving 700 to 1000 mm rainfall. In flat alluvial soil, 

the culms are reported to attain a height of 25-30 m and a diameter of 20-25 cm. 

ANATOMY, MORPHOLOGY AND FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS 

Rhizome is pachymorph, woody. Leaf epidermis (adaxial) has conspicuous bulliform cells, raised, fan-shaped; central 

cell of the group large and shield-shaped with single bulliform cell on either side; bulliform cell files 3-cells wide, no 

thick cuticle, no papillae or hairs. Abaxial epidermis has no bulliform cells; each cell with thickened cuticular papillae; 

macrohairs absent. Intercostal long cells elongated, sinuous walls thin, bulliform cells absent. Stomata in each intercostal 

zone located in 2 files. Intercostal cells paired, long and narrow. Silica bodies smooth in outline, tall, saddle-shaped. 

Cork cells irregular in shape. Papillae small, thick; cuticular papillae on all inter costal long cells; absent on costal zone. 

Microhairs bicellular; basal cell long, twice as long as the tapering, thin-walled distal cell. Macrohairs not present. The 

midrib consists of a single ‘S’ - shaped vascular bundle located in a slightly thicker part of the lamina. Sclerenchyma 

absent between the vascular bundles. Small sclerenchyma cap present along the margin. Chlorenchyma devoid of 

fusoid cell cavities irregularly present near the midrib (Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). Occurrence of intra cortical roots 

has been reported (Pant and Mehra, 1961). Culm macerate showed fibre length 2.73 mm, fibre diameter 18.14 µm, 

lumen diameter 7.44 µm, wall thickness 5.37 µm. 

Seed coat is made up of one or two layers of thick-walled parenchyma cells and covered by a thin cuticle. Endosperm 

well-developed, with abundant reserve foods and occupies much of the fruit body. Two layers of aleurone cells occur 

below the seed coat, filled with dark stained bodies. Well-developed embryo occurs at the chalazal end of the fruit 

(Appasamy, 1993). 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis showed ash 3.26 per cent, solubility in cold water 4.59 per cent, hot water 5.95 per cent, 

alcohol benzene 1.22 per cent, ether 0.82 per cent, 1 per cent NaOH 19.35 per cent, pentosan, lignin and cellulose 

19.62, 30.09, and 57.56 per cent respectively. Analysis of hemicellulose showed xylose 78.8 per cent, arabinose 11.6 per 

cent, galactose 1.8 per cent (Guha and Pant, 1967). The physico-chemical properties of wax showed a refractive index 

Abbey’s 1.4869, melting point 53 o C, saponification value 54.8, acid value 11.9, iodine value 104.5, unsaponified matter 

51.63 per cent (Beri et al., 1967). 

Beating characteristics showed caustic soda 21 per cent, kappa No.27.4. Lignin in bamboo 24.2, in pulp 3.1, pentosan 

in bamboo 20.8, in pulp 16.2, pulp yield unscreened 52.1 and screened 51.8 per cent (Guha and Bhola, 1976). The 

properties vary with age and position of culm. 

43

Bambusa 

The chemical composition of the seed shows crude protein 13.68 per cent, true protein 12.77 per cent, starch 72.91 per 

cent, ash 1.74 per cent, calcium 86.88 mg/100g, phosphorus 162.9 mg/100g, moisture 7.98 per cent. It has been reported 

that the bamboo seed protein is predominantly glutein in nature with isoelectric point 4.6. Prolamin constitutes only a 

minor fraction of the seed protein. The protein efficiency ratio (P.E.R.) of the seed protein had been reported by Rao et 

al., 1955; Rao et al., 1969. The starch content and protein are comparable to those of the rice variety, IR8 (Mitra and 

Nayak, 1972). 

Water extract from leaves showed allelopathic effect on the growth of groundnut and maize. The extract contains 

chlorogenic, ferulic, coumaric, protocatechuic, vanillic and caffeic acids (Eyini et al., 1989). 


Natural regeneration: Profuse natural regeneration occurs from seeds after gregarious flowering. Seeds have no dormancy 

and this helps to utilise the favourable condition soon after seed fall. Protection from fire and grazing is essential for 

proper establishment of the seedlings. 

Artificial regeneration: Seeds are collected by sweeping the ground under flowered clumps and cleaned by winnowing. 

Cleaning process can be minimised by spreading cloth or sheets under the flowered clumps and collecting the falling 

seeds directly. Seeds can be sown directly in nursery beds during March-May in patches and covered lightly with soil. 

About 90 to 100 per cent germination occurs when fresh seeds are sown. Partial shade is necessary for initial establishment 

of seedlings. The seedling can be polypotted after 45 days. There is considerable increase in biomass when large size 

containers are used (Chacko and Jayaraman, 1990). Fertilizer application also increased biomass of seedlings (Thomas, 

1990). According to the direction of unfolding of seedling leaves, right handedness and left handedness are observed. 

Left handed seedlings had faster rate of growth and higher chlorophyll content (Bahadur et al., 1978). Another type of 

variation identified in seedlings is grassy, grassy erect, erect and very erect. The last two types are more vigorous 

(Kondas, 1982). 

Large scale production of planting stock is reported by macro-proliferation (Adarsh Kumar, 1992). Offset planting can 

be done during the onset of monsoon. But this method is expensive since extraction of rhizome is difficult. Propagation 

using culm cuttings showed that two-nodded culm cuttings treated with growth regulating substances (100 ppm of 

NAA or IBA) by cavity method and planted horizontally during summer months gave 80 per cent of rooting. Rooting 

of cuttings depended on age of the culm, position of cutting, growth regulator treatment, method and season of planting 

(Surendran and Seethalakshmi, 1985; Saharia and Sen, 1990). About 50 per cent rooting is obtained when branch 

cuttings are treated with growth regulating substances and planted in the mist propagation units (Seethalakshmi, 1991; 

Philip and Chacko, 1992). About 20 per cent of the nodal bud chips rooted when treated with growth regulating 

substances (Surendran and Seethalakshmi, 1985). 

Tissue culture: Tissue culture was attempted from embryo, seeds, callus, seedlings, nodes, shoots and leaves as explants. 

Multiple shoot induction and rooting were reported (Zamora, 1994). 

Growth: Observations on clumps growing in Karnataka showed that there is no set pattern for appearance of young 

culms. The percentage of new culms formed from one-year-old clumps was 77; from two-year-old clump, 20; and from 

older clumps, 3 (Lakshmana, 1990). The rate of growth of young culms varied with locality and moisture availability. 

Maximum growth recorded is 90 cm/day. The height growth is caused by successive elongation of the internodes. There 

is no terminal bud in the culm. Several internodes from the base upwards grow simultaneously. The internodes become 

44


visible above the edges of the sheaths after they complete 65 percent of their potential length. Basal portion of the 

internode is the most active. The growth rate is slow, initially 5-7.5 cm/day. Maximum growth recorded from Madhya 

Pradesh was 33 cm/day (Tomar, 1963). Observations on irrigated plantations from Tamil Nadu recorded a growth of 16 

culms/clump, with the average height, girth and nodes/culm being 28.9 m, 8.3 cm and 127 numbers respectively at the 

end of six years after planting (Shanmugavel and Francis, 1993). There are several phenotypes available in nature with 

regard to stature, branchiness, hollowness etc. and the possibility of selection is high (Kondas, 1982). 

Yield: Above ground biomass from a 3-year-old plantation is estimated to be about 8527 kg/ha. Height and girth of 

culms varied from 4 to 15 m and 6 to 21 cm respectively (Rao et al., 1991). Fertiliser application and soil working 

increased the yield. Application of nitrogen showed maximum response, followed by potassium and phosphorus (Thomas, 

1991). Culm potential is estimated as 150 per cent as that of the previous year (Kondas, 1982). 

MYCORRHIZAE 

Presence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrizhae (VAM) Glomus albidum, G. fasciculatum, G. mosseae, G. reticulatum, 

G. intraradices, G. magnicaulis and Gigaspora sp. were found from samples collected from Kerala (Appasamy and 

Ganapathy, 1992). 


Pathogens reported are Alternaria alternata (leaf blight), Chaetospermum sp. (leaf spot), Colletotrichum gleosporioides 

(leaf blight, stem infection), C. crassipes (leaf spot), Chaetospermum sp. (leaf spot), Coniothyrium (leaf spot), Curvularia 

sp. (stem infection, leaf spot), C. lunata (leaf spot), Dactylaria sp. (leaf spot), Dasturella divina (leaf rust), Drechslera 

sp. (leaf spot), Exserohilum rostratum (leaf spot), Fusarium sp. (damping off, rhizome bud rot), Fusarium equiseti 

(culm rot), F. moniliforme (damping off, basal culm decay), F. oxysporum (culm rot), F. pallidoroseum (stem infection), 

Glomerella cingulata (culm sheath rot, leaf spot), Helminthosporium sp. (leaf spot), Graphium sp. (seedling rhizome 

rot), Meliola sp. (sooty mould), Pestallozziella sp. (culm sheath rot), Petrakomyces sp. (leaf spot), Phomopsis (leaf 

spot), Phyllachora (leaf spot), Pseudomonas sp. (rhizome decay), Puccinia sp. (leaf rust), Pythium sp. (rhizome bud 

rot), Rhizoctonia solani (damping off, seedling stem infection), Septogloem sp. (leaf spot), Spiropes scopiformis (sooty 

mould), Stagonospora sp. (leaf spot), (Mohanan, 1990). Species of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Beltraniopsis, Cercospora, 

Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Drechslera, Dactylaria, Fusarium, Memnoniella, Mucor, Nigrospora, Penicillium, 

and Phoma are reported on stored seeds (Mohanan, 1990). 

Rats and porcupines which gnaw through the rhizome and bases of culms; squirrels which gnaw the tender growing 

shoots, pigs which dig up and eat rhizomes; hares, deer, goats and cattle which browse and trample growing seedlings 

are the enemies in the seedling stage. Monkeys and langurs (Pithecus enlellees) damage the tender shoots and elephants 

and other wild animals pull down, trample and destroy the whole clump. Spotted deers do considerable damage to new 

culms during the rains. Insects like Estigmena chinensis and Cyntotrachelus longimanus attack growing culms, but 

insect pests like Dinoderus ocellaris and Stromatium barbatum attack cut culms and Dinoderus minutus attack both cut 

and living ones. The most important precautionary measure that could be taken against beetle attacks is to restrict 

bamboo cutting to cold and rainy periods. Mass build-up of a bug, Udonga montana was found in flowered areas during 

1992 in Wynad (Mathew and Sudheendra Kumar, 1992). 


Fibre stress at limit of proportionality varied between 18.3-26.5 N/mm 2 , modulus of rupture 35-39.3 N/mm 2 , modulus 

of elasticity 1.5-4.4 kN/mm 2 and maximum crushing stress 39.1-47 N/mm 2 (Gnanaharan, 1991). 

45

Bambusa 


General preservative treatment used for bamboos can be adopted for this species (Kumar et al., 1994). In addition to 

the traditional method of adjusting cutting season (for regulation of starch) and immersion in mud ponds, many 

chemical treatments especially copper based preservatives are effective. Preservatives can be given by dipping the cut 

ends in solutions for two to three days and allowing the excess solution to drip under gravity. It is better to leave the 

branches and leaves as such in order to accelerate the process of absorption of preservatives (Jayanetti, 1975). A field 

experiment of chemical treatment showed that the use of 10 per cent copper sulphate solution (butt end immersed in 

chemical solution for seven days) can extend service life considerably. For bamboos stored without ground contact, 

boric acid is better (Gnanaharan, 1991). 

USES 

Important use of this bamboo is as a raw material for pulp, paper and panel products. Other uses include scaffoldings, 

rafters, thatching and roofing, basket making, bows and arrows, furniture, floating timber and rafting, cooking utensils 

and fencing. Shoots and seeds are edible. The leaves are used as fodder and medicine. 

Bambusa bambos var. gigantea 

Bambusa bambos var. gigantea Bennet and Gaur. Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India: 21. 1990; Tewari, 


Bambusa arundinacea var. gigantea Bahadur and Jain. Indian J. For. 4: 283. 1981. 

DESCRIPTION 

A densely tufted bamboo. Culms light green, large, usually about 20-35 m high and 15-25 cm in diameter. Nodes 

swollen, internodes 27-35 cm long, thick walled; branches developing from the fifth node onwards. The branches arise 

from the nodal line, the girdles becoming prominent; generally 3 branches arise from a node of which two become 

prominent, angled upwards. Culm-sheaths usually 25-40 cm long and 30-50 cm broad, coriaceous, tip rounded, margin 

plated, pubescent with dark brown hairs, deciduous at the time of branch development; ligule continues with the 

sheath apex, margin fringed with cilia; auricle short, blade up to 12 cm long, adaxial surface with dense dark brown 

hairs, velvety, base cordate, tip acute. Leaves lanceolate to linear, highly variable in size, 10-30 cm long and 1.5-4 cm 

broad acute, margin scabrous; leaf-sheath ligulate, pubescent. 

This variety is the giant type of B. bambos. Bahadur and Jain (1981) mentioned that this rare variety is represented in 

the bambusetum of Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun and differs from the typical form. The general appearance of 

the young shoots of this variety was quite distinct from the typical Bambusa bambos (see page 48 for photograph of 

B. bambos var. gigantea). 

FLOWERING 

Flowered in 1984 in the bambusetum of Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun and subsequently died in 1985 (Bennet 

and Gaur, 1990). 

46


DISTRIBUTION 

Rare and found in few localities in South 

India. Recently collected from Chittoor 

(Attappady) in Kerala. 

USES 

line 7 

Used for a variety of purposes similar to 

B. bambos. 

➤ 

Fig. 7. B. bambos var. gigantea 

A - leafy branch; B - young shoot; 

C - node with branches; D - a portion of 

culm. 

Bambusa burmanica 

Bambusa burmanica Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7(1):35. 1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 388. 

1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 668. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 118. 1913; Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 16: 62. 1958; 

Varmah and Bahadur, Indian. For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 36.1992. (Fig. 8). 


Assam - Thaikawa. 

DESCRIPTION 

This is a caespitose bamboo having a height of 10-20 m. Culms 7-10 cm in diameter, green, solid; nodes with white ring 

of hairs and waxy powder, internodes 25-40 cm long. Culm-sheaths green when young, turning pale along the margins 

when old, glabrous on the back, blade cordately rounded at base, apex acuminate, auricles with 1-2 mm long cilia, 

fringed ligule more or less entire. Leaves 25-30 cm long and 3.5-5 cm broad, oblong- lanceolate; leaf-sheath reddish 

47

Bambusa 

➤B. bambos var. gigantea - A clump 

brown, truncate at tip; ligule minutely dentate. 

Inflorescence with spicate branches, bearing heads of 

few spikelets. Glumes 2, mucronate. Spikelets upto 2.5 

cm long, many-flowered; fertile flowers 5-6; lemma 

ovate, mucronate, many-nerved; palea ovate, elliptic, 

2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, 4-5-veined. Sterile flowers 

1 or 2. Lodicules 3, 5-6-nerved. Anthers apiculate. Ovary 

with short style and stigmas 3, pubescent. Caryopsis 

5-8 mm long, hairy on the tip. 

pix-3 ss 

Chromosome number 2n = 70, aneuploid (Sobita Devi 

and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

The flowering of this bamboo was reported in the year 

1890 from Katha District of Myanmar (Gamble, 1896). 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species occurs in North Cachar Hills of Assam, Myanmar and Malaysia. It is grown in the bambusetum of Forest 

Research Institute, Dehra Dun, Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta and Van Vigyan Kendra, Chessa (Arunachal Pradesh). 

ANATOMY 

Leaf epidermal stomata arranged in two bands in 1-3 or 1-4 alternating rows; subsidiary cells high-domed to triangular, 

surrounded by 4-6 globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, papillae conspicuous. Interstomatal 

cell shorter and broader than the long cells, end concave, walls sinuous and straight, papillae distinct. Short cells 

solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal, common; 

intercostal frequent. Silica bodies, costal, saddle-shaped, intercostal dumb-bell to ‘8’-shaped. Prickles frequent, intercostal, 

base round with small pointed apex. Microhairs common, intercostal, bicelled, apical and basal cells equal, apex tapering. 

Macrohairs common, costal and intercostal, long to medium, unicellular, base raised, not surrounded by papillae (Luxmi 

Chauhan et al., 1989). 

CHEMISTRY 

Studies on peroxidases-isoenzymes showed seven bands, two dark bands in the zone of low mobility, four medium 

intense bands and one band in the zone of highest mobility. Hence this species is not recommended for grouping along 

with other species of Bambusa (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 

SILVICULTURE 

Observations on growth of new shoots show that growth is continued during the following year also when the monsoon 

stops early in the previous year (Trevor, 1927). 

48


USES 

The local inhabitants use this 

bamboo for roofing, thatching, 

construction and basket making. 

line 8 

➤ 

Fig. 8. B. burmanica. 

A - leafy branch; B - flowering 

panicle; C - culm-sheath; 

D - spikelet; E - flower; 


H - lodicules; I - stamen; 

J - pistil. 

Fig. 9. B. cacharensis. 

A - part of inflorescence; 

B - culm-sheath; C - portion of 

an young shoot showing 

spreading culm-sheath-blade. 

➤ 

Bambusa cacharensis 

Bambusa cacharensis Majumdar, Bull. Bot. 

Surv. India 25: 237. 1983; Naithani, Fl. Pl. India, 

Nepal and Bhutan 513: 1990; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 36.1992. (Fig. 9). 

line 9 

DESCRIPTION 

Tall bamboo, like B. tulda; young shoots are 

without white powdery excretions below the 

culm-sheaths. Culm-sheaths 12-15 cm long and 

25-27 cm broad, sheath-blades orange-yellow and 

spreading at right angles to the axis; covered on 

the back with chocolate-brown sharp spicular hairs; blade with wavy auricles with thick rigid cilia on the margins and 

short dense hairs outside on the body. Inflorescence panicle occupying the whole culm; spikelets aggregated at the 

nodes of the ultimate branchlets, 3-3.5 cm long and 3-6 flowered, rachilla internodes articulated; florets 10-15 mm long, 

glossy green. Can be easily spotted in the field due to the coloured reflexed blades of the culm-sheaths. 

49

Bambusa 

DISTRIBUTION 

Commonly found in the Brahmaputra Valley and in the Cachar Hills of Assam. 

Bambusa copelandi 

Bambusa copelandi Gamble in Brandis, Indian Trees 671. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 127. 1913; Blatter, Indian 

For. 55: 557. 1929; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 37.1992. (Fig. 10). 

Sinocalamus copelandi (Gamble) Raizada, Indian For. 74: 10. 1948; Thyrsostachys copelandi Gamble Mss. 1923; Raizada, 

Indian For. 74: 8. 1948. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large, elegant, tufted bamboo. Culms up to 20 m tall, 16-19 cm in diameter at the base, walls fairly thick at the base; 

nodes hardly prominent; internodes upto 45 cm long on robust culms, when young covered with appressed silvery 

hairs. Culm-sheaths 38 cm long and 30 cm broad at the base, thick, covered with scanty golden-yellow hairs outside, 

polished inside, top rounded towards the short and narrow blade. Blade and edge of sheath in young shoots very sharp, 

copper coloured; auricles absent or minute. Leaves 33-38 cm long and 4.5-8 cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, rounded at 

the base, almost smooth and glabrous above, softly hairy and scabrous beneath, secondary nerves quite prominent, 

transverse veinlets visible on the lower surface. Inflorescence a large compound panicle of long, whip-like curved 

spikes; spikelets clustered in heads of 2-10 with 2 small bracts at the base, bracts broadly ovate, ciliate on the margin; 

rachis between the heads 1-4.5 cm long, glaucous or somewhat puberulous; spikelets 2.5-3.8 cm long, 5-7 mm broad, 

ovate, acute, faintly pubescent, slightly compressed, with 4-7 florets, tinged purple outside, top most floret sterile; lower 

glume broadly ovate, acute, about 12-nerved and with conspicuous transverse veinlets, ciliate on the edges, ca.7 mm 

long, pubescent and purple tinted; upper glume very similar to the lower glume in shape, texture and pubescence, 12 

mm long, 22 nerved with anastamosing strands. First lowest floret lemma broadly ovate, 12 mm long, pubescent outside, 

ciliate on the edges, margins convolute clasping the rachilla at the base, longitudinal nerves ca.24, transverse veins 

obscure; palea 13 mm long, almost membranous, prominently keeled, ciliate on the keels and margins, deeply cleft at the 

apex, 3-5 nerved. Stamens 6, exserted; anthers 8 mm long, sagitate at the base, apiculate, pale-yellow; filaments free, 

ca.15 mm long, thread like. Ovary turbinate, 6 mm long, densely hairy at the top; style long (upto 15 mm), sparsely hairy 

all over, ending in a simple plumose stigma, exserted at the apex; lodicules 3, lanceolate, hyaline, hairy on the margins. 

Caryopsis 1.2-1.6 cm long, contracted towards the apex, almost bottle-shaped, slightly grooved on one side; pericarp 

rather thick and loose. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering cycle reported as 48 years. Flowered in 1896 in Myanmar and in 1943 in Dehra Dun. The species was 

discovered by Copeland in 1896 from Myanmar. The seedlings were planted in and around Dehra Dun and these 

flowered in November, 1943. 

50


➤ 

Fig. 10. B. copelandi. 


B - young shoot; 

C - a portion of culm; 

D - flowering branch; 

E - spikelet; F - lower 

bract; G - upper bract; 

H - lower glume; I - upper 

glume; J - lemma of the 

first floret; K - palea with 

stamens, ovary and style of 

the lowest floret; 

L - lodicules; M - caryopsis. 

line 10 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species was described from Myanmar. Brandis (1906) states - "Largely cultivated in the Northern Shan States" 

(Myanmar). Cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and also in Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 

CHEMISTRY 

Studies on electrophoretic pattern of peroxidase isoenzymes showed seven bands as in B. balcooa and this species 

shows an affinity to it (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 

51

Bambusa 

Bambusa griffithiana 

Bambusa griffithiana Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 99.1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 

48. 1896 and in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India 7: 394. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 128. 1913; Naithani, Fl. Pl. India, Nepal 

and Bhutan 513. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 37. 1992. (Fig. 11). 

Dendrocalamus griffithiana (Munro) Kurz, Fl. For. Burma 2: 562. 1877. 

DESCRIPTION 

A subscandent, soft bamboo. Culms slender, hollow. Culm-sheaths not known. Leaves with petiole, thick, 5 mm long; 

lanceolate, 2.5-3.7 cm long, acuminate ending in a subulate, twisted scabrous point, unequally narrowed at the base; 

smooth above, except on the scabrous marginal veins, glaucous beneath; scabrous on the margins; secondary veins 13- 

17, intermediate 5, pellucid punctate appearing like strong transverse veinlets on the lower surface; leaf-sheath striate, 

keeled, glabrous, ending in a narrow shining callus, and furnished at the mouth with large crescent-shaped reflexed 

auricles upto 17 mm long and strongly fringed with long bristles; ligule elongate, obtuse or triangular, ciliate, often 

deeply cleft. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, branches spicate bearing heads of spikelets 2.5-10 cm apart; rachis soft, 

hollow. Spikelets cylindrical, 12-13 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, with two empty glumes, one fertile flower and one 

rudimentary flower on a terminally produced rachilla; the rudimentary flower thrice as long as the rachilla; empty 

glumes ovate-acute, many-nerved; flowering glumes mucronate, convolute; palea long, 2-keeled, membranous, the 

line 11 

➤ 

Fig. 11. B. griffithiana. 

A - leafy branch; B - part of 

flowering branch; C & D - 

spikelets; E - flowering glume; 

F - palea; G - terminal 

imperfect flower; 

H - lodicules; I - stamen; 

J - pistil; K - part of flowering 

branch (enlarged). 

52


keels many-nerved, bearing in the deep concavity between the keels, the rachilla of the rudimentary flower; lodicules 3, 

hyaline, long-fimbriate, two ovate-obtuse, the third smaller, acute. Stamens exserted; anthers obtuse, bifid at the apex. 

Ovary ovoid, gradually tapering into a very minute style; stigmas 3, long, plumose. 

FLOWERING 

Griffith in 1837 reported this species in flower in Upper Myanmar. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found distributed in Manipur and Monganung Valley, Myitkynia District of Myanmar. 

Bambusa jaintiana 

Bambusa jaintiana Majumdar, Fl. Ind. Enum. 275. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 39.1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Allied to Bambusa tulda Roxb. but differs in glabrous culm-sheaths, smaller auricle and shrubby habit. 

FLOWERING 

It has been observed in flower and reported by Kanjilal in 1915 from North Cachar Hills of Assam and Mokim in 1903 

had collected a flowered specimen. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, North Cachar Hills of Assam and also found in Myanmar. 

Bambusa khasiana 

Bambusa khasiana Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 97. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 39. 

1896; and in Hook f., Fl. Brit.India 7: 390. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 120. 1913; Bor, in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 31. 

1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian. For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 39. 1992. (Fig. 12). 


Cachar - Wa-chiusa; Khasi - Serim, Tumoh, Tyrah; Kuki - Chattur; Mikir - Bewar; Naga - Tirriah. 

53

Bambusa 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms 10-15 m tall, singly growing from a creeping 

rhizome; internodes 15-25 cm long, covered with 

golden yellow hairs and transverse blotches, thinwalled. 

Culm-sheaths 12-15 cm long and 10-12 cm 

broad, striate, covered with dense, appressed hairs; 

imperfect blade as long as or longer than the sheath, 

narrow, the sides widened out into large, inflated, 

membranous wings, broadly rounded on the 

sheath; ligule very short. Leaves 10-15 cm long and 

2-2.5 cm broad, lanceolate, rounded at the base 

into short petiole; leaf-sheath glabrous, striate, 

minutely auricled. Inflorescence a panicle made 

up of branches bearing distant sub-verticillate 

groups of spikelets, many sterile. Fertile spikelets 

1.5-2.5 cm long, at first cylindrical, afterwards 

compressed, glabrous, 5-6-flowered, the lower 

hermaphrodite, the upper 1-2 imperfect, sterile; 

rachilla striate, fimbriate at the top; glumes short, 

ovate, mucronate, brown on the margins, glabrous; 

lemmas same as glumes, 11-13-nerved, glabrous; 

palea 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels; lodicules ovateorbicular, 

many-nerved, shortly fimbriate. Stamens 

with obtuse anthers. Ovary linear-oblong with short 

style; stigmas 3, plumose. 

FLOWERING 

Collected in flowering during 1850 and 1885 from Jaintiapur (Meghalaya) and Manipur by Clarke (Gamble, 1896). 

DISTRIBUTION 

➤ 

line 12 

Fig. 12. B. khasiana. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - young shoot; D - spikelet; E - flowering glume; F - palea; 

G - lodicule; H - stamen; I - pistil. 

Found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and North Cachar Hills of Assam in India. Also found in Myanmar. 

Bambusa kingiana 

Bambusa kingiana Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 46. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 393. 1896; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 123. 1913; Naithani, Fl. Pl. India, Nepal and Bhutan 513. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 39. 

1992. (Fig. 13). 

54


➤Fig. 13. B. kingiana. 



C - spikelet; D - empty 

glume; E - flowering glume; 

F - palea; G - lodicules; 

H - stamen; I - pistil. 

line 13 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms height varied from 20-23 m with a diameter of about 10 cm. Culm-sheaths characteristics are not described. 

Leaves 25-30 cm long and 2.5-6.3 cm broad, lamina linear-lanceolate, base oblique with thick 0.5-0.7 mm long petiole, 

acuminate, scabrous at the tip and margins smooth above except the scabrous marginal veins, pale and sparsely hairy 

below when young glabrous on aging; mid rib prominent, shining, secondary veins 10-14 pairs, intermediate 5-7, pellucid 

glands appear as transverse veinlets beneath; leaf-sheath smooth, striate, ciliate on the edges, ending in a broad shining 

callus and a very small rounded naked auricle; ligule rather broad, dentate, long-fimbriate. Inflorescence a compound 

leafy panicle, bearing spicate branchlets with somewhat regularly spaced clusters of 1-6 purple-tipped spikelets; rachis 

flexuose, 1.2-2.5 cm long, joints flattened on one side, pubescent when young, glabrous on aging, bracts small. Spikelets 

12 mm long and 0.5 mm broad, flattened, purplish, with 2 empty glumes, 4-6 fertile flowers and single terminal imperfect 

flower; rachilla clavate, flattened, ca. 0.25 mm long; empty glumes ovate-acute, mucronate, ciliate on the edges, flowering 

glumes larger; palea oblong, acute or acuminate, long ciliate on the keels, 2-nerved in between; lodicules 3, 2 ovate 

blunt, 1 lanceolate, all along fimbriate, usually 3-nerved. Stamens half exserted, anthers narrow, apiculate with a tuft of 

penicillate hairs. Ovary broadly ovoid, stalked, hairy; style short, thick, almost basally separating into 3 purple plumose 

stigmas. Caryopsis not known. 

Chromosome number n = 36, 2n = 72 and hexaploids (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

55

Bambusa 

FLOWERING 

Flowering is reported from Manipur during 1987-88 (Sharma - personal communication). 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is distributed in Irong (Manipur), Petsut and Naba Katha Districts of Myanmar. 

Bambusa longispiculata 

Bambusa longispiculata Gamble ex Brandis, Indian Trees 668, 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees, 116. 1913; Varmah 

and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1):2. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 41. 1992. (Fig. 14). 


Bengal - Metenga; Burma - Thaikwa. 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms 10-15 m high, 7-10 cm in diameter, green in fairly open clumps; nodes slightly thickened, with a circular band of 

white pubescence above and occasionally lower few nodes have an additional narrow circular band below; internodes 

30-70 cm long. Young shoots grayish green with dark brown hairs; blades leathery, acute. Culm-sheaths 16-25 cm long 

and 16-30 cm broad, generally covered with brownish-black appressed hairs; blade broadly triangular, cordate, erect, 

hairy within, the base narrowed to a wavy fringed band along the upper edge of the sheath; ligule 4 mm high, entire or 

lacerate, ciliate; auricles unequal, prominent, falcate, with bristles, deciduous. Leaves 18-30 cm long and 2.5-6.5 cm 

broad, linear-oblong, glabrous above, whitish below. Inflorescence erect, often branching; spikes 28-38 cm long; spikelets 

polished, compressed in the axils of long coriaceous sheaths without a blade. Empty glumes 2, fertile, 15-30, 2.5 cm 

long. 

FLOWERING 

Cultivated plants flowered in Europe during 1912. In Bangladesh, it flowered sporadically during 1978-85 and gregariously 

during 1983-85. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found in Mizoram (India), Bangladesh, Thailand and Myanmar growing up to an altitude 1000 m. 

Cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Fairly common in the 

villages of Bangladesh (Alam, 1982). 

CHEMISTRY 

Eight peroxidase isoenzymes were separated. First three bands of low mobility were dark, the two bands of medium 

mobility were medium intense and the remaining three bands were light (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 

56


➤ Fig. 14. B. longispiculata. 

A - leafy branch; B - a portion 

of culm; C - young shoot. 

line 14 

SILVICULTURE 

Observations on growth for 10 

years of clumps raised by 

planting vegetative propagules 

showed that culm production 

gradually increased upto fifth 

year and then decreased. 

Similarly, girth expansion also 

reached maximum within six 

years. Depending on the clump expansion, a spacing of 5 m is recommended (Banik, 1988). 


Attack by Oregma bambusae was observed. Mortality in emerging culms at early development stages has been reported 

(Banik, 1983). 


The preservation methods used for Bambusa balcooa is applicable for B. longispiculata as well (Chowdhury, 1993). 

57

Bambusa 

➤ 

➤ 

B.longispiculata - A clump 

B. longispiculata - Internode and branches 

➤ B. multiplex - A clump 

30 

31 

Bambusa mastersii 

Bambusa mastersii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 113. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 56. 

1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 396. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 133. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur Indian For. 

Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 41. 1992. 


Assam - Benti bans. 

DESCRIPTION 

A climbing bamboo. Culms small, reed-like. Leaves with a short, sometimes hairy petiole; Lamina oblong-lanceolate, 

25-30 cm long and 36 mm broad, glabrous on both surfaces except towards the base of the midrib, glaucescent below, 

attenuate at the base, terminating in a rostrate-acuminate hairy tip; margins rough; median nerve yellow, shining, 

secondary nerves 10-12 pairs, intermediate 5, tessellate because of the reticulation of oblique lines of pellucid glands; 

leaf-sheaths striate, ciliate on the margins; covered on the sides with a coat of stiff appressed hairs, fimbriate at the 

58


throat, terminating in a narrow callus and short auricle bearing several, stiff, long, folded bristles; ligule very short. 

Inflorescence not known. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Found in Dibrugarh, Assam. 

Bambusa multiplex 

Bambusa multiplex (Lour.) Raeusch ex Schult. and Schult. f., Syst. Veg. 7: 1350. 1830; Merrill, Enum. Philip. Fl. Pl. 

1: 94. 1923 and Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. 24: 83. 1935; Soderstrom, J. Amer. Bamboo Soc. 6: 7. 1985; Bennet and Gaur, 

Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 27. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 42.1992. (Fig. 15). 

Arundo multiplex Lour., Fl. Cochinch. 58. 1790; Camus, Les Bambusees 132. 1913; Ludolphia glaucescens Willd; in 

Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berl. Mag. 2: 320. 1808; Bambusa nana Roxb. Fl. Ind. 2: 199. 1832; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

32 

59

Bambusa 

➤ 

Fig. 15. B. multiplex. A - leafy 

branch; B - leaf-sheath; C - culm 

with branches; D - culm-sheath; 

E - a portion of flowering branch; 

F - spikelet; G - young shoot. 

line 15 

Calcutta 7: 40. 1896; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 121. 1913; Bambusa 

glaucescens (Willd.) Sieb. ex 

Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 

26: 89. 1868; Holttum, Kew Bull. 

11(2): 207. 1956 and Gard. Bull. 

Singapore 16: 67. 1958 

DESCRIPTION 

A thickly growing, evergreen 

caespitose bamboo. Culms 

usually 2-4 m high, 1.5-2.5 cm in 

diameter, glabrous, smooth, green 

when young, yellowish on aging, 

hard, much branched from the 

base; nodes prominently 

thickened; internodes usually 20- 

40 cm long. Young shoots slender, 

glabrous; sheath yellowish green, 

auricles caducous, blade erect, 

brown to purple brown, spearshaped 

with broad base. Culmsheaths 

10-15 cm long and 5-8 cm 

broad, green when young, 

yellowish on aging, stiff, glabrous, 

striate, slightly narrowed upwards 

and rounded at the tip; ligule up to 1.5 mm high, entire; auricles small, bristly; blade 5-8 cm long, triangular, linear, 

acuminate. Leaves usually 5-10 cm long, 8-13 mm broad, linear-lanceolate, base broadly cuneate with a very short stalk, 

pale, glaucous and velvety-hairy beneath. Inflorescence a short, diffuse, leafy panicle with solitary or clustered spikelets. 

Spikelets 1.2-3.7 cm long, 0.5 mm broad, very glabrous, straw- coloured, bearing 5 or more flowers, separated by 

glabrous, flattened, 0.25-0.5 mm long rachillae; only the terminal flower imperfect; empty glumes none, or very rarely 

one; flowering glume 2-keeled, minutely ciliate only at the tip, many-nerved; lodicules 3, unequal, 0.25-0.5 mm long, 

60


entire, linear, somewhat concave or thickened below, usually 2-nerved. Stamens exserted, pendulous; anthers blunt or 

slightly apiculate, yellow. Ovary obovate, rough, pubescent above; style very short, almost immediately dividing into 3 

long feathery stigmas. Caryopsis elliptic, furrowed, roughly hairy above, with a short beak. 

Chromosome number n = 35; 2n = 70 aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). Darlington and Wyle (1955) 

reported 2n = 72. 

FLOWERING 

It has been reported to have flowered in Germany in 1808 and 1839; Bangladesh in 1851 and 1879; Sri Lanka in 1863; 

India (Calcutta) in 1890, Singapore in 1892 (Gamble, 1896 and Holttum, 1956). During 1977-1985, it flowered sporadically 

in Bangladesh. 


Indigenous to China and Japan. Introduced into Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta, in 1794 and in Europe before 1800. 

Holttum’s (1956) reference to a B. nana specimen dated 1812 from Patna in Wallich’s herbarium shows its early 

introduction into Bihar. Cultivated in many countries, mainly in Asian countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 

Malaya, Bangladesh. This is one of the major species of China. B. multiplex grows on various soil types up to an altitude 

of 1500 m. It is frost resistant and survives on sandy loam type of soil. 


Note: Tewari (1992) treated B. multiplex as synonymous with B. nana. But the data on anatomy, chemistry and physical 

and mechanical properties clearly manifested differences indicating the distinctness of the two species. The variation 

shown in B. nana is given in brackets. 

Epidermis of the culm internode, single-layered with thick walled elongated lignified cells. Hypodermis not distinct. 

Cortex 4-5 layers of parenchyma cells (3-4 layers). Fibre strands present (absent) vascular bundles are of type III. 

Retention of protoxylem cap absent. Isolated fibre strands not seen. Inner lining of the cavity, consisting of 4-6 layers of 

parenchyma cells undulated (5-6 layers of thick-walled parenchyma in tangential rows and 10-15 layers of thin walled 

parenchyma in radial rows of cells). Fibre 1971 µm long (2000 µm), diameter 10.8 µm (10 µm) lumen width 7.1 µm (7.4 

µm), wall thickness 4 µm (4.2 µm). Fibres very thick, thick, thin walled. Septate fibres absent, fibre tip pointed or blunt 

(pointed, blunt or forked). Wall lamellation 3-7 layers (3-6 layers) (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal 

communication). These fibres have a slenderness ratio 182.5 (200) flexibility ratio 65.7 (74) Runkel ratio 1.1 (1). 

CHEMISTRY 

There were a total of 9 isozymes; 3 bands in the zone of lower mobility. Bands of Rf value 0.04 and 0.13 were intensely 

stained and band 0.8 was light. Three bands were discerned in the zone of medium mobility, band 0.25 was intense. 

Three more bands were revealed in the region of high mobility all being light. (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). Spectral 

absorbance value (FTIR) of cellulose 0.225 (0.259) and lignin 0.282 (0.215) have been recorded (Sekar and 



Three types of seedlings such as grassy, grassy erect and erect were identified and the erect type showed faster growth 

with elongated nodes and wider culm diameter than the other two types (Banik, 1980). 

61

Bambusa 


Bamboo-aphid, Pseudoregma bambucicola colonises on shoots and stems. The soldier ratio is higher on thick shoots 

than on thin or small shoots (Sakata et al., 1991). 

USES 

This reed-like bamboo which looks quite beautiful is largely used for hedges. Used for construction purposes, basketting 

and handicrafts in Thailand and is also ornamental. 

Bambusa nutans 

Bambusa nutans Wall. ex Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 92. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 32. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 387. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 116. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

➤ 

B. nutans - Internode and branches 

33 

62


➤ Fig. 16. B. nutans. A - leafy 

branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - young 

shoot; E - spikelet; F - flowering 

glume; G - palea; H - lodicule; 


K - a portion of culm. 

line 16 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 29. 1990; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 44.1992. (Fig. 16). 


Assam - Bidhuli, Mukial; Lepecha - Mallo, Mahi bans; Orissa - Badia bansa; Tripura - Kali, Beng, Makla. 

DESCRIPTION 

A medium sized graceful bamboo. Culms 6-15 m high, 5-10 cm in diameter, loosely clumped, much-branched above, 

usually unbranched below, straight, green, smooth, not shining, white-ringed below the nodes; node slightly thickened, 

often hairy, lower ones bearing rootlets; internodes usually 25-45 cm long, thick-walled. Culm-sheaths 10-23 cm long, 

upto 30 cm wide at base, with appressed scattered black hairs on the back, base with soft deciduous hairs, top truncate; 

63

Bambusa 

ligule ca.2 mm, entire to dentate; auricles 2, at the top of the sheath, large, wavy, unequal in size, one erect and the 

other decurrent, both fringed, with long curved bristles; base rounded, margin recurved, adaxial surface clothed with 

appressed brownish black hairs. Young shoots yellowish-green at apex. Sheaths covered sparsely with dark-brown and 

yellow hairs. Leaves 15-25 cm long and 2-3.5 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, rounded and usually 

oblique at base, upper surface dull green, lower surface glaucous; petiole 3-5 mm long; leaf-sheaths hairy when young, 

striate; auricle falcate with few long hairs. Inflorescence a stiff panicle bearing spicate branches with clusters of stiff 

erect spikelets in bracteate heads, rachis smooth. Spikelets, many sterile, few fertile, 1.4-2.5 cm long, glabrous, acute; 

empty glumes 2-3, glabrous, mucronate, gemmiparous; fertile flowers 3-5; flowering glumes ovate, acute, mucronate, 

many-nerved, minutely hairy within; palea shorter than flowering glume, flattened, ovate, 2-keeled, with the long white 

ciliae on the edges of the keels overlapping; rachillae clavate, hairy and ciliate at the top, uppermost 2-3 flowers usually 

imperfect; lodicules 3, broad, obtuse, long fimbriate, fleshy at first, many-nerved, one narrower than the other two. 

Stamens sometimes 7, anthers long apiculate or slightly penicillate at apex. Ovary sub-obovate, stalked, glabrous below, 

pubescent above; style short, pubescent; stigmas 2-3, shortly plumose, twisted, nearly glabrous. Caryopsis oblong, 

obtuse, hairy on the tip. The species is extremely difficult to distinguish from B. tulda in the absence of flowers. 

Chromosome number n = 35; 2n = 70 aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Though there are many flowering records for different years from 1893, authentic gregarious flowering reports after 

1840 are for the years 1894-96, 1966, 1979-80 and 1987-88. Apart from sporadic flowering, the bamboo seems to flower 

gregariously after 35 years and at least two separate flowering cycles are involved. 


It is commonly cultivated in North-West India especially in and around Dehra Dun; extensively cultivated in Orissa and 

West Bengal. One of the widely cultivated species in Bangladesh and one of the commercial species of Thailand. In 

moist hill slopes and flat uplands in well-drained sandy loam to clayey loam. Naturally occurring in Sub-Himalayan 

tracts from Yamuna eastwards to Arunachal Pradesh between 600-1500 m altitude. Common in Brahmaputra valley. 


Long cells of culm epidermis rectangular with wavy walls; papillae scattered; stomata surrounded by papillae. Microhairs 

not observed. Cortex homogeneous with thin-walled cells. Peripheral vascular bundles reduced. Transitional vascular 

bundle caps and sheaths fused. Central vascular bundles with five and six fibre groups, lining of cavity parenchymatous 

(Pattanath and Rao 1969). In leaf epidermis stomata common, arranged in two bands in 1-3 alternate rows, subsidiary 

cells high-domed, over-arched and surrounded by four elliptical papillae. Long cells long, narrow with uniform width, 

ends straight to convex, walls sinuous. Papillae conspicuous in a row in the middle. Interstomatal cells short and narrow 

with concave ends, walls wavy to sinuous. Papillae scattered, small in the middle. Short cells solitary and in pairs, cork 

cells, costal and intercostal, costal inconspicuous or absent, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal common, intercostal 

frequent. Silica bodies costal saddle shaped, intercostal crescent to dumbbell shaped; prickles intercostal, frequent with 

round base and short to long pointed apex. Microhairs common, bicelled, apical cell shorter than the basal cell, apex 

round. Macrohairs common, costal and intercostal long, base raised but not surrounded by papillae (Luxmi Chauhan 

et al., 1989). 

64


Fibre length 2.49 mm, diameter 15.43 µm, lumen diameter 3.74 µm, wall thickness 5.86 µm, parenchyma 

23.4 per cent. 

CHEMISTRY 

Studies on peroxidase isozymes showed 8 bands. Two with lowest mobility were intense, four showed medium mobility 

and medium intense. The other two bands were light (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). Proximate chemical analysis showed 

caustic soda 20 per cent, Kappa No.24.3, lignin in bamboo 21.7 per cent, lignin in pulp 2.8 per cent, pentosans in 

bamboo 20 per cent, pentosans in pulp 16.8 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 54.7 per cent, screened 54.5 per cent 

(Singh et al., 1976). 


Propagation trials conducted with culm cuttings showed the possibility of rooting 3-noded culm cuttings from base and 

middle portions of one-year-old culms. Genetic improvement work has been initiated in Arunachal Pradesh in 1980. 

Plantation by offset planting was tried by Orissa Forest Department. In Bangladesh, trials with culm cuttings showed 

38 per cent of rooting under controlled conditions. Offset planting is also in practice. 


Four diseases namely rhizome rot caused by Ganoderma lucidum, culm rot caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae, 

blight caused by Sarocladium oryzae, gray leaf spot caused by Hendersonula toruloidea are reported. Heavy mortality is 

seen in Orissa due to blight. High humidity and temperature are found favourable for infection. Bavistin (0.15%) 

combined with Dithane M-45 (0.3%) or Fytolan (0.3%) are found effective for controlling the blight. Attack by insect 

borers, Dinoderus sp. and Chlorothorus annularis is reported (Deka et al., 1990; Gupta et al., 1992). 


There is no longitudinal shrinkage for culm, diameter shrinkage is 4.6-6.6 per cent and wall shrinkage is 3.8-6.3 per 

cent for different ages (Sekar et al., 1962; Sekar and Rawat, 1964). Moisture content 88.3 per cent in green, 14.0 in airdry, 

average specific gravity 0.603 in green, 0.673 in air-dry, fibre stress at elastic limit 29.5 in air-dry and 29.6 N/mm 2 

in green, modulus of rupture 52.9 in green and 52.4 N/mm 2 in air-dry, modulus of elasticity 6.7 in green and 10.7 kN/ 

mm 2 in air-dry, compression strength parallel to grain 456 kg/cm 2 in green and 479 kg/cm 2 in air-dry bamboo respectively. 

Variation was observed in materials collected from different states. 


Treatment of fresh bamboo pieces with water for leaching water soluble substances helped to reduce borer attack 

(Roonwal et al., 1966). Seasoning behaviour shows that it dries rapidly, but is liable to crack and collapse; cracks 

occurring mostly at the nodes; cracks at the other places close up late during drying; drying by passing hot air from solar 

air heaters through the bamboo tube obtained by puncturing the nodal partitions improve the drying behaviour with 

reduced surface cracking (Jain and Kambo, 1991; Sharma et al., 1992). 

USES 

It is a graceful bamboo worth growing as ornamental (Gamble, 1896), one among the six species commonly used in 

Indian paper industry. The culm is good, strong, straight and used locally for various purposes, mainly as poles. 

65

Bambusa 

Bambusa oliveriana 

line 17 

Bambusa oliveriana Gamble, Ann. 

Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 130. 1896; 

Brandis,Indian Trees 670. 1906; Camus, 

Les Bambusees 126. 1913; Tewari, 


DESCRIPTION 

A pretty, moderate sized, tufted bamboo. 

Culms 13-15 m high, 2.5-5 cm in 

diameter, glossy green; walls thick; 

internodes about 35 cm long; branches 

many from the base upwards. Culmsheaths 


broad, pale, glabrous on both sides or 

hirsute on the back when young; ligule 

2-3 mm high, serrate; auricles fringed; 

blade 10-20 cm long and 5-8 cm broad, 

triangular-lanceolate, cordate at the 

base, covered on both sides with 

scattered stiff brown hairs. Young shoots 

columnar, sheath green with membranous margin, blade brown, apex pointed; auricles brown. Leaves 10-18 cm long 

and 1-1.5 cm broad, linear, ending in a long twisted needle-like point; attenuated or rounded at base into 3-4 mm long 

petiole, glabrous, scabrous on the margins; leaf-sheath glabrous, striate, callus emarginate, ligule long. Inflorescence a 

much-branched panicle of drooping, one-sided spikes with rather distant bracteate clusters of few (1-3) spikelets; bracts 

glabrous, striate, truncate; spikelets flattened, ca. 1.5 cm long, straw coloured or greenish, glabrous; empty glumes 1-2, 

ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 fertile flowers, distichous, separated by conspicuous rachillae; terminal flower imperfect on a long 

flattened glabrous rachilla; flowering glume ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 9-nerved; palea rather shorter, 2-keeled, acute, 

glabrous, except for a minute tuft of hairs at the apex, 3-nerved in between, 3-nerved on either side of the keels; 

lodicules 3, rounded, obtuse, long-fimbriate, many-nerved. Stamens long, exserted, anthers obtuse, striped red and 

yellow when young, dull purple on aging. Ovary ovate, elongate, hairy; style short, soon dividing into 2 plumose 

stigmas. Caryopsis 0.75 mm long, ovate, furrowed on one side, slightly hairy at tip. 

Chromosome number 2n = 38, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Gregarious flowering was reported from Myanmar in 1893-94. 


Distributed in Mizoram (India) and Myanmar. Also cultivated in Indian Botanic 

Gardens, Calcutta and in the bambusetum of Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 

The species occurs from 300-600 m altitude in moist deciduous forests along ravines. 

➤ 

Fig. 17. B. oliveriana. 

A - leafy branch; B - culmsheath; 

C - a portion of 

flowering branch; D - spikelet; 

E - flowering glume; F - palea; 

G - lodicule; H - stamen; 

I - pistil; J - culm with node; 

K - young shoot. 

66


CHEMISTRY 

Studies on peroxidase isozymes showed 6 

distinct bands. One dark band, three medium 

intense bands and two light bands are observed 

(Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 


The presence of bamboo-pit scale insect 

Asterolecanium logum is reported. 

34 

➤ 

B. pallida - Internode and branches 

36 

Bambusa pallida 

Bambusa pallida Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 97. 1868; 


35 


Assam-Bijli, Jowa, Makal, Walkthai; Cachar-Bakhal, Burwal; Khasi- 

Seskien, Skhen, Tneng, Usken; Lepcha-Pashipo, Pshi, Pushee; Mikir- 

Loto; Naga: Tesero, Watoi, Tripura-Makal. 

➤ 

➤ 

B. pallida - A clump 

B. pallida - Young shoots 

67

Bambusa 

➤ 

Fig. 18. B. pallida. A - leafy 


C - culm-sheath; D - node 

showing branching; 

E - spikelet; F - palea; 

G - lodicules; H - stamen; 

I - pistil; J - young shoot. 

line 18 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo, growing in thick clumps. Culms 13-20 m high, 5-8 cm in diameter, smooth, olive green, covered 

with white powder; nodes not prominent; internodes 45-70 cm long, walls thin. Culm-sheaths 18-30 cm long and 25 

cm broad, slightly attenuate upwards and truncate at top. When young, blade often 35 cm long, triangular-acuminate 

from a broad base covered with appressed white hairs; abaxial surface appressed black hairy, adaxial surface glabrous or 

sparsely hairy; ligule very short; auricle quite small, rounded, with bristles. Young shoots spear-shaped, smooth, sheath 

green with darker tinge, culm-sheaths fall off from bottom of the culms upwards within 15 days, before falling become 

straw-coloured, blades at first greenish, changing to straw colour within few days. Leaves 10-20 cm long and 1-2 cm 

broad, linear-lanceolate, rounded or sub-cuneate at the base, glabrous above, whitish and hirsute beneath, margins 

scabrous; leaf-sheath glabrous, striate, ending in a smooth prominent callus; auricle rounded, erect, with scattered long 

bristles; petiole very short. Inflorescence a large branching panicle, with spicate branchlets bearing heads with many 

68


sterile and few fertile spikelets; rachis fistular, that of branchlets slender, wiry, glabrous. Spikelets pale, 2.5-3 cm long, 

sometimes curved, bearing usually 1-2 small ovate-acute empty glumes, 1 male or gemmiparous glume, 3-8 fertile 

flowers, 3-5 imperfect ones gradually decreasing in size; rachilla short, club-shaped, ciliate at top; flowering glume 

ovate-acute, mucronate, many- nerved, glabrous, minutely pubescent within; palea much short, acute, 2-keeled, shortly 

ciliate on the keels, 3-5 veins between them; lodicules 3, oblong or narrowly obovate, two rather unequally sided, large, 

and the third acute, smaller, all somewhat thickened at base and veined. Stamens hardly exserted, anthers narrow, 

apiculate, with 1 or 2 long hairs or not. Ovary narrowly oblong, attenuate upwards into a hairy thickened style which 

soon branches into 3 plumose stigmas. 

FLOWERING 

Specimens collected with flowers from Bangladesh in 1850 and from Kamrup in Assam in 1890. 


It is distributed over North-East India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Northern Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, 

Sikkim and Tripura), Bhutan and Myanmar. Cultivated in the plains, mostly in North-Eastern India, also in Indian 

Botanic Garden, Calcutta and in the bambusetum of Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. This species occurs in hills 

mainly between 700-2000 m altitude. 

ANATOMY 

Stomata common in leaf epidermis and arranged in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows; subsidiary cells triangular, surrounded 

by 6-8 globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow, width uniform, walls wavy, ends straight. Papillae inconspicuous 

and scattered. Interstomatal cells long and medium broad, walls wavy, ends concave, papillae scattered. Short cells 

solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal, inconspicuous, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal common, 

intercostal common to frequent. Silica bodies costal saddle shaped, intercostal dumbbell-to crescent-shaped. Prickles 

frequent to infrequent, intercostal, base round with medium long pointed apex. Microhairs frequent, intercostal, apical 

cell longer than the basal cell, apex rounded. Macrohairs frequent, intercostal and costal, medium, base raised (Luxmi 


CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 

Studies on peroxidase isozymes showed seven bands, the band at lowest mobility is dark, following one is light. In the 

region of medium mobility there are three bands of which two are of medium intensity and one is light. The two bands 

at the high mobility are light (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 

SILVICULTURE 

Vegetative propagation can be done by using one year old, two nodded culm-cuttings treated with NAA and kinetin 

(filled in internodal cavity) in July gave the best results (Nath et al., 1986). Cuttings of two-year-old culms gave better 

response than one-year or three-year-old culms. Genetic improvement work had been initiated in 1980 at Arunachal 

Pradesh (Saharia and Sen, 1990). 

USES 

The species is mainly used for house building, baskets, mats, toys, wall plates, screens and wall hangers. 

69

Bambusa 

Bambusa polymorpha 

Bambusa polymorpha Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 

98. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 36. 1896 and 

in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 389. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 669. 

1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 119. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven 

Bamboos Growing in India, 35. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 

47.1992. (Fig. 19). 


37 

Assam - Jama betwa, Betwa; Bengal - Betua, Jaibaroowa, Jama; 

Madhya Pradesh - Narangi bhas; Tripura - Bari. 

DESCRIPTION 

sheath, fringed with deciduous 

stiff bristles; blade 6-10 cm 

long, reflexed, deciduous, base 

triangular cordate, apex acuminate, 

abaxial surface with brown 

pubescence and adaxial surface 

felted with dark hairs, margins 

ciliate. Young shoots brownish- 

A large evergreen, densely tufted bamboo; sometimes leaf-shedding 

in dry season. Culms 16-25 m high, 8-15 cm diameter, gray to 

grayish- green, white scurfy when young; nodes thick, lower ones 

rooted; internodes 40-60 cm long. Culm-sheaths 20-25 cm long 

and 30-35 cm broad, persistent, broader at base and narrowed into 

a rounded top, covered on back with densely and closely appressed 

brown to dark-brown deciduous hairs; ligule narrow, irregularly 

dentate, ciliate; auricles two, unequal, falcate, continuous with 

38 

➤ 

B. polymorpha - Young shoot 

➤ B. polymorpha - Basal part of 

the clump 

70


➤ 

Fig. 19. B. polymorpha. A - leafy 

branch; B - leaf-sheath; C - culmsheath; 

D - a portion of flowering 

branch; E - spikelet; F - empty glume; 

G - flowering glume; H - palea; 

I - lodicules; J - stamen; K - pistil; 

L - young shoot. 

line 19 

green. Sheath light brown, or sometimes 

greenish or golden yellow, covered with 

dark brown hairs, blades greenish with 

dark brown hairs; lower half margin 

with whitish or yellowish cilia, boatshaped, 

at the tip of the shoot auricles 

biseriate, prominent, wavy, with 

whitish or yellowish cilia. Leaves 7-18 

cm long and 1-2 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, 

base obliquely rounded; petiole 

2-3 mm long; ligule very thin; auricle 

with brown bristles. Inflorescence a 

much- branched panicle, with curving 

spikes of frequent heads bearing few 

spikelets surrounded by brownish, glabrous, mucronate, chaffy bracts; rachis smooth, the upper part covered with 

appressed whitish pubescence, ultimate segments very slender, wiry. Spikelets shining, often brownish, 1-1.5 cm, in 

lower heads 5-6, number gradually decreasing upwards, somewhat pedicellate and enclosed in a long, curved, glabrous 

bract; empty glumes 1-3, ovate mucronate, then 2-3 fertile flowers, a terminal imperfect flower supported by a long, 

flattened, glabrous rachilla; flowering glumes ovate-mucronate, many-nerved; palea somewhat longer, lanceolate, acute 

at tip, keels not ciliate; lodicules 3, sub-orbicular, short- fimbriate all round, 3-5-nerved, one smaller than the others. 

Stamens partly exserted; anthers purple, usually blunt, but sometimes apiculate. Ovary obovate, hairy at tip, style soon 

divided into 3 short, white-hairy stigmas. Caryopsis ovate, 5 mm long, depressed, flattened on one side, rounded on 

the other, hairy above, with short hairy mucro. 

Chromosome number 2n = 64, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). Another report showed 2n = 72 (Darlington 

and Wylie, 1955). 

71

Bambusa 


Both gregarious as well as sporadic flowering has been reported. Flowering cycle 55-60 years. The earliest report of 

flowering was from Myanmar during 1854-1860. The gregarious flowering in 1914 reported from Myanmar was after 55 

years. The data available on flowering is not enough to decide its flowering cycle accurately. Sporadic and gregarious 

flowering occurred in Myanmar during 1929-30 which was confined to only drier tracts. Gaur (1987) reported its 

flowering cycle as 35-60 years. In Bangladesh, it flowered during 1981-82. Seed number varies from 21000-40000/kg 

depending on the location with 40 per cent germination. 


This bamboo is indigenous to India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Also reported in wild state in Hoshangabad Division of 

Madhya Pradesh. Introduced in Coimbatore Division of Tamil Nadu, and Palghat, Nilambur and Wynad Divisions of 

Kerala. One of the important bamboo species cultivated in North Bengal. Introduced in Karnataka State at Coorg 

between 1913-1924. Gamble (1896) mentioned that this is common in Myanmar extending North-Westwards into 

Sylhet, Bangladesh. Though it has been cultivated in most of the North-Eastern States of India, its occurrence in some 

parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura appears to be its natural distribution zone. Grown in 

Forest Research Institute campus, Dehra Dun. Low hill slopes along the valleys with deep fertile, well-drained loam and 

riverine alluvial soil is suitable for the growth of this species. It is found associated with teak (Tectona grandis). 


Internodal epidermis uniseriate, hypodermis 4-6 layers, parenchymatous. The vascular bundles arranged in tangential 

rings in alternating radial rows. Morphology of bundles and the association of sclerenchyma vary from periphery to 

centre. Inner lining of the pith cavity, thick-walled, parenchymatous. Vascular bundles at the nodal region complex. 

Bundle sheath sclerenchyma much pronounced in the abaxial side. Protoxylem elements many. Transfer cells present 

between the metaxylem (Appasamy, 1989). In the nodes and internodes, long and narrow and short and wide librifom 

fibres present. The metaxylem elements short and wide. Perforation plate simple, transverse and lateral pits alternate 

and elliptical. Fibre length 2.41 mm, fibre diameter 17.29 µm, lumen diameter 5.53 µm, wall thickness 5.87 µm, 

parenchyma 20.4 per cent. Epidermal cells long, erect and rhomboidal, broadest in the middle and tapering at the ends. 

Epidermal and short cells alternate in vertical rows. Average width of epidermal cell 8.7 µm, length varies from 13.2 µm 

to 99.0 µm. Wall thick, septa-like partitions absent. Cork cells and silica cells squarish, or rectangular, silica cells 

sometimes pointed at the ends; short cell pairs 1208 per mm 2 . Occasionally short cells substituted by a spine or bicellular 

hair alternating with epidermal cell. Spines solitary, may also develop in place of silica cell in pair or in combination with 

a pair of short cells. Bicellular hairs frequently solitary, a few large unicellular hairs sometimes present (Ghosh and 

Negi, 1960). In leaf epidermis stomata common, arranged in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows; subsidiary cells highdomed 

to triangular, surrounded by 6-9 globose and elliptical papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width; 

walls sinuous, ends straight, papillae conspicuous, in a row in the middle. Interstomatal cells short and broad, walls 

sinuous, ends deep. Concave papillae scattered. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells, costal 

inconspicuous to absent, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal common, intercostal, frequent. Silica bodies, costal crossshaped 

to saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’ shaped. Prickles frequent, intercostal, base round with short 

pointed apex. Microhairs frequent to common, bicelled, apical cell shorter than basal cell, apex rounded. Macrohairs 

long, absent to infrequent, costal (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1989). 

72


CHEMISTRY 

Seven bands were seen for peroxidase, 4 dense bands and one medium and two light (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). 

Proximate chemical analysis showed ash 1.67 per cent, cold water solubles 2.93 per cent, hot water solubles 6.88 per 

cent, alcohol benzene solubles 1.70 per cent, ether solubles 0.99 per cent, caustic soda solubles 18.39 per cent, pentosans 

21.48 per cent, lignin 24.9 per cent, cellulose 61.79 per cent. Beating characteristics showed caustic soda 20 per cent, 

kappa No.27.2, lignin in bamboo 24.7 per cent, lignin in pulp 3 per cent, pentosans in bamboo 18.5 per cent, pentosan 

in pulp 17.0 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 44.4 per cent screened 43.4 per cent (Singh et al., 1976). 


Seedlings are raised in the nursery and planted out. About 90 cm long segments of 2-3-years old culms with branches 

trimmed to 7.5-10 cm length gave promising result. It can be propagated by pre-rooted and pre-rhizomed branchcuttings 

with 45-56 per cent rooting (Banik, 1984). Plantations mature for extraction within 8 years. Selection felling 

cycle of 3 or 4 years can be adopted (Prasad, 1948). The general felling rules adopted for B. bambos is applicable for this 

species also. Another study recommends that felling should be started only after the mother clump develops thirty 

culms. 


Bamboo seed bug, Ochrophara montana is reported. Both adults and nymphs feed on the developing seed. It is a 

serious pest of developing bamboo seed. 


Moisture content is about 95.1 per cent and 13.9 per cent in green and air- dry conditions respectively. Average specific 

gravity 0.619 and 0.659; fibre stress at elastic limit 13.6 and 16.1 N/mm 2 , modulus of rupture 28.3 and 35.5 N/mm 2 , 

modulus of elasticity 3.1 and 4.1 kN/mm 2 in green and air-dry conditions respectively. Compression strength parallel to 

grain 32.1 N/mm 2 in green (not reported in air-dry condition). 


Preservative treatment by sap displacement method was tried. Culm of 9.5 m long was cut without removing branches 

and crown and placed in buckets with butt-end (25 cm) immersed in 10 per cent solution of copper sulphate or zinc 

chloride for 11 days. The concentration of solution can be altered as per requirement. In another method, the specimens 

were cut to 1.85 m long pieces and the butt-end was immersed (25 cm) in the solution for 72 hours. After 72 hours the 

specimens were inverted for another 72 hours (Singh and Tewari, 1980). 

USES 

It is popular for house building in Manipur. The species is used for the production of pulp and paper, agarbathi sticks 

and fibre boards. In Myanmar, this species is considered the best for walls, floor and roof of houses. This is one of the 

ten species used for building construction in Indonesia. Of the 27 bamboos belonging to 10 genera growing in Puerto 

Rico tested for the edibility of the shoots, this bamboo was the best to produce shoots with a distinctly sweet taste. It is 

also a graceful species suitable for landscaping. 

73

Bambusa 

Bambusa pseudopallida 

Bambusa pseudopallida Majumdar in Fl. Ind. Enum. 275. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 48.1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

A species resembling Bambusa pallida having shrubby habit. Culm-sheath blade longer than the sheath but auricles 

pointed, one projecting upward and the other downward. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Assam in 1965 by Kanjilal. 

DISTRIBUTION 

It is found in Assam and Meghalaya. 

Bambusa striata 

40 

Bambusa striata Lodd. ex Lindl. Penny Cyclop 3: 357. 1835; Munro Trans. 

Linn. Soc. London 26: 121. 1868; Curtis, Bot. Mag. 30: t. 6079. 1874. 

(Fig. 20). 

B. vulgaris var. striata (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 44. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 123. 1913; Blatter, Indian For. 

55: 556. 1929; Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 16: 63. 1958; Bennet and 

Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 37. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 48.1992. B. vulgaris var. vittata A and C. Riviere, Les Bambos 191. 

1877. 

➤ 

B. striata - New shoot 

➤ B. striata - colour variation in the culms 

➤(opposite page) B. striata - A clump 

41 

74


39 

75

Bambusa 

line 20 

➤ 

Fig. 20. B. striata. A - a portion of culm with branches; B - leafy branch; C - culm-sheath; D - young shoot; 

E - spikelet; F - empty glume; G - flowering glume; H - palea; I - lodicules; J - stamen; K - pistil. 

76



Bengal - Basini bans, Bansini bans; Orissa - Sundrogai. 

DESCRIPTION 

A graceful, tufted bamboo. Culms 4-8 m high, 5-8 cm in diameter, glabrous, yellow with light green stripes or rarely 

light green with yellow stripes, shining; internodes 10-15 cm long, thick- walled. Culm-sheaths somewhat similar to 

B. vulgaris but smaller. Leaves 15-20 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad, linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, base obtuse and 

oblique, glabrous and glaucous beneath; petiole short; leaf-sheath smooth, glabrous; ligule short, truncate, ciliate. 

Inflorescence a large leafy compound panicle bearing spicate branches with heads of spikelets in bracteate clusters of 

3-10, clusters larger at the nodes; rachis somewhat furrowed, end segments hairy. Spikelets 1.5-2 cm long, oblong, acute 

bearing 1-2 empty glumes; flowers 6-10; empty glumes ovate-acute, ciliate at tip, many-nerved; flowering glume larger; 

palea bluntly acute, 2-keeled, faintly 3-nerved. Lodicules 2, unequal, ovate-oblong, membranous. Stamens exserted; 

anthers narrow, apiculate; ovary narrowly oblong, hairy; style 3; stigma plumose. 

FLOWERING 

Hooker (1874) reported flowering of this species in November 1873. 


Native to China and Japan. Commonly cultivated all over India, as an ornamental. This species grows up to an altitude 

of 1000 m. 

ANATOMY 

Internodal epidermis consisting of a single row of thick-walled cells, and hypodermis with 1-2 layers of thick-walled 

sclerenchyma cells. Cortex parenchymatous 6-8 layered. Fibre strands present. Protoxylem cap persistent. Inner lining 

of the cavity 5 to 6 layered, of thick-walled parenchyma cells (Sekar and Balasubramanian, Personal communication). 

Vascular bundles irregular at the nodes. Sclerenchymatous bundle sheath and cap present on the side of phloem and 

protoxylem. Vascular bundles are more at the peripheral region. Parenchymatous tissue oval in shape with inclusion 

(Appasamy, 1989). Fibre types - very thick, thick, thin and very thin, septate fibres absent, tips pointed or blunt, wall 

lamellation 3-7 layered. (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). Vessel elements short and wide with 

simple perforation plates. Lateral wall pitting opposite and pits elliptic. 

Fibre length 2028 µm, diameter 10.2 µm, lumen width 6.7 µm, wall thickness 5.1 µm. Slenderness ratio 198.8, flexibility 

ratio 65.6, Runkel ratio 1.5. 

CHEMISTRY 

Chemical composition of culms from Philippines showed holocellulose 63.6%, pentosan 21.5%, lignin 25.9%, solubility 

in alcohol benzene 3.7%, hot water 3.9 per cent, 1 per cent NaOH 24.7 per cent, ash 3.0 per cent, silica 1.3 per cent 

(Tamolang et al., 1980). 

Spectral absorbance value for cellulose 0.313, lignin 0.302 (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

USES 

It is mainly used for ornamental planting; culms are used as poles. In Indonesia, it is used in building construction. 

77

Bambusa 

Bambusa teres 

Bambusa teres Buch. Ham. ex Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 33. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 33. 1896 in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 388. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 668. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 

117. 1913; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 49. 1992. (Fig. 21). 


Tripura - Paora; Assam - Bhaluki-makel. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large tufted bamboo. Culms upto 

20 m high and 8 cm in diameter, 

smooth; internodes 50 cm long. Culmsheath 

20-25 cm long and broad, nearly 

glabrous, rounded at tip, black inside; 

blade 10-15 cm long, triangular, 

cuspidate, appressed hairy beneath, 

rounded at the base; ligule 2 mm high, 

white-hairy outside; auricles wavy, 

fringed with deciduous bristles. Young 

shoots whitish-green. Leaves 20-35 cm 

long and 3-4 cm broad, oblonglanceolate, 

base oblique, petiole short; 

leaf-sheath glabrous or sparsely 

hairy, mouth truncate, ligule short. 

Inflorescence a large compound panicle 

with spicate branches bearing heads of 

sterile and fertile spikelets with chaffy 

bracts; rachis usually fistular, striate. 

Spikelets 5 cm with 1-2 empty 

gemmiparous glumes, 5-6 fertile flowers, 

and 1-2 terminal imperfect flowers; 

rachilla obcuneate, striate, minutely 

ciliate at top; empty glumes ovate-acute, 

mucronate; flowering glume ovatelanceolate 

with a broad base, acute, 

glabrous, sometimes with a soft subfoliaceous 

point, many-nerved; palea 

ovate, 2-keeled, scabrous, toothed on 

the keels, 5-6-nerved in between, tip 

➤ 

line 21 

Fig. 21. B. teres. A - node with flowering branch and leaf; B - leaf; C - culmsheath; 

D - flowering glume; E - palea; F - lodicules; G - stamen; H - pistil; 

I - young shoot; J - a portion of culm. 

78


glabrous or penicillate; lodicules almost obovate, long-fimbriate, many- nerved. Anthers narrow, penicillate at the apex. 

Ovary ovate, acute, hairy above, with a short style and long hairy stigmas. Caryopsis not known. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Assam in 1891 and 1889, from Bangladesh during 1981-82. Most of the culms died 

after flowering. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Distributed in India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura) and in Bangladesh. 

USES 

This species is used for making agarbathi sticks, mats and baskets. 

Bambusa tulda 

42 

Bambusa tulda Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 193. 1832; Munro, 

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 91. 1868; Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. 

Burma 2: 552. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 30. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 387. 1897; 

Brandis, Indian Trees 668. 1906. Camus, Les Bambusees 

115. 1913; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 49. 1992. (Fig. 22). 

Dendrocalamus tulda (Roxb.) Voigt. Hort. Suburb. Calc. 

718. 1845. 

➤ 

B. tulda - A clump 

➤ B. tulda - Internode and branches 

43 

79

Bambusa 


Assam - Wamunna, Wagi, Nal-bans; Bengal 

- Tulda, Jowa; Duars (West) - Kiranti, 

Matela; Garo - Wati; Kamrup - Bijuli, Jati, 

Jao, Ghora; Tripura - Mirtinga. 

DESCRIPTION 

This species is an evergreen or deciduous, 

tufted, gregarious bamboo. Culms usually 

7-23 m high and 5-10 cm in diameter, 

glabrous, green when young, gray-green on 

maturity, sometimes streaked with yellow, 

almost unbranched below; nodes slightly 

thickened, lower ones have fibrous roots; 

internodes 40-70 cm long, white-scurfy 

when young, with white ring below the 

nodes, thin-walled. Culm-sheaths ca. 15- 

25 cm long and broad, attenuate upwards 

and rounded or truncate at top, deciduous, 

adaxial surface smooth and often with 

whitish powder, abaxial surface sometimes 

covered with appressed brown hairs; blade 

broadly triangular, reniform or cordate, 

cuspidate, erect, hairy within; ligule 

continuous with the sheath top, narrow, 

entire; auricles 2, unequal, larger one 

continuous with the blade and rounded 

with ciliate margin. Leaves 15-25 cm long 

and 2-4 cm broad linear-lanceolate or 

lanceolate, except for the scabrous veins, 

glabrous above, glaucescent and puberulous 

➤ 

line 22 

Fig. 22. B. tulda. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; C - part of flowering 

branch; D - spikelet; E - flowering glume; F - palea; G - lodicules; 

H - stamen; I - pistil; J - a portion of culm; K - young shoot. 

beneath, apex acuminate, base obliquely rounded into a short 2.5 mm long hairy petiole; leaf-sheath striate, glabrous; 

ligule very small; auricle rounded, fringed with long white hairs. Inflorescence variable, sometimes an immense radical 

leafless panicle, sometimes a short leafy paniculate or spicate branch; branches spicate, bearing interrupted clusters of 

few (1-5) usually fertile long spikelets supported by shining chaffy bracts; rachis smooth, striate, spikelets variable in 

length from 2.5-7.5 cm long, 5 mm broad, sessile, glabrous; cylindrical and acute at first, afterwards divided into many 

flowers separated by conspicuous rachillae, bearing first 1- 2 short bracts, then 2-4 usually gemmiparous empty glumes, 

4-6 fertile flowers, and 1 or 2 imperfect or male terminal flowers; empty glumes acute, many-nerved; flowering glume 

many-nerved, glabrous, striate 1.2-2.5 cm long and 7.5 mm broad, ovate acute or acuminate, mucronate, sometimes 

minutely ciliate on the edges; palea rather shorter, boat-shaped, 2- keeled, with long white ciliae on the keels and 

penicillate at the tip, 5-7 nerves in the groove between the keels; rachillae clavate, flattened, striate, glabrous except on 

the ciliate tip and occasionally the faintly ciliate edges, articulate below the glumes, so that the spikelets readily breaks 

up; lodicules 3, 2.5 mm long, 2 cuneate, oblong, obliquely truncate, thickened and fleshy below, especially on one side, 

80


hyaline and about 5-nerved above, the upper part long, white fimbriate, the third not thickened, hyaline, acute, long, 

fimbriate. Stamens long exserted; anther 7.5 mm, purple, glabrous, blunt at the tip or emarginate. Ovary obovateoblong, 

white, hairy above, surmounted by a short hairy style, divided into 3 long plumose wavy stigmas. Caryopsis 7.5 

mm long, oblong, hirsute at the apex, furrowed. 

Chromosome number 2n = 70 (Christopher and Abraham, 1971, Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 


Flowering cycle is reported to vary from 30-60 years. It flowers gregariously over considerable areas. Flowering was 

observed in Bengal during the years 1867-68, 1872, 1884, 1919, 1930 and 1936; in Assam during 1886, 1910 and 1930; 

in Myanmar during 1892, 1903, 1908, 1911 and 1914 and in Bangladesh in 1876, 1886, 1929-30, 1976-77, 1978-79, 

1982-83 and 1983-84. Recently it flowered at Dehra Dun in 1986. 

Fruit development has been studied by Harigopal and Mohan Ram (1987). Ovule, hemi-anatropus, pseudocrassinucellate. 

Micropyle is not seen since the integuments do not cover the nucellus completely. The nucellar epidermis is unilayered 

except at the micropylar end where two to four cells divide periodically to form a two to four layered tissue. The embryo 

sac development is of the polygonum type. Development of endosperm is free nuclear in the beginning and later 

cellular. Meristematic activity is restricted to outermost two to four layers of cells. The outermost two to four layers of 

cellular endosperm (aleurone tissue) are made up of rectangular cells with prominent nuclei and are devoid of starch. 

Ovary wall of megaspore tetrad has outer and inner epidermis and six to ten layers of cells between them. Cells at the 

periphery of ovary wall are small and have dense cytoplasm while the cells at stylar base are long and sparsely cytoplasmic. 

The outer integument degenerates during megasporogenesis and the inner one during embryo sac development. The 

nuclear epidermis persists up to globular stage and the outer surface becomes cutinised. During later development, only 

cutinised outer surface persists. The cells of the outer epidermis of pericarp become thick-walled during embryo 

development. Three to four layers below the epidermis also become thick-walled. 


In India, it is found in the states of Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Cultivated in Arunachal 

Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Bengal. The species is extensively grown in low hills of Central Assam (Rajkhowa, 

1964). The species also occurs in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. It is one of the major species of Bangladesh. The 

species occurs in moist alluvial flat land along water courses up to an altitude of 1500 m. Occurs in finer textured soils 

in the semi-evergreen forests in relatively low rainfall areas in Assam. Soils under this species contained high reserve of 

organic matter, nitrogen, calcium, potassium and phosphorus (Qureshi et al., 1969). 

ANATOMY 

In culm epidermis, long cells are rectangular with sinuous walls, papillae in small groups, stomata overarched by papillae, 

micro hairs fan-like, bicellular. Internodal cortex heterogeneous, peripheral vascular bundles reduced. Transitional 

vascular bundles with the caps and sheaths fused. Central vascular bundles with five or six fibre groups. The average 

fibre length is 1.84 mm and diameter 17.7 microns (Singh et al., 1976). Lining of the cavity parenchymatous. Leaf 

epidermal stomata arranged in two bands of 1-3, mostly 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular, surrounded by 

6-9 globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, walls wavy, ends straight to convex. Papillae small, 

scattered. Interstomatal cells medium long and broad with wavy walls and concave ends, papillae small, scattered. Short 

cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal inconspicuous, intercostal conspicuous. Silica cells 

81

Bambusa 

costal common, intercostal frequent. Silica bodies costal saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles common 

to frequent, intercostal, base round with small to medium pointed apex. Microhairs common, intercostal, bicelled, basal 

and apical cell equal, apex rounded to tapering. Macrohairs common, costal and intercostal, long to medium, base 

raised, not surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1989). 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate Chemical analysis showed percentages of ash 2.02, cold water solubles 2.64, hot water solubles 4.97, 

alcohol benzene solubles 1.86, ether solubles 0.86; 1 percent caustic soda solubles 21.80. Studies on peroxidase isozymes 

showed two dark bands in the high mobility, three medium intense and one light band at medium mobility and two light 

bands at low mobility region (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). Beating characteristics gave caustic soda 21 per cent, kappa 

no. 28.2, lignin in bamboo 23.1 per cent, lignin in pulp 4.7 per cent, pentosans in bamboo 18.1 per cent, pentosans in 

pulp 17.3 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 54.8 per cent, screened 53.4 per cent. 


Observations on morphology of seeds showed a length of 2.49 cm, mid width 0.35 cm, mid breadth 0.28 cm; 13900 to 

14000 seeds weighed in one kilogram. Studies on seed viability from Bangladesh showed that under natural conditions 

seeds are viable only for 35 days and this can be extended to about 18 months by storing over anhydrous silica gel in a 

desiccator. When seeds were stored over silica gel for longer period, germination was delayed. In a petri dish, germination 

is complete within 2-5 days whereas in polybags it takes 5-20 days, and in nursery beds about 7-25 days (Banik, 1987). 

Storage experiments in India showed that the seeds exhibit orthodox behaviour and can be stored by proper control of 

moisture content and temperature (Thapliyal et al., 1991). 

Vegetative propagation using one-year-old, 2-noded culm cuttings treated with NAA + kinetin or IAA + kinetin in 

July gave maximum rooting. Planting in summer season was better (Adarsh Kumar et al., 1988). An efficient protocol 

for in vitro propagation through shoot proliferation is developed (Saxena, 1990). About 80 per cent survival is reported 

when the seedlings are transferred to soil after hardening. It takes six to ten years for the new seedlings to mature after 

gregarious flowering. Culm diameter and height and clump girth expansion increased rapidly upto 5th year. As per the 

felling rules, felling cycle of four years is suggested. Culms less than one year should be retained. Cutting should be 

made 30 cm above the ground. A minimum of six culms should be left in a clump, as far as possible felling should be 

done on the opposite side of the clump where young culms are seen (Prasad, 1948). Fertilizer application of N100 and 

P50 is found suitable at the nursery level. Split application at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after germination gives better results 

(Raina et al., 1988). This species is one of the twelve species of high yielding bamboos suggested for large scale planting 

(Uppin, 1980). 


The sap sucker, Oregma bambusae Buchet which causes the wilting and death of young shoots has been reported. 

Bavistin, DDT or BHC powder or dialdrin or aldrin (0.5 per cent solution or powder) are effective controls (Chatterjee 

and Sebastian, 1964). Fungal infection affects the yield and quality of pulp. The species is also affected by blight caused 

by Sarocladium oryzae. This can be controlled by cultural practices and application of Dithane M45 as soil drench. 

Microflora on stored seeds comprise Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, Cercospora sp., Cladosporium 

cladosporioides, Curvalaria lunata, Drechslera rostrata, Epicoccum purpurascen, Fusarium semitectum, Penicillium 

sp., Phoma sp., Phomopsis sp., Rhizopus sp., and Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoconis padwickii, Pseudomonas sp., 

and Xanthomonas sp. 

82



Moisture content 73.6 per cent in green, 11.9 percent in air-dry; average specific gravity in green 0.658, air-dry 0.722; 

fibre stress at elastic limit 26.2 N/mm 2 in green, 38.1 N/mm 2 in air-dry; modulus of rupture 51.1 N/mm 2 in green, 66.7 

N/mm 2 in air-dry; modulus of elasticity 8.0 kN/mm 2 in green, 10.0 kN/mm 2 in air-dry; compression strength parallel to 

grain 40.7 N/mm 2 in green, 68 N/mm 2 in air-dry. 


The culms if soaked in water for some weeks prior to their use last much longer and are stronger. 

USES 

This species is used throughout North-East India for covering the houses and scaffolding. The tender shoots are used 

for making excellent pickles. It is suitable for the manufacture of wrapping, writing and printing paper. Used in Tripura 

for making toys, mats, screens, wall plates, wall hangers, hats, baskets, food grain containers etc. In Arunachal Pradesh, 

the species is used for flute, locally called eloo and used by priests during Dree festival with the belief that the sound will 

keep the evil spirits away. In Northern Thailand, it was one of the two most important edible species until half a century 

ago. It has long been exported to Europe and the United States of America under the names ‘Calcutta cane’ or ‘East 

India Brown Bamboo’. This is one of the five quick-growing species of bamboos preferred for raising plantations in 

India. It can be used as reinforcement in cement concrete. The succulent shoots are rich in phytosterols and the 

fermented shoots can be used for production of sterol drugs (Srivastava, 1990). 

Bambusa vulgaris 

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. Collect Pl. 2: 26 t. 47. 1810; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 106. 1868; 

Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 551. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 43. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. 

India 7: 391. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 670. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 112. 1913; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboos 51. 

1992. (Fig. 23). 


Bengal and Manipur - Bakal; Orissa - Sunderkania bansa. 

DESCRIPTION 

A moderate sized bamboo not densely tufted. Culms 8-20 m high, 5-10 cm in diameter, bright green, glossy, erect, 

mature culms yellowish, walls 7-15 mm thick, branching usually from mid-culm to top; nodes prominent, lower ones 

often with a narrow ring of roots, usually covered with brown hairs; internodes up to 45 cm long. Young shoots dark 

brown to yellowish green. Culm-sheaths 15-25 cm long and 25-35 cm broad, rounded and truncate at top, often 

beautifully streaked when young with green and yellow, striate, adaxial surface densely covered with thick appressed 

brown-black hairs, edges ciliate; ligule 5-8 mm tall, continuous with the top of the sheath, dentate or sometimes entire, 

83

Bambusa 

margin ciliate; auricle 2, subequal, continuous with the blade, ca. 1 cm high with pale stout curved bristles 6-8 mm long; 

blade somewhat triangular, bright yellow, acute, 5-15 cm long and up to 10 cm broad, appressed-hairy with shining black 

hairs on adaxial surface, margins bristly. Leaves narrowly or broadly lanceolate, 15-25 cm long and 2-4 cm broad 

rounded or attenuate at the base into a 5 mm long petiole, glabrous on both surfaces, occasionally sparsely hairy when 

young, margin scabrous. Inflorescence a large leafy compound panicle bearing spicate branches with heads of spikelets 

in bracteate clusters of 3-10, the clusters larger at the nodes; rachis rounded or somewhat furrowed, scurfy, end segments 

hairy. Spikelets 1.5-2 cm long, oblong, acute, compressed, bearing 1-2 empty glumes, 6-10 flowers, and one imperfect 

flower; rachillae cuneate, glabrous, not apparent; empty glumes ovate-acute, ciliate at tip, many-nerved; flowering 

glumes similar but larger; palea as long as or a little longer than flowering glume, bluntly acute, 2-keeled, white-ciliate 

on the keels, faintly 3-nerved; lodicules unequal, usually two, ovate-oblong, the third longer, acute, long white-ciliate, 

3-veined, membranous. Stamens exserted, purple; anthers narrow, blunt, hairy, apiculate. Ovary narrowly oblong, 

hairy, surmounted by a long, thin, hairy style with 3 short plumose stigmas. 


FLOWERING 

Flowering is reported from Bangladesh in 

1851, 1863, 1879, 1890 and 1892. 

Flowering has also been reported from 

Indian Botanic Gardens and Singapore 

Garden (Blatter, 1930). During 1977-1985 

this species flowered sporadically in 

Bangladesh; during 1980-81 and 1983-84 

it flowered but did not produce seeds 

(Banik, 1987). 

DISTRIBUTION AND 

ECOLOGY 

line 23 

This species is cultivated extensively in 

many parts of the world, in India mainly 

in North-East and also in many other 

parts of the country. It is found in Surguja 

District of Madhya Pradesh and 

sporadically almost throughout the state. 

This is a common bamboo grown in 

homesteads and gardens. The suitable site 

for this species is moist soil, periphery of 

➤ Fig. 23. B. vulgaris. A - leafy branch; 

B - young shoot; C - a portion of culm. 

84


cultivated lands, creeks and at the foot of the hills. B. vulgaris grows up to an altitude of 1200 m and it is frost tolerant. 

It is the only bamboo species on Kutubdia in the Bay of Bengal which indicates a certain degree of salt tolerance. 


Internodal epidermis consists of a single layer of thick-walled cells, hypodermis not distinct, cortex 6-8 layers of parenchyma 

cells, fibre strands absent, vascular bundles of type IV. Protoxylem cap not retained in the inner region, isolated fibre 

strands absent. Inner lining of the cavity with 6-8 layers of thick-walled parenchyma cells. Three types of fibres, very 

thick, thick and very thin present. Septate fibres absent, fibre tips pointed or blunt. Wall lamellation 4-7 layered (Sekar 

and Balasubramanian - personal communication). The anatomical features like vascular bundle size, distribution and 

fibre types are correlated with mechanical properties (Mohmod et al., 1990). Studies on fine structure of sieve element 

plastids revealed the typical monocotyledonous type (P-type) with cuneate proteinaceous bodies and lattice like crystalloids 

(Parameswaran, 1978). Fibre length 2.07 µm, fibre diameter of 16.06 µm, lumen diameter of 6.3 µm, wall thickness of 

4.24 µm, parenchyma. 20.7 per cent leaf epidermais stomata arranged in two bands of 1-5 alternating rows, subsidiary 

cells triangular, surrounded by 7-9 globose to elliptical papillae over-arching the stomata. Long cells long and narrow 

with uniform width, walls sinuous, ends almost straight. Papillae conspicuous, arranged in a row in the middle. 

Interstomatal cells short and broad with deeply concave ends, papillae scattered, conspicuous. Short cells solitary, costal 

and intercostal. Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal common, intercostal frequent. Silica 

bodies costal saddle shaped, intercostal dumbbell shaped. Prickles frequent, intercostal with round base and short 

pointed apex, base not surrounded by papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, apical cell much shorter than the basal 

cell, apex tapering. Macrohairs not seen (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1989). 

CHEMISTRY 

Chemical analysis of the culms showed caustic soda 22 per cent, kappa no. 24.3, lignin in bamboo 22.9 per cent, in pulp 

3.6 per cent, pentosans in bamboo 21 per cent, in pulp 17.6 per cent. Pulp yield unscreened 44.4 per cent, screened 43.8 

per cent (Singh et al., 1976). Analysis of leaves gave the following results. Moisture 8.6 per cent, crude protein 10.1 per 

cent, ether extract 2.5 per cent, crude fibre 21.7 per cent, ash 21.3 per cent, phosphorus 86.0, iron 13.4, vitamin (B 1 

) 

0.1, vitamin (B 2 

) 2.54 and carotene 12.32 mg/100g. Studies on chemical composition of culms from Philippine showed 

holocellulose 66.5 per cent, pentosans 21.1 per cent, lignin 26.9 per cent, solubility in alcohol-benzene 4.1 per cent, hot 

water 5.1 per cent, in 1 per cent NaOH 27.9 per cent; ash 2.4 per cent and silica 1.5 per cent (Tamolang et al., 1980). 

Peroxidase isozymes showed seven bands, two were dark in the low mobility, three in the medium mobility (two medium 

and one light) and two in high mobility (light) (Lalitha kumari et al., 1985). Analysis of starch and sugar in culms of 

different age showed that three-year-old culms gave maximum amount of starch and no trend was observed in the 

distribution of sugars (Mohmod et al., 1992). 


This species when planted at an espacement of 12 m x 12 m, the rate of productivity is almost 10 tonnes/ha/annum. It 

establishes quickly and assumes luxuriant growth. This is one of the five quick-growing bamboo species preferred for 

raising plantations in India. Multiple shoot production is reported from mature shoots in MS medium supplemented 

with coconut milk, kinetin and BAP. Treatment with a mixture of auxin and kinetin improves rooting. Pre-rooted 

rhizome and culm cuttings can also be used. Ground layering and air layering are found successful. Easy to propagate by 

culm and branch cuttings. Rooting enhanced by growth regulating substances and mist propagation system. Vegetative 

propagation by ordinary water culture is also reported. Cuttings taken from 1-2-year-old culms planted in summer 

months gave maximum response (Banik, 1984; Jayasree, 1989; Dhuria and Chadhar, 1990; Seethalakshmi, 1991). 

85

Bambusa 


This species is affected by blight caused by the fungus Sarocladium oryzae. Blight can be controlled by cultural practices 

such as removal of blighted culms, burning debris in situ in clumps during April-May and by the application of the 

fungicide, dithane M45 as a soil drench (Rahman and Khisha, 1981). Leaf blight caused by Cercospora sp. is also 

reported. Other diseases are basal culm rot caused by Fusarium sp., culm sheath rot by Glomerella cingulata, leaf rust by 

Dasturella divina, leaf spot by Dactylaria sp. and Glomerella cingulata. Nymphs of bamboo pit scale insect, Asterolecanium 

bambusae and Boisduval sp. feed on the sap under leaf-sheath. Attack by powder post-beetle (Dinoderus minutus) is 

also reported. For controlling the attack, external application of DDT is effective (Plank, 1947). 


The abrasive resistance was about 30 per cent superior to kempas and 5 per cent superior to rubberwood. 


Copper based preservative treatments can be given by (1) dipping the cut ends in drums of preservative for 2-3 days, (2) 

by connecting the bamboos with tubing to a drum or bag of preservative and allowing the preservative to drip through 

under gravity. If branches and leaves are left as such the process is accelerated by transpiration (Jayanetti 1975). 

44 

86


Traditional method of immersing in water for a month provides considerable resistance against the attack of Dinoderus 

minutus. 

USES 

It is used for paper-making, scaffolding, construction, poles, curios and handicrafts. in different parts of India. Commonly 

used for fencing in Manipur and the longevity of the culm is comparable to that of the best timber. Rings prepared from 

the split culms are put into ear perforations by the Tunkul-Naga tribes of Manipur. In Sri Lanka, it is the most widely 

used bamboo. Occasionally cultivated in Malaysia for its edible shoots. Laboratory studies and pilot trials of pulp made 

from this species growing in Africa indicate its potential value especially for mixing with hardwood pulps. Chloroform 

extract of leaves is active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can be planted on slopes to control erosion. 

Bambusa wamin 

Bambusa wamin Camus, Les Bambusees 135. 1913; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty 

Seven Bamboos Growing in India, 45. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 53. 1972. (Fig.24). 

Bambusa vulgaris cv. wamin McClure, Bamboos 162. 1966. 

DESCRIPTION 

44b (cut out) 

This species is a medium sized graceful bamboo. Culms usually 4-8 m high, loosely tufted, 

usually arching at the top, dark green, shining and glabrous; internodes 10-15 cm long, 

rarely longer, much swollen (pitcher shaped) in the lower half; the swollen part 10-12 

cm diameter, lowest 3 or 4 nodes with rootlets. Culm sheaths ca. 12 cm blade 

5.75 cm long with 2 rounded ciliate auricles at the base, brown hairy outside 

B. wamin - Young shoot 

resembling those of Bambusa vulgaris. Young shoots are totally green when very 

young, yellowish green later, glabrous. Leaves 18-30 cm long and 2-3 cm broad. 

DISTRIBUTION 

So far not known in the wild. Cultivated in the Northern Shan States of China. 

The species is believed to have been introduced from China or Thailand. Planted in many gardens mainly in the 

subtropical regions including India. 


Internodal epidermis consists of single layered, compactly arranged cells followed by a hypodermis, 4-6 layered 

sclerenchymatous cells. Cortex with 1-2 layers of thick-walled and 8-10 layers of thin walled parenchymatous cells. Fibre 

➤ 

➤ 

(0pposite page) B. wamin - Basal part of the clump 

87

Bambusa 

strands ensheath the tracheary elements. Vascular bundles of type II. Protoxylem cap absent. Isolated fibre strands not 

seen. Inner lining of the cavity, 8-10 layered, thick walled parenchyma and the innermost cells radially elongated. Fibres 

thin and very thin-walled, septate fibres present, fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked, wall lamellation 3-5 layered. Fibre 

dimensions 1521 µm long, diameter 13.3 µm, lumen width 10.9 µm, wall thickness 3.8 µm. This species has shown 

slenderness ratio 114.3, flexibility ratio 81.9, runkel ratio 0.7, (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

CHEMISTRY 

Peroxidase isozymes show 7 bands, 2 in lowest mobility (both dark) 3 in medium mobility (two medium, one dark) 

and 2 in high mobility (one medium and one light). The species is characterised by the intense band in the medium 

mobility region (Lalitha Kumari et al., 1985). Spectral absorbance value of cellulose 0.203, lignin 0.19 (Sekar and 



It can be propagated by 

branch and culm cuttings 

using mist propagation 

system. A special solvent 

system containing DMSO 

with IAA and IBA is reported 

to give maximum rooting. 

USES 

B. wamin is grown in gardens 

as an ornamental bamboo. 

The culm is used for 

handicrafts. 

line 24 

➤Fig. 24. B. wamin. A - leafy 

branch; B - culm-sheath; 

C - node with branches; 

D - a portion of culm. 

88


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Bambusa 

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94


CHIMONOBAMBUSA MAKINO 

Erect, shrubby, either single-stemmed or clump forming 

plants. Culm hollow, glabrous or hairy, node woolly with a ring of thorns and 3 culm branches. Culm-sheath deciduous 

or persistent, usually covered with long stiff hairs having auricles with bristles. Leaves linear lanceolate to oblong 

lanceolate, glabrous or scabrous, transverse veinlets present; leaf sheath striate, keeled, bristled auricles present or 

absent. Inflorescence paniculately or racemosely arranged, axillary or terminal, on leafy or leafless branches; spikelet 

with 2 to 12 florets; stamens 3, anther basifixed; style divided, each having one plumose stigma. 

Tewari (1992) reported 4 species of Chimonobambusa from India, 3 from North Eastern India and one from Peninsular 

India. In the present compendium, only one species 

of the genus has been retained while the other 

species have been transferred under the genus 

Sinarundinaria based on the revisionary studies 

of Chao and Renvoize (1989). 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● C. callosa 

➤ 

Distribution map of Chimonobambusa 

95

Chimonobambusa 

Chimonobambusa callosa 

Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 1925; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 46. 1940; 

Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 237. 1979; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo. 54. 1992. (Fig. 25). 

Arundinaria callosa Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 30. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 11. 

1896, and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 381. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 37: 1913; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 

33: 900. 1930; Chimonobambusa callosus (Munro) Hsuesh and Yi, Acta Botanica Yunnanica 1: 84. 1979; Sinobambusa 

callosa (Munro) Wen, J. Bamboo Res. 1(1): 35. 1982. 


Khasi hills - Uskong, Uspar, Spar, Sypar. 

DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby, thorny plants. Culms ca. 6 m high and ca. 2.5 cm diameter, grayish green; internodes ca. 15 cm long, striate; 

nodes swollen, subtended by a ring-like scar formed by the fallen sheath, fringed with soft brown hairs and studded with 

line 25 

➤ 

Fig. 25. C. callosa. 

A - leafy twig with 

flowering branch; 

B - a portion of culm; 


D - spikelet; 

E & F - empty glumes; 

G - flowering glume; 

H - palea; I - lodicules; 

J - flower with glume and 

palea removed; 

K - stamen; L - pistil. 

96


short thick conical spines. Culm-sheaths ca. 15 cm long and 7 cm broad gradually attenuate upwards to 0.5 cm broad 

mouth with long bristles on both sides, edges ciliate; striate, loose, thin, yellowish, covered with bulbous-based hairs on 

the surface especially dense towards the base; imperfect blade ca. 2 cm long, striate, subulate, decurrent on the sheath; 

ligule short, up to 2 mm, fimbriate. Leaves ca. 20 cm long and 3 cm broad oblong-lanceolate, scabrous on the ventral 

surface, base unequal and attenuate into a ca. 2 mm long swollen petiole, tip acute; main vein prominent, secondary 

veins 6 pairs, intermediate 7, transverse veinlets many, distant; leaf-sheath striate, scabrous, ciliate on the edges, ending 

in a callus with short ciliae and few long bristles; ligule short, hairy, fimbriate. Inflorescence an axillary panicle, ending 

in leafy branchlets, subtended by sheathing papery bracts; rachis striate, flattened on one side, clavate, hairy; spikelet 

ca. 5 cm long, 8-12-flowered, the uppermost floret imperfect; rachilla ca. 5 mm long, flattened, glabrous; empty glumes 

2, ovate-lanceolate, thin, ciliate, tip acute, outer glume ca. 5 mm long and 1.5 mm broad and 3-nerved; inner glume ca. 

6 mm long and 2 mm broad, 5-nerved; lemma ca. 8 mm long and 3 mm broad, ovate, 7-nerved, tip mucronate and 

ciliate; palea ca. 7 mm, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, 2-nerved on either side of the keel, tip acute and ciliate; lodicules 

3, ca. 2 mm, faintly nerved, fimbriate, two ovate-obtuse and one ovate-acute. Stamens 3; anther ca. 5 mm long, blunt 

or slightly pointed at the apex, basifixed; filament up to 1 mm long. Ovary ca. 3 mm long, ovoid-oblong, glabrous; style 

divided up to the base and each having one plumose stigma. Caryopsis ca. 6 mm long, linear-oblong, tipped with 

persistent base of style and stigma. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Khasia hills during 1857-58 and 1885. Flowering also has been reported from Arunachal 

Pradesh in 1957 and 1980. 


The species is distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Distributed mostly in 

warm temperate to sub-tropical zones. Grows in open clumps in evergreen forests, common in oak forests. It is the only 

underwood in evergreen hill forest which flourishes in deep shade (Tewari, 1992). 

USES 

The culms are used for thatching small houses. Young shoots are edible. 

REFERENCES 

Chao Chi-son and Renvoize, S. A. 1989. Revision of the species described under Arundinaria (Graminae) in South 

East Asia and Africa. Kew Bulletin, 44: 349-367. 

Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on Bamboo. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun: 23-27. 

97

98


DENDROCALAMUS NEES 

Arborescent, unarmed, often large sized bamboo. Culms 

usually erect from a densely ramified rootstock. Culm-sheaths deciduous, often very large, variably auricled, elongate. 

Imperfect blade narrowly triangular. Leaves shortly petiolate, size variable. Inflorescence large compound panicle, the 

spikelets in round congested heads; flowers few, rarely more than six, hermaphrodite, empty glumes 2-3, many-nerved, 

ovate, acute or mucronate; flowering glumes similar to empty glumes; palea ovate, acute or truncate or emarginate or 

cleft, lower flowers 2-keeled, ciliate, uppermost flower usually rounded on the back and not ciliate. Lodicules absent. 

Stamens 6, filaments free; anthers mucronate or with tufted hairs. Ovary ovoid, or sub-globular, often depressed, hairy 

above; style long, usually hairy, base persistent; stigma usually simple. Caryopsis small, the seed surmounted by a 

crustaceous or hardened pericarp. 

✦ 

❂ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

✦ 

●✥❂ 

✬❂✦ 

✿✦ 

✿▲ 

❖✱❂ 

✬✦ 

➡ 

➡ 

▼●✪■ 

✱✿✥❂ 

✬❂✦ 

■❖✱✦ 

➡ 

➡ 

❖✿✦ 

➡ 

■❖✱❂ 

◆❂✦ 

➡ 

➡ 

➡ 

❖✿✦ 

●■❖✱ 

❂✬✦ 

▼■❖ 

✱✦ 

This genus is considered to have a large number 

of species in South-East Asia. However, 

Dendrocalamus strictus is the most widespread 

species occurring in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh 

and Southern China to Vietnam. There are 12 

species in North-East India, 4 in North-West India, 

2 in Indo Gangetic plain, 1 in Peninsular India and 

1 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, in 

South India the common species occurring is 

Dendrocalamus strictus and there are 7 more 

species that are being cultivated. In the present 

compendium, details of 15 species of 

Dendrocalamus have been compiled. 

▼■✦ 

✦ 

▼✿✥✦ ➡ 

▼D. brandisii 

● D. calostachyus 

✪ D. collettianus 

■ D. giganteus 

❖ D. hamiltonii 

✱ D. hookeri 

✿ D. longispathus 

✥ D. membranaceus 

✤ D. parishii 

❂ D. patellaris 

◆ D. sahnii 

▲D. sericeus 

✬ D. sikkimensis 

❂ D. somdevai 

✦ D. strictus 

cultivated/introduced 

➤ 

Distribution map of Dendrocalamus 

99

Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus brandisii 

Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz, For. Fl. Burma 2: 560. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 90. 1896; Brandis, Indian Trees 678. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 157. 1913; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven 

Bamboos Growing in India 49. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 57. 1992. (Fig. 26). 

Bambusa brandisii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 109. 1868. 


Bengal - Bulka; Manipur - Wanan. 

DESCRIPTION 

A very large evergreen tufted bamboo. Culms ashygray 

to greenish-gray, 19-33 m high and 13-20 cm 

diameter; nodes slightly swollen, lower ones with 

rootlets; internodes 30-38 cm long. Culm-sheaths 

up to 60 cm long, 30-35 cm broad, thick, leathery 

with white pubescence on the back, otherwise 

45 

46 

➤ 

➤ 

D. brandisii - A clump 

D. brandisii - New shoot 

100


smooth, rounded and depressed at the top; ligule 1-2 cm high, deeply lacerate; auricles small, plaited; blade 15-46 cm 

long, 8-13 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, recurved, appressed-hairy within, base rounded. Young shoots dark-gray, blade 

dark-brown. Leaves 20-30 cm long and 2.5-5 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, glabrous petiole; leaf-sheath striate, pubescent 

when young with long deciduous ciliae at mouth; ligule long, fimbriate. Inflorescence a huge much-branched panicle, 

with long spicate flagelliform branches, bearing bracteate heads of 1-1.3 cm diameter with many small spikelets; rachis 

densely pubescent, flattened on one side, segments 2.5-4 cm long. Spikelets 5-7.5 mm long, nearly as broad, ovate, 

depressed, minutely pubescent; empty glumes 1-2, broadly ovate, mucronate, nearly glabrous; flowers 2-4; flowering 

glume similar, prominently few-nerved, ciliate on the edges, hairy near the tip; palea oblong, acute or bi-mucronate, 

3-nerved, ciliate on the keels, side wings narrow; lodicules 1-2, lanceolate or spathulate, 3-nerved, long-ciliate. Stamens 

exserted; anthers greenish-yellow, short, broad, apiculate or penicillate; filaments short, thick at first. Ovary ellipsoid, 

hairy; style short, stigmas purple ending in a thick club-shaped, or dividing into two plumose stigmas. Caryopsis ovoid, 

2.5-4 mm, hairy above, tipped with the persistent style, pericarp crustaceous. 

Chromosome No. n = 36, 

2n = 72, hexaploid 

(Sobita Devi and Sharma, 

1993). 

line 26 

➤Fig. 

26. D. brandisii. 


B - culm with branches; 



E - spikelet; 


G - palea; 

H & I - lodicules; 

J - stamen; K - pistil; 

L - a portion of culm; 

M - young shoot. 

101

Dendrocalamus 

FLOWERING 

The species is known to flower sporadically as well as gregariously. It was collected in flower from Myanmar in 1862 by 

Brandis, in 1870 by Kurz and in 1890 and 1894 by Oliver. Gregarious flowering was reported from Coorg during 1961- 

62 and from Manipur in 1987-88. In vitro flowering and seed set has been reported (Nadgauda et al., 1993). 


Distributed in Jiribam area of Manipur and Andamans. Cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. Introduced in 

Karnataka at Coorg between 1913-24; plantation was raised at Asoga between 1971-73. This species has been tried 

in Kerala as well. The species is found growing in the tropical forests, chiefly on calcareous rocks up to an altitude of 

1300 m. 


In the culm internode, epidermis consists of a single layer of thick-walled cells followed by 1-2 layered sclerenchymatous 

hypodermis. Cortex parenchymatous, 4-5 layered. Fibre strands absent. Vascular bundles of type IV. Protoxylem caps at 

inner region persistent and isolated fibre strands absent. Inner lining of the cavity 4-5 layered, sclereids and 1-2 layered 

thin-walled parenchyma cells. Four types of fibres; very thick, thick, thin and very thin-walled present. Septate fibres 

present. Fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked. Wall lamellation 3-9 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal 

communication). Stomata common in leaf epidermis, arranged in two bands in 1-4 alternate rows, subsidiary cells highdomed 

to triangular, surrounded by small papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, walls sinuous, end 

walls almost straight. Papillae small and scattered. Interstomatal cells similar to long cells, relatively shorter and broader 

with concave ends. Short cells costal and intercostal, solitary. Cork cells costal, not distinct, intercostal distinct. Silica 

cells costal abundant, intercostal common. Costal silica bodies saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles 

costal and intercostal, frequent, apex small, pointed, base round, depressed containing vitreous silica. Microhairs frequent, 

bicelled, intercostal, apical and basal cells, equal, apex rounded. Macrohairs infrequent to frequent, medium, fragile, 

costal and intercostal, base raised, surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). Maceration studies 

showed a fibre length of 1846 µm, diameter 12 µm, lumen width 5-6 µm, and wall thickness of 5.3 µm. Fibres have 

slenderness ratio 153.8, flexibility ratio 46.6, Runkel ratio 1.9. 

CHEMISTRY 

Spectral absorbance value (FTIR) recorded for cellulose and lignin are 0.315 and 0.242 respectively (Sekar and 


SILVICULTURE 

This species can be vegetatively propagated by culm cuttings. Use of growth regulating substances (NAA and IBA) 

promotes rooting in culm cuttings. Propagation by tissue culture reported from seeds as explant, seedlings with multiple 

shoots and rooting were obtained in MS medium supplemented with BAP (Zamora, 1994). Plantation trials from 

Karnataka recorded an average height of 6.1 m and a diameter of 14.3 cm. 

USES 

It is used for house building, baskets and decoratives. Young shoots are edible. 

102


Dendrocalamus calostachyus 

Dendrocalamus calostachyus (Kurz) Kurz, For. Fl. Burma 2: 562. 1877; Brandis, Indian Trees 678. 1906; Tewari. 


Bambusa calostachya Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42: 249. 1873. 

DESCRIPTION 

A tufted large bamboo. Culms usually 20-30 m high, green with appressed silvery hairs; nodes thickened and annulate; 

internodes 30-40 cm long. Culm-sheaths covered with appressed tawny hairs, truncate at the mouth; ligule very short, 

entire. In young shoots, sheath orange-brown turning to green with brown hairs (not dense), blades spreading at right 

angles or reflexed, brownish. Leaves 22-30 cm long and 3-6.5 cm broad, lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent beneath, 

base rounded, petiole short; leaves of the side shoots are smaller; leaf-sheath striate, with white ciliae at the 

margins; ligule prominent, 

truncate, entire or serrulate. 

Inflorescence a large panicle of 

long, whip-like, curved spikes; 

spikelets clustered in heads of 

2 to 5 with a few small empty 

bracts at base; rachis between 

the heads 1.5-5 cm long, 

flattened on one side, alternate 

sides glaucous, somewhat 

puberulous. Spikelets 1-1.5 cm 

long, 5 mm broad, faintly 

line 27 

pubescent, ovate, acute, slightly 

➤Fig. 27. D. calostachyus. 

A - leafy branch; B - culmsheath; 

C - flowering branch; 

D - spikelet; E & F - palea of 

lower and uppermost flowers; 

G - stamen; H - pistil; 

I - a portion of culm; J - young 

shoot. 

103

Dendrocalamus 

compressed, with 4 to 6 fertile flowers; empty glumes 2 to 3, broadly ovate, acute, many-nerved, with conspicuous 

transverse veinlets, ciliate on the edges; flowering glumes similar but rather longer; palea of lower flowers keeled, acute, 

5-nerved between the keels and transversely veined, 1-nerved on either side of keel, ciliate on the keels, that of uppermost 

flower ciliate on the edges, but not on the keels. Stamens exserted; anthers yellow, mucronate. Ovary ovate, rounded, 

sub-hemispheric, hairy, ending in a long hairy style with a simple fringed purple stigma. 


It was first collected in flowering from Myanmar in 1868. At FRI, Dehra Dun, flowering was observed in 1973. Seeds 

collected from FRI, Dehra Dun weighed 200 seeds/g. More than 30 per cent germination was reported under nursery 

trial. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is a native of Myanmar; occurs up to 1000 m elevation. Naithani (1985) reported its occurrence in wild 

from Meghalaya and Nagaland. It is grown in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and Forest Research Institute, Dehra 

Dun. 


In the culm internode, epidermis consists of a single layer of thick-walled cells followed by 1-3 layered sclerenchymatous 

hypodermis. Cortex 2-3 layered, thick walled parenchymatous cells. Fibre strands absent in the outer region. Vascular 

bundles of type IV. Protoxylem cap persistent at the inner region. Isolated fibre strands absent. Inner lining of the cavity 

with 5-6 layers of irregularly shaped sclereids. Culm contains four types of fibres thick, very thick, thin and very thin 

walled. Septate fibres present. Fibre tips pointed or blunt and wall lamellation 4-8 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian 

- personal communication). Leaf epidermal stomata arranged in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular 

surrounded by small inconspicuous papillae. Interstomatal cell short and broad with concave ends; papillae scattered, 

conspicuous. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, walls markedly sinuous, ends straight, papillae conspicuous 

in a row in the middle. Short cell costal and intercostal, solitary and paired. Cork cells costal, not distinct, intercostal 

conspicuous; silica cells costal, very common, intercostal frequent, obscured by prickles. Silica bodies costal, saddleshaped, 

intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles very common, costal infrequent having long pointed apex, intercostal 

frequent with round base and short pointed apex surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, basal 

cell slightly longer than apical cell, apex tapering. Macrohairs infrequent, costal and intercostal, medium, base raised 

(Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). Maceration studies showed a fibre length of 1.87 mm, diameter 7.2 µm, lumen width 4.6 

µm, wall thickness 5.4 µm. Fibres have slenderness ratio of 259.7, flexible ratio 63.8, Runkel ratio 2.3 (Sekar and 


CHEMISTRY 

Spectral absorbance values (FTIR) recorded for cellulose and lignin are 0.326 and 0.315 respectively. 

USES 

In Myanmar, it is used for the construction of small buildings and domestic purposes. Nagas use it for water chungas 

(vessels). 

104


Dendrocalamus collettianus 

Dendrocalamus collettianus Gamble, Ann. 

Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 93. 1896; Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; 


DESCRIPTION 

Culms, culm-sheaths and leaves unknown. 

Inflorescence a large compound panicle with spicate 

branchlets bearing heads of spikelets; heads 1-2 cm 

in diameter with 6-12 fertile spikelets and a few sterile 

spikelets with small ovate bracts; the rachis flexuose, 

pubescent, striate, joints about 2 cm in length. 

Spikelets 1-1.5 cm long, white pubescent, soft; fertile 

flowers 2-4 with 1 imperfect terminal flower; 

flowering glume ovate-lanceolate, shortly mucronate, 

pubescent, many-veined; paleas longer than 

flowering glume, blunt, 2-veined between the keels, 

with long white ciliae on the keels. Stamens exserted; 

anthers rather short, bluntly apiculate. Ovary 

narrowly ovoid, stalked, hairy, produced upwards 

into a narrow hairy style with club-shaped purple 

stigma. Caryopsis not known. 

➤ 

line 28 

Fig. 28. D. collettianus. A & B - flowering branch; C - spikelet; 

D - empty glume; E - flowering glume; F - palea; G - stamen; 

H - pistil. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is a native of Myanmar. This is cultivated 

in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. 

Dendrocalamus giganteus 

Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 150. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 87. 1896; Brandis, Indian Trees 678. 1906; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 60. 1992. (Fig. 29). 

Bambusa gigantea Wall., Cat. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 79. 1829. 

105

Dendrocalamus 


Assam - Worra; Manipuri - Maroobob; Sikkim - Bhaloo bans. 

DESCRIPTION 

The tallest of bamboos with close culms and slender branches. Culms 24-30 m tall, 20-30 cm diameter, usually 2-2.5 

cm thick-walled, dull green, covered with white waxy crust when young; internodes 35-40 cm long, lower nodes with 

root scars. Culm- sheaths 30-50 cm long and broad, falling early, hard, smooth, shining within, dull yellow and covered 

with dark-brown hairs on the back; ligule 8-13 mm high, stiff, dark, serrate; auricles prominent, brown, crisped; blade 

13-38 cm long and up to 9 cm broad, spreading at right angles, stiff, acuminate, edges inflexed. Young shoots cone 

shaped, pinkish brown, glabrous, glaucous green on maturity; auricles very small or absent; blades sharply pointed, 

generally reflexed. Leaves variable in size, in main culm up to 50 cm long and 10 cm broad, oblique, oblong, acuminate, 

smooth above, hairy beneath; petiole 3-5 mm long; ligule 2-3 mm high, serrulate; auricle small, glabrous. Inflorescence 

a huge panicle with long slender 

curved branchlets, bearing lax heads 

of few spikelets; heads upto 2.5 cm 

diameter, rachis joints 1.2-2.5 cm or 

more slender, hairy below, whitescurfy 

above, often curved, furrowed 

on one side. Spikelets 1.2-1.5 x 7.8 

mm, minutely pubescent, somewhat 

flattened, ovate acute, spiny, manyflowered; 

empty glumes 1 to 2, ovate, 

mucronate, elongate; flowering 

line 29 

glumes thin, papery, striate, manynerved, 

mucronate, minutely hairy; 

palea of lower flowers 2- keeled and 

ciliate on the keels, of upper flowers 

usually not keeled and glabrous. 

Stamens with long filaments; 

anthers 7.5-10 mm long, acuminate 

at the tip. Ovary ovoid, hairy; style 

long, hairy, ending in a feathery 

purple stigma. Caryopsis oblong, 

about 7-8 mm long, obtuse, hairy 

above. The distinguishing features 

are large diameter of the culms and 

broad culm sheath. 

➤ 

Fig. 29. D. giganteus. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; 

D - spikelet; E - flowering glume; F - palea; G - stamen; H - pistil; I - young shoot; 

J - a portion of culm. 

Chromosome number 2n = 72, 

hexaploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 

1993). 

106


➤D. giganteus - Basal part of clump 

➤ 

D. giganteus - A clump 

47 

47b 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Kurseong Division of West Bengal during 1880-88. Flowering cycle is reported to be 

about 40 years. From North-Eastern India flowering was reported during 1974 and 1981-82. 


Distributed in India and Indonesia. It is a native of Myanmar and cultivated in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, 

Nagaland and West Bengal; occasionally in other parts of the country. Plantations were raised in Kurseong Division in 

1880-1888; introduced to Coorg between 1913-1924. D. giganteus is found associated with teak (Tectona grandis). 

Moist hill slopes and flat lands with rich loam soil are suitable for the growth of this species and it is found growing up 

to an altitude of 1200 m. 


In the culm internode, epidermis is single-layered with thick-walled cells followed by a single layer of sclerenchymatous 

hypodermis. Cortex 6-8 layered parenchyma cells. Fibre strands absent. Vascular bundles of type IV. Protoxylem cap 

present at the inner region. Isolated fibre strands absent in the inner region. Inner lining of the cavity of 6-8 layered 

thick-walled parenchyma, 5-6 layers of sclereids and one layer of thin walled parenchyma cells. Three types of fibres, 

very thick, thick and thin-walled present. Septate fibres absent. Fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked and wall lamellation 

4-7 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). Stomata common in leaf epidermis, arranged in 

two bands, in 1-5 alternate rows, subsidiary cells high-domed to triangular, surrounded by globose to elliptical papillae. 

Long cell medium and broad, walls sinuous, width uniform, ends straight. Papillae scattered and globose. Interstomatal 

cells short and broad, walls sinuous, ends concave. Papillae scattered. Short cell solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. 

Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct; silica cells costal common, intercostal infrequent. Silica bodies costal, 

107

Dendrocalamus 

saddle-shaped to acute angled, intercostal dumbbell-shaped to 8-shaped. Prickles costal and intercostal common with 

round base and short pointed apex, base containing vitreous silica and surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs 

frequent, costal infrequent, intercostal common, bicelled, basal and apical cells equal, basal cell containing, vitreous 

silica, apex round to tapering. Microhairs absent (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). Maceration studies showed a fibre 

length of 0.325 µm, diameter 19.8 µm, lumen width 10.7 µm, wall thickness 5.0 µm. Slenderness ratio 117.4, flexibility 

ratio 54.0, Runkel ratio 0.9. 

CHEMISTRY 


Balasubramanian - personal communication). Fermented succulent shoots are reported to be rich in phytosterols. 

About 1.6 to 2.81 per cent sterols are reported (Srivastava, 1990). 

SILVICULTURE 

Culm cuttings planted in polyethylene or a fibre-glass tent gave 45-56 per cent rooting. Pre-rooted, pre-rhizomed branch 

cuttings are good planting materials. Propagation by tissue culture is reported. Multiple shoots were obtained from the 

nodes of non-flowering clumps in MS medium at 25 o C, 16 hour photoperiod. Callusing was also observed when leaves 

are used as explants (Zamora, 1994). Preliminary plantation trials are reported from Orissa by the Forest Department. 

Genetic improvement work has been initiated in Arunachal Pradesh. In Taiwan, this species gave an annual yield of 20 

to 30 t/ha. The yield was 2.7 times more than that of native Dendrocalamus latiflorus. Sometimes clumps may build up 

a mound by newer rhizomes piling upon older, often dead ones. The species comes up in tropical and subtropical moist 

areas of India, produces good amount of biomass and is easy to harvest. It is one among the twelve high yielding 

bamboos worth raising as a large scale plantation as it is very good for paper and its young shoots are good for vegetable 

products (Uppin, 1980). Observations on growth of new culms showed that development started by August and was 

completed by November. Growth was slow initially. Faster growth was recorded during the night (Osmaston, 1918). 


Attack of bamboo pit scale insect, Asterolecanium coronatum and A. longum has been observed. The nymphs of the 

scale insects feed on sap. Emerging culm mortality has been observed from Bangladesh (Banik, 1983). 


It has been reported that mud submersion treatment can increase the durability of bamboo culms against the fungus, 

Pycnoporus sanguineus (Suhirman and Khusniati, 1987). Seasoning and preservation in round form can prevent cracking, 

splitting, fungal decay, discolouration or insect attack after giving an anti-shrink-cum antiseptic treatment to the green, 

freshly felled bamboo. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) in combination with other chemical preservatives such as boric acid 

2 per cent by weight and sodium pentachlorophenate (1:1) are used as antishrink agents (Sharma et al., 1972). 

USES 

In North-Eastern States of India the culm is used for building purposes, boat masts, vases, buckets, and various other 

decorative purposes. In Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, Abors and Mishmis mainly use this bamboo as water 

pitchers. Young shoots of this species are used for the preparation of many delicacies in Manipur. Guha et al., (1975) 

after conducting pulping experiments on this species have concluded that the raw material is better than that of 

D. strictus for paper-making. 

108


Dendrocalamus hamiltonii 

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Arn. ex Murno, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 151. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 84. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 405. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 154. 1913; Bor in 

Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 9.1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 

63. 1992. (Fig. 30). 

➤ 

Fig. 30. 

D. hamiltonii. 


B - culm with 

branches; C - single 

branch; D - culmsheath; 

E - a portion 

of leafy branch; 

F - flowering branch; 

G - spikelet; 

H - flowering glume; 

I - palea of lower 

flower; J - palea of 

uppermost flower; 


line 30 

109

Dendrocalamus 

DESCRIPTION 

A large caespitose bamboo sometimes growing tall and erect often culms at an angle or curved downwards. Culms 

large, 12-20 m or up to 25 m tall, usually naked below, much branched above, 10-18.5 cm diameter, grayish-white when 

young with dense appressed pubescence, dull green when old; lower nodes marked with root scars; internodes 30-50 cm 

long, wall ca, 1.2 cm thick. Culm-sheaths long and stiff, variable in size, those of the lower part of large culms 35-45 cm 

long and ca. 20 cm broad, glabrous, shining within, rough and glabrous or with scanty patches of stiff brown hairs on 

outer side, truncate at the tip; imperfect blade about three-fourths the length of the sheath, often 30 cm long, ovatelanceolate, 

sides incurved, glabrous on outer surface closely covered with black hairs at the base of the inner surface; 

ligule smooth, entire. Leaves variable, small on side branches, but on new shoots reaching 37.5 cm long and 3.75 cm 

broad, rounded at the base into a short thick petiole, broadly lanceolate, ending in an acuminate scabrous twisted point, 

smooth above, rough beneath, finely serrate on the margins; leaf-sheaths covered with white appressed stiff hairs on 

outer surface, glabrous inside, shining on the callus, somewhat keeled; ligule long, oblique, truncate. Inflorescence a 

much branched large panicle with many whorls of branches, bearing half-verticillate semi-globular heads of purple 

➤ 

D. hamiltonii - An internode 

48 

110


flowers supported by round scarious bracts; rachis joints 2.5 cm long or less, thick, fistular, scabrous and white pruinose; 

heads variable, 1.7-3.2 cm diameter. Spikelets purple, ovoid, depressed, ca. 10 mm long, glabrous; empty glumes usually 

two, short, rounded, nerved; lemmas broad, orbicular, somewhat recurved, ciliate on the edges; paleas of lower flowers 

2-keeled, ciliate on the keels and bifid at the acute apex, many-nerved. Stamens exserted, pendulous; anthers purple, 

connective produced into a long black hairy twisted point. Ovary sub-orbicular, hairy; style long, hairy; stigmas 3, 

plumose. Caryopsis broadly ovoid, beaked, glabrous or hairy above. 

The distinguishing features of this species are brown pubescent culm with bent top in mature culms, root verticils are 

seen in almost all the nodes of the culm; largely broad ovate branch buds; zig-zag internodes in some culms (Alam, 

1982). 

Chromosome number 2 n = 70, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 


In this species, the flowering cycle is reported to be 30-40 years. Flowering is reported from Assam in 1905, 1912, 1956, 

1981-82 and from Punjab in 1992. The entire clump flowers profusely and dies soon after seeding. The embryological 

studies have shown that the ovule is hemianatropus, pseudocrassinucellate, bitegmic. The integuments do not cover 

the nucellus completely, thus no micropyle is formed. The nucellar epidermis is unilayered except at the micropylar end 

where two or four cells divide periclinally to form a two to four-layered tissue. The embryo sac development is of the 

polygonum type. Endosperm free nuclear at the beginning and later becomes cellular. The meristematic activity is 

restricted to the outermost two to four layers of cells, which by mitotic division add to the bulk of endosperm tissue. 

The outermost two to four layers of the cellular endosperm are made up of rectangular cells with prominent nucleus 

and are devoid of starch. This constitutes aleurone tissue. Fruit wall development is similar to that of Bambusa tulda. 

Embryotegmium is clear (Harigopal and Mohan Ram, 1987). 


This species is distributed in the North-West Himalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, 

Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It is also distributed in Bhutan and Bangladesh. Generally cultivated in other parts of 

India. This species occurs in finer textured soil in semi-evergreen forests in lesser rainfall area. It is known to be a light 

demanding early successional species after shifting cultivation in the Himalayas. A deciduous type and produces larger 

total leaf area in the early part of growth. It helps to conserve potassium during Jhum cultivation. Architectural design 

and branching pattern was found suitable to capitalise high light regime (Rao and Ramakrishnan, 1988). 


Culm epidermis consists of rectangular cells with sinuous walls. Papillae scattered and stomata overarched by papillae. 

Microhairs cylindrical, bicellular, hairy with bladders. Internodal cortex homogeneous with thin walled cells. Peripheral 

vascular bundles reduced. In transitional vascular bundles, only xylem or both xylem and phloem caps distinct. Central 

vascular bundles possess six fibre groups each (Pattanath and Rao, 1969). In leaf epidermis stomata common, arranged 

in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular, covered by large elliptical papillae. Long cells long and 

narrow with uniform width, walls sinuous, ends almost straight, papillae large globose, in a row in the middle. Intercostal 

cells long and narrow, walls sinuous, ends concave. Papillae large, globose. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and 

intercostal. Cork cells costal inconspicuous, intercostal distinct, silica cells costal common, intercostal frequent. Silica 

111

Dendrocalamus 

bodies costal, acute angled, intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles common with round base and short pointed apex, 

base surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, basal and apical cells equal, apex tapering. Macrohairs 

common, costal and intercostal, long unicellular, base raised, surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 

1988). Maceration studies have shown that the average fibre length is 3.36 mm and diameter 13.78 µm. 

CHEMISTRY 

The nutritive value of leaves as fodder shows seasonal variation. In July-August, leaves contained dry matter 40.9 per 

cent, crude protein 22.6 per cent, ether extract 4.04 per cent, grade fibre 33.12 per cent, nitrogen free extract 29.12 per 

cent, total ash 11.12 per cent, soluble ash 7.26 per cent, calcium 0.82 per cent, phosphorus 0.23 per cent, tannins 

0.40 per cent, in vitro digestible dry matter 41.7 per cent (Negi et al., 1980). Proximate chemical analysis of culm 

showed percentages of 1.80 silica, 0.44 hot water solubles, 4.42 pentosan, 21.49 lignin, 26.21 cellulose, 63.26 oven dry 

weight. The air dry material yielded 46.4 per cent and 42.5 per cent unbleached and bleached pulp respectively. Further 

analysis of hemicellulose materials showed pentosans 87.5 per cent, methoxyl 1.5 per cent, xylose 91.9 per cent, arabinose 

5.4 per cent, rhamnose 0.3 per cent, glucose 2.4 per cent and glucuronic acid 4.4 per cent (Rita Dhawan and Singh, 

1982). Caustic soda 19 per cent, kappa no.27.4, lignin in bamboo 22.4 per cent, in pulp 3.7 per cent, pentosan in 

bamboo 16.9 per cent, in pulp 16.1 per cent, pulp yield 56.6 per cent in unscreened and 54.2 per cent in screened 

(Singh et al., 1976). 


Presence of litter enhances seedling regeneration. About 153 to 210 seedlings per square meter were observed and one 

and two year old seedlings recorded a height of 12 and 18 cm respectively. The species can be multiplied from seedlings 

by separating the tillers (Adarsh Kumar et al., 1992). This also can be propagated easily by rooting culm cuttings using 

growth regulators (Nath et al., 1986). For rooting of culm cuttings basal ten nodes of less than one year old culms were 

found ideal (Sharma and Kaushal, 1985). About 70 per cent of rooting was obtained with culm cuttings in Nepal. 

Horizontal planting was found better than vertical planting. Silvicultural studies and germplasm establishment has 

been undertaken in Arunachal Pradesh (Beniwal and Singh, 1988). Suggested felling cycle is four years. The culms that 

are three-year-old or above are cut from the clumps (Prasad, 1948). The clump should be worked within 6-7 years. 

Cuttings should be done from inside of the clump at a height of 30 cm above ground leaving only one node. Congested 

clumps should be clearfelled, leaving 4-5 new culms (Dubey, 1991). This is one of the twelve species of bamboos 

recommended for large scale planting (Uppin, 1980). Also suggested for wasteland development in Himachal Pradesh 

with a projected net profit of Rs.33,776/ha (Chauhan et al., 1992). 


Infestation with aphids was noticed on the stem (Gupta, 1988). Attack by Oregma bambusae was also seen. Chlorosis 

caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus was reported from North-East India (Deka et al., 1990). 

USES 

The species is used for walls of native huts, construction purposes, basket-making, mats, water and milk vessels, fuel, 

floats for timber-rafts. The tribals of Arunachal Pradesh use the tender shoot for preparation of ‘hiyup’, a sour pickle. 

Recently, it was observed that the skin of this bamboo can be used in cottage industry for binding and caning of chairs 

(Kabir et al., 1993b). 

112


Dendrocalamus hookeri 

Dendrocalamus hookeri Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 151. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 83. 1896; Brandis, Indian Trees 677. 1906; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 55. 1990; 



Assam - Seiat, Sejsai, Sijong, Ukotang, Ussey; Jaintia - Siejong, Khasi - Denga; Lepcha- Patu; Manipur - Ooei; Nepal - 

Tili bans. 

DESCRIPTION 

➤ 

line 31 

Fig. 31. D. hookeri. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; 

D - spikelet; E - palea of lower flower; F - palea of uppermost flower; 

G - stamen; H - pistil; I - young shoot; J - a portion of culm. 

A large tufted bamboo. Culms 15-20 

m high, 10-15 cm diameter, dark green, 

usually naked below, curving branches 

above, with many long internodes 40- 

50 cm long, rough, hairy; walls ca. 2.5 

cm thick. Culm-sheaths 20-30 cm long, 

ca. 40 cm broad at the base; sheaths of 

upper nodes narrower, densely covered 

with black or brown hairs outside, 

glabrous inside; ligule 5-8 mm high, 

glabrous, serrate; auricles 2, small, 

rounded, with long stiff ciliae; blade 8- 

18 cm long, triangular cuspidate, hairy 

above. Young shoots covered with black 

tomentum, blade stiff and pointed with 

long bristles at the margins. Leaves 

large, oblong-lanceolate, with a long 

acuminate tip, smooth above, rough 

below, hairs scattered near the base, 

scabrous on the margin, base oblique 

and rounded, short-stalked; leaf-sheath 

striate. Inflorescence a large compound 

panicle bearing at intervals of 5-7 cm, 

dense globular heads of spikelets of ca. 

2.5 cm diameter. Spikelets 7.5-10 mm 

long and 2.5 mm broad, ovate, acute, 

minutely pubescent; empty glumes 2, 

ovate, blunt; fertile flowers 2 to 3; 

flowering glumes ovate, acute, with 

113

Dendrocalamus 

many veins and frequent transverse veinlets, the upper most mucronate; palea of lower flowers 2-keeled, acute, ciliate 

on the keels, hardly veined between, that of upper flower not or only slightly keeled and ciliate at tip. Stamens little 

exserted; anthers long, ending in a penicillate point. Ovary narrowly ovoid, acuminate, hairy, surmounted by a hairy 

style and ending in a twisted plumose stigma. Caryopsis not known. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering is reported from Khasi Hills in 1850, in Nainital (U.P.) during 1980-81, in Shillong in 1966. A few clumps 

were seen in flower in 1982 in East-Khasi Hills. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found distributed in the hills from 600 to 1500 m altitude in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, 

Meghalaya, North Bengal, Sikkim and Manipur. Widely cultivated in Shillong. Introduced in Nainital before 1881, also 

planted in Garhwal. Cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. 

ANATOMY 

Stomata common in leaf epidermis, arranged in 1 or 2 bands in 1-4 or 1-10 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular, 

surrounded by large globose to elliptical papillae. Interstomatal cells short and narrow with sinuous walls, papillae 

prominent, scattered. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal inconspicuous, intercostal 

distinct. Silica cells costal common, intercostal infrequent. Silica bodies costal, saddle-shaped to dumbbell-shaped, 

intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’ shaped. Prickles common, intercostal with round base and short to long pointed apex, base 

raised, surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent to infrequent, bicelled, apical cell shorter than the basal 

cell, apex tapering. Macrohairs infrequent, medium, unicellular, base raised, surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi 


SILVICULTURE 

This species can be propagated vegetatively using culm cuttings and about 70-84 per cent rooting is reported. 

USES 

The culm is used for construction purposes and for making baskets and buckets. 

Dendrocalamus longispathus 

Dendrocalamus longispathus Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 561. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 

89. 1896; Brandis, Indian Trees 677. 1906; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 57. 1990; 


VERNACULAR NAME 

Tripura - Rupai. 

114


49 

49b 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

D. longispathus - New shoot 

D. longispathus - A clump 

D. longispathus - In flower 

DESCRIPTION 

A large tufted bamboo. Culms usually 10-18 m high, 

glaucous green when young, grayish-green on maturity; 

nodes slightly swollen, often rooting; internodes 25- 

60 cm long, 6-10 cm diameter, covered by long papery 

remnants of sheaths and dark-brown pubescence, walls 

ca. 1.2 cm thick. Culm-sheaths 35-50 cm long and 10-20 

cm broad, inner surface glabrous and outer surface clothed 

densely with patches of stiff dark-brown hair; margin light 

straw-coloured in the upper half; ligule broad, much 

serrate or often long fimbriate; auricles usually absent, 

50 

115

Dendrocalamus 

sometimes very small on one side; blade 25-40 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm broad, lanceolate-acuminate, recurved. Young 

shoots spear-shaped. Leaves 10-30 cm long and 2.5-4.5 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 

short-stalked margins rough; leaf-sheath ligulate, covered with brown pubescence, margin ciliate. Inflorescence a large 

panicle of interruptedly spicate clusters of spikelets, sometimes leafy rachis flexuose, flattened on alternate sides 1.3-3.8 

cm between clusters, glaucous-green, sometimes rough. Spikelets in heads, sometimes few-flowered blunt, nearly glabrous, 

5-7.5 mm long; empty glumes 2-3, obovate, blunt, with short rachillae between; flowers 2-3 fertile; flowering glume 

blunt, obovate, cucullate, ciliate on the edges, many-nerved; palea oval, truncate, faintly keeled, 2-nerved between the 

keels, faintly pubescent. Stamens short; anther yellow, short, ending in a black mucronate point; filaments short. Ovary 

broadly ovoid, somewhat acute, hairy, ending in a rather short style and short purple stigma. Caryopsis ovoid, 

somewhat oblique, yellow, 

surmounted by a beak 

formed by the base of the 

style. 

The distinguishing vegetative 

features are long 

papery culm-sheath with 

depressed sinuous top covering 

almost the whole internode 

and the young 

shoot with reflexed blades. 

(Alam 1982). 

line 32 

Chromosome number 2n 

= 48 aneuploid (Sobita 

Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

➤ 

Fig. 32. D. longispathus. 


B & C - flowering branch; 

D - culm-sheath; 

E - empty glume; 

F & G - flowering glumes; 

H - palea; I - stamen; 

J - pistil; K - young shoot; 

L - a portion of culm. 

116



Flowering has been reported from Bangladesh during the years 1876, 1879, 1880, 1885, 1930 and 1977-79, from Myanmar 

during 1862, 1871, 1875, 1887, 1891, 1912 and 1913. Flowering was observed in the clumps planted at Nilambur and 

Wynad (Kerala) in 1990. Embryological studies have shown that the ovule, embryosac, endosperm and fruit wall 

development is similar to that of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii except that the cells of the fruit wall are thick and round. 

The position of the embryo cannot be made out from the surface (Harigopal and Mohan Ram, 1987). 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Mizoram and Tripura and generally found in the village area of Dhalbhum tract of Singhbum 

District of Bihar. This species has been introduced to Orissa and Western Peninsula. It is cultivated in Calcutta and 

Malabar. Also reported from Bangladesh and Myanmar. 


In the culm epidermis, long cells rectangular with straight walls, papillae in small groups, stomata overarched by papillae, 

microhairs spiculate. Internodal cortex thick-walled with peripheral vascular bundles. In transitional vascular bundles 

both the caps and sheaths fused, central vascular bundles with both five and six fibre groups, lining of the cavity 

parenchymatous. In leaf epidermis stomata common, arranged in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells 

triangular to high domed surrounded by a ring of papillae. Interstomatal cell long to short and narrow to broad with 

sinuous walls, papillae in a row in the middle. Long cells long and narrow of uniform width, ends almost straight, 

papillae in a row in the middle. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal, intercostal generally obscured by 

prickles. Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct; silica cells costal common, intercostal infrequent. Silica 

bodies costal saddle-shaped to acute, intercostal dumbbell-shaped to ‘8’ shaped. Prickles common, intercostal with 

round base and short to long apex, base containing vitreous silica surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, 

intercostal bicelled, basal and apical cell equal, apex tapering or round. Macrohairs infrequent to frequent, costal, base 

raised, surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). The average fibre length is 3.5 mm, fibre 

diameter 16.25 µm, lumen diameter 5.83 µm, wall thickness 5.26 µm, parenchyma 18.3 per cent. 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis of culm gave ash 2.45 per cent, silica 2.03 per cent, hot water solubles 5.07 per cent, 

pentosan 19.76 per cent, lignin 24.54 per cent and cellulose 62.96 per cent. Yield of kraft pulp 62.0, unbleached pulp 

45.3 and bleached pulp 41.3 per cent. Chemical composition of bamboo and pulp showed caustic soda 20 per cent, 

kappa number 25.2, lignin in bamboo 25 per cent, lignin in pulp 3.9 per cent, pentosan in bamboo 18.6 per cent, 

pentosan in pulp 15.8 per cent, screened yield 48.4 per cent, for unbeaten sheaths breaking length 1450 m. Burst factor 

4.2, tear factor 70.1. For beaten sheaths breaking length 7360 m, burst factor 52 and tear factor 164.70. 


About 1,34,880 to 1,35,320 seeds weighed one kg. The seeds recorded a diameter of about 0.19 cm. During gregarious 

flowering, one culm produces about 40-90 g seeds. Seeds may be sown in boxes and beds under cover. When seeds are 

sown in a petri dish and polythene bags, 50 and 33 per cent germination is observed respectively. Germination started 

from second day onwards and was completed in 8 days. The seeds are viable for about 60 days (Banik 1987). The 

seedlings with 120-150 cm height are transplanted to 45 cm cube pits at a distance of 60 cm. The species can be 

propagated by rhizome as well. Vegetative propagation by two-nodded culm cuttings treated with NAA and IBA gave 

117

Dendrocalamus 

good rooting response. Cuttings after filling with 200 ppm aqueous solution of NAA is planted horizontally in nursery 

beds. 50-70 per cent rooting is obtained depending on the season and age (Seethalakshmi, 1991). Cutting cycle of 

3 years is recommended with usual selection methods adapted for other bamboos (Prasad, 1948). This is one of the 

high yielding species recommended for large scale planting (Uppin, 1980). 


Attack by Oregma bambusae has been observed in this species. About 21.4 per cent emerging culm mortality is reported 

(Banik, 1983). Culm rots caused by Fusarium equiseti , leaf rusts caused by Dasturella divina, Puccinia sp. and leaf 

spots caused by Dactylarla sp. have been reported. 


A study on the effect of age and height on strength properties showed that the culms attain maturity at the age of 

3.5 years in respect of compressive and bending strength. The top portion is found to be the strongest for compressive 

strength and modulus of elasticity, while bottom shows the highest ultimate strength (Kabir et al., 1993a). 

USES 

This species is generally used for the manufacture of paper. In Tripura it is used for making basket and containers. This 

is found as an ideal material for the manufacture of good quality tooth picks. This being an elegant species is grown in 

gardens. 

Dendrocalamus membranaceus 

Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 149. 1868; Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 

2: 560. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 81. 1896; Brandis, Indian Trees 676. 1906; Bennet and Gaur, 

Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 59. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 69. 1992. (Fig. 33). 

DESCRIPTION 

A moderate-sized, strong bamboo forming loose clump. Culms straight, 20-24 m high, 6-10 cm diameter covered with 

white powdery deciduous scurf when young, green on maturity; nodes strongly ringed, basal ones with rootlets; internodes 

22-38 cm long; upper branches slender, leafy, drooping. Culm-sheaths 30-50 cm long and 12-20 cm broad, glabrous 

outside or with appressed dark-brown hairs, narrowed upwards; ligule ca. 5 mm high, dentate; auricles 2, wavy, fringed; 

blade 25-40 cm long and 2-3 cm broad, tapering. Leaves 12-25 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, hispid above, hairy on the 

midrib beneath, margins scabrous, apex acuminate, base attenuate into a short petiole; leaf-sheath striate; ligule very 

short, hairy; auricles falcate with long ciliae. Inflorescence a large compound panicle with distant globular heads, 

2.5-5 cm apart, rachis glabrous or often white-pruinose in the upper part; heads 0.7 to 1 cm in diameter, spinescent. 

Spikelets slightly compressed, glossy, nearly glabrous, 10-13 mm long and 2.5 mm broad, with 2 to 3 fertile flowers; 

empty glumes 2, ovate, blunt or acute; flowering glumes ovate, often ciliate on the edges, mucronate, striate, glabrous; 

118


few-nerved, acute. Stamens exserted; filaments long, 

fine; anthers yellow, shortly apiculate. Ovary ovoid, 

hairy above, glabrous below, ovate, produced into a 

long hairy style, ending in a purple plumose stigma. 

Caryopsis broadly ovate, rounded at base, 5-7.5 mm 

long, grooved on one side and somewhat flattened, 

ending in a sharp point formed by the persistent 

base of the style. 

Chromosome number 2n = 46 (Sobita Devi and 

Sharma, 1993). 

51 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported in this species in 1973, 

1992 and 1994 from North-Eastern India. 

➤ 

➤ 

D. membranaceus - Part of a clump 

D. membranaceus - Internode and branches 


This species is a native of Myanmar. Cultivated in Indian Botanic 

Gardens, Calcutta, F.R.I., Dehra Dun and introduced in Kerala. 

This is one of the common species occurring in China and 

Taiwan. It occurs in moist forests and low lands and is found 

below 1000 m altitude. Also tolerates arid and barren condition. 

Preferred soils are laterite and black limestone. 

52 


The epidermal cells have undulating vertical walls, the end walls 

more or less curved in acute line. The average width is 7 µm and 

the length varies from 13.2 µm-82.5 µm. Cells have septa-like 

partitions. Usually 1-2 pairs of short cells alternate with one epidermal 

cell. The cork cells squarish or rectangular with silica 

cells mostly round. There are 2024 couples of short cells per 

cm 2 . Spines common, solitary or replaced by silica cell, occa- 

119

Dendrocalamus 

➤ 

Fig. 33. D. membranaceus. 

A - leafy branch; B - leafsheath; 

C - culm with 

branches; D - culm-sheath; 

E - flowering branch; 

F - spikelet; G - palea 

stamens and pistil; 

H - palea of lower flower; 

I - palea of upper flower; 

J - pistil. 

sionally in couplets of short 

cells. The number of stomata 

per microscopic field (0.17 

cm 2 ) is about 28 (Ghosh and 

Negi, 1960). Culm internodal 

epidermis single layered 

with thick walled lignified 

cells, followed by single 

layered sclerenchymatous 

hypodermis. Cortex 3-4 

layered parenchymatous. 

Fibre strands absent in the 

outer region. Vascular 

bundles are of type IV. 

Protoxylem cap at the inner region present. Isolated fibre strands absent in the inner region. Inner cavity lined with 

4-5 layered sclereids and 1-2 layered thin-walled parenchyma cells. Culm macerates show very thick, thick and thinwalled 

fibres. Septate striate fibres are seen. Fibre tips pointed, wall lamellation 4-10 layered. Fibre dimension 2489 

µm, diameter 9.7 µm, lumen width 5.1 µm, wall thickness 7.8 µm. Studies of the fibres have shown that this species has 

slenderness ratio of 256.5, flexibility ratio 52.5, Runkel ratio 3. (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal 

communication). Stomata common in leaf epidermis, arranged in one band of 1-5 alternate rows, subsidiary cells 

triangular to high domed surrounded by papillae. Interstomatal cells long and narrow of uniform width, wall sinuous, 

ends straight to concave; papillae scattered. Long cells long and narrow, walls sinuous, ends straight, papillae scattered, 

prominent. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct. 

Silica cells costal common, intercostal frequent. Silica bodies costal saddle-shaped, intercostal dumb-bell shaped. 

Prickles common, with round base and short pointed apex, surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs infrequent to 

frequent, bicelled, basal cell longer than the apical cell, apex rounded, base surrounded by a ring of papillae. Macrohairs 

costal and intercostal, frequent, medium in length, with raised base, surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan 

et al., 1988). 

CHEMISTRY 

line 33 



120


SILVICULTURE 

Seeds from FRI arboretum gave 38 per cent germination. Vegetative propagation by tissue culture method has been 

attempted using node, shoot, and leaves as explants at Thailand. Multiple shoots and rooting have been reported 

(Zamora, 1994). 


Attack by Oregma bambusae has been reported in this species. 


Moisture content is 102 and 7 per cent in green and air-dry culms respectively. Average specific gravity 0.551 and 0.664; 

fibre stress at elastic limit 12.4 and 17.8 N/mm 2 ; modules of rupture 26.3 and 37.8 N/mm 2 , modulus of elasticity 

2.4 and 3.7 kN/mm 2 in green and air-dry condition respectively. Compression strength parallel to grain is 40.5 N/mm2 

in green (Not reported in air-dry condition). 

USES 

This species is used for building purposes in Myanmar and Thailand. It is one of the most promising species for pulp. 

Kennard and Freyre (1957), after studying selected 27 bamboos belonging to 10 genera for the edibility of the shoots, 

considered this bamboo to be excellent from the processing point of view, as the young shoots are smooth and easy to 

handle. In China, it is used for making chopsticks, shreds and paper. 

Dendrocalamus parishii 

Dendrocalamus parishii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. 

London 26: 149. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 93. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 408. 

1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 156. 1913; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 70. 1992. (Fig. 34). 

Dendrocalamus hookeri Munro var. parishii (Munro) 

Blatter, Indian For. 55: 594. 1929; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 

line 34 

➤ Fig. 34. D. parishii. A & B - flowering branch; C - spikelet; 

D - flowering glume; E - palea; F - pistil; G - stamen. 

121

Dendrocalamus 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms, culm-sheaths and leaves unknown. Inflorescence a panicle of interrupted, globose, densely-flowered heads, 

the rachis pruinose-glaucous at the apex. Spikelets ovate, somewhat blunt, nearly glabrous, flattened 0.7-1 cm long and 

0.7 cm broad, fertile flowers 2-3; glumes 1-2, ovate-acute, many-nerved, ciliate on the edges and very minutely pubescent 

near the apex; lemmas similar to glumes but glabrous, those of upper flowers mucronate, longitudinally and transversely 

nerved, ciliate on the edges paleas ovate, blunt, emarginate, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels and edges, 2- nerved between 

the keels, that of uppermost flower more acute and not keeled. Stamens not exserted; anthers with the connective 

produced in an obtusely acute point. Ovary hairy, ovoid-globose, ending in a long style and feathery stigma. Caryopsis 

large, obovate, smooth above, beaked. 

This species has been included by Gamble (1896) under imperfectly known species. The flowers are distinct from those 

of D. strictus and come nearest to those of D. hookeri, but differ in the glabrous flowering glume and bluntly acute 

anthers. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is known to be a native of Himachal Pradesh. 

Dendrocalamus patellaris 

Dendrocalamus patellaris Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 86. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 406. 

1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 154. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 10. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 

(n.s) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Naithani, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 88: 141. 1991; Tewari, Mongr. Bamboo 70. 1992. (Fig. 35). 


Lepcha - Pagjiok, Pagjiok-pao, Mikir - Footoong. 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen, caespitose bamboo. Culms 7-10 m tall, 2.5-4 cm diameter, green; nodes with soft hairy rings; internodes 

30-45 cm long, whitish below the nodes, thin-walled. Culm-sheaths 25-30 cm long and 7.5 cm broad, at the base; 

imperfect blade lanceolate, 15 cm long, usually recurved with fimbriate ligule. Leaves 20-40 cm long and 2.5-10 cm 

broad, oblique at the base, shortly petioled, scaberulous on the margins; leaf- sheaths fringed on the margins. Inflorescence 

a large panicle with spicate branches; heads upto 2.5 cm diameter; greenish brown. Spikelets 1 cm long, dark brown, 

depressed; empty glumes 1 or 2, many-nerved, membranous; florets 2-3, usually all fertile; lemmas orbicular, ciliate on 

the edges and densely tomentose within, 9-11-nerved; palea much shorter, ovate-lanceolate, ciliate on the keels, 2- 

nerved between the keels, densely tomentose within; lodicules 1 or 2, narrow, linear-lanceolate, ciliate; rachilla prolonged, 

bristle-like. Stamens with purple anthers, tip conical, hairy, apiculate. Ovary broadly ovate, hairy above, stigmas 3, 

short, plumose. Caryopsis rounded, shining, hairy above. 

122


➤Fig. 35. D. patellaris. 



C - leaf tip; D - spikelet; 

E - a portion of flowering 

branch; F - flowering glume; 



K - culm-sheath. 

line 35 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found 

distributed in Uttar Pradesh, 

West Bengal, Sikkim, 

Nagaland and Arunachal 

Pradesh. It is found growing 

at an altitude of 1200- 

1500 m. 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis stomata 

common, arranged in two 

bands, 1-4 alternate rows, subsidiary cells high-domed to triangular, surrounded by papillae. Interstomatal cells long 

and narrow, walls sinuous, ends concave. Papillae scattered, prominent. Long cells long and narrow, walls sinuous, ends 

almost straight; papillae scattered, prominent. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal, 

not distinct, intercostal distinct; silica cells costal, common, intercostal frequent. Silica bodies costal, saddle-shaped, 

intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles common, with round base and short to long, acute apex, base containing silica, 

depressed, surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs infrequent, bicelled, apical cell and basal cell equal. Macrohairs 

infrequent to rare, with raised base surrounded, by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). 

USES 

This species is mainly used for basket making in Nagaland. In Sikkim, it is used for making huts, flutes, straw, knife edge 

and arrow head (Holstrom, 1993). 

123

Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus sahnii 

Dendrocalamus sahnii Naithani and Bahadur, Indian For. 108: 212. 1982; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 74. 1992. 

(Fig. 36). 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo. Culms up to 3 m tall, 2-3 cm diameter, pale green, striate; internodes glabrous, 8-20 cm long. 

Culm-sheaths 15-20 cm long and 8.5-10 cm broad, glabrous and shining inside, rough with scattered stiff brown hairs 

outside, truncate at the top; blade 2-2.5 cm long, bifid, ovate-lanceolate; ligule dentate or fimbriate, 3-5 mm long. 

Leaves unknown. Inflorescence a long 

panicle; heads at intervals of 5-9 cm, 2- 

3 cm diameter, globose, glabrous, bracts 

scarious. Spikelets densely arranged, 8- 

15 mm long and 4.5-5 mm broad, empty 

glumes 2, ovate, keeled, nerved, ciliate 

on keels and margins; lemmas 10 x 8 mm, 

orbicular, thin, many-nerved, ciliate on 

the margins; palea 1 cm long, bifid or 

acute at the apex, 2-keeled, ciliate on the 

keels. Stamens 6, as long as the palea; 

anthers yellow with a short hairy point 

line 36 

at apex. Ovary conical, hairy; style long; 

stigma single and hairy. Caryopsis 

unknown. 

FLOWERING 

This species has been reported to have 

flowered in 1982 for the first time from 

Arunachal Pradesh. 

DISTRIBUTION 

➤ 

Fig. 36. D. sahnii. A - a portion of culm; B - culm-sheath; C - flowering 

branch; D - spikelet; E - empty glume; F - flowering glume; G - palea; 

H - stamen; I - pistil. 

This species has been collected for the 

first time from Subansiri District, 

Arunachal Pradesh and is found 

associated with Phyllostachys assamica 

in the hills at an altitude of ca. 1800 m. 

124


Dendrocalamus sericeus 

Dendrocalamus sericeus Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 148. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 81. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 404. 1896; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 74. 1992. (Fig. 37). 

Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees var. sericeus (Munro) Gamble, Man. Indian Timb. 751. 1902; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

A densely tufted strong bamboo. Culms resembling those of D. strictus. Culm-sheaths striate, long-ciliate on the 

edges, covered with stiff bristles and swollen bases; imperfect blade short, triangular, acute. Leaves lanceolate, longacuminate, 

12-35 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, usually rounded at the base into a long petiole, hairy or hispid above, 

hairy beneath, scabrous on the edges; midrib prominent beneath, shining, secondary veins 6-7 pairs, intermediate 

about 7; leaf-sheaths striate, somewhat keeled, strigosely hairy in lines down the sides, ending in a ciliate truncate 

callus; ligule narrow, fimbriate, serrate. Inflorescence a large panicle with stout branches bearing distant globular heads 

3.5-5 cm apart and supported by glabrous or sparsely hairy triangular bracts. Spikelets spinescent, acute, densely silky, 

hairy, the fertile intermixed with many small sterile ones, 0.7-1 cm long, with 2-3-fertile flowers; glumes 2, blunt, manynerved, 

densely silky on the edges and upper part outside, glabrous within; lemma ovate-acute, or ending in long sharp 

spines and bearded with silky hairs below; paleas acute or emarginate, lower flower 2-keeled and glabrous, uppermost 

flower not keeled and silky hairy at the apex. Stamens 

apparently little exserted; anthers yellow, bluntly 

apiculate and sometimes minutely penicillate. Ovary 

narrowly ovoid, gradually passing into a long hairy style 

ending in a purple plumose stigma. Caryopsis not 

known. 

Chromosome number n = 36, 2n = 72, 60 hexaploid 

(Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Flowering is reported from Manipur in 1987-88 

(Sharma - personal communication). 

line 37 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is known to occur in Chota Nagpur in Bihar. 

➤Fig. 37. D. sericeus. A - leafy branch; B - flowering 

branch; C - spikelet; D - empty glume; E - flowering 

glume; F - palea; G - pistil; H - stamen. 

125


Dendrocalamus sericeus 

Dendrocalamus sericeus Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 148. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 81. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 404. 1896; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 74. 1992. (Fig. 37). 

Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees var. sericeus (Munro) Gamble, Man. Indian Timb. 751. 1902; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

A densely tufted strong bamboo. Culms resembling those of D. strictus. Culm-sheaths striate, long-ciliate on the 

edges, covered with stiff bristles and swollen bases; imperfect blade short, triangular, acute. Leaves lanceolate, longacuminate, 

12-35 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, usually rounded at the base into a long petiole, hairy or hispid above, 

hairy beneath, scabrous on the edges; midrib prominent beneath, shining, secondary veins 6-7 pairs, intermediate 

about 7; leaf-sheaths striate, somewhat keeled, strigosely hairy in lines down the sides, ending in a ciliate truncate 

callus; ligule narrow, fimbriate, serrate. Inflorescence a large panicle with stout branches bearing distant globular heads 

3.5-5 cm apart and supported by glabrous or sparsely hairy triangular bracts. Spikelets spinescent, acute, densely silky, 

hairy, the fertile intermixed with many small sterile ones, 0.7-1 cm long, with 2-3-fertile flowers; glumes 2, blunt, manynerved, 

densely silky on the edges and upper part outside, glabrous within; lemma ovate-acute, or ending in long sharp 

spines and bearded with silky hairs below; paleas acute or emarginate, lower flower 2-keeled and glabrous, uppermost 

flower not keeled and silky hairy at the apex. Stamens 

apparently little exserted; anthers yellow, bluntly 

apiculate and sometimes minutely penicillate. Ovary 

narrowly ovoid, gradually passing into a long hairy style 

ending in a purple plumose stigma. Caryopsis not 

known. 

Chromosome number n = 36, 2n = 72, 60 hexaploid 

(Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Flowering is reported from Manipur in 1987-88 

(Sharma - personal communication). 

line 37 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is known to occur in Chota Nagpur in Bihar. 

➤Fig. 37. D. sericeus. A - leafy branch; B - flowering 

branch; C - spikelet; D - empty glume; E - flowering 

glume; F - palea; G - pistil; H - stamen. 

125

Dendrocalamus 

Dendrocalamus sikkimensis 

53 

Dendrocalamus sikkimensis 

Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 82. 1896 and in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 405. 

1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 15. 

1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 

5:7. 1940. Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1):2. 


74. 1992. (Fig. 38). 

➤ 

➤ 

D. sikkimensis - A clump 

D. sikkimensis - New shoot 


Garos - Wadah; Lepcha - Pugriang; Mizoram - Rawami, Sangau; Nepal - 

Bhalu-bans. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large bamboo with caespitose stems and few culms. Culms large, 17-20 

m high, bare at the base, 12-20 cm diameter, dark green; internodes up to 

45 cm long, rough. Culm-sheaths 36 cm long and 30 cm broad, densely 

covered with golden-brown hairs; imperfect blade lanceolate, often as long 

54 

as the sheath, recurved, decurrent into two auricles fringed with pale bristles; 

ligule 5 mm wide, sharply serrate. Leaves 15-25 cm long and 3.5-5 cm broad, 

oblong-lanceolate, unequal at the base, tapering into a twisted point, shortly 

petiolate, smooth above, strigosely hirsute and rough below; leaf sheaths 

smooth, edges falcate, auricles fringed with stiff bristles; ligule short, 

fimbriate. Inflorescence a large panicle with stiff nodose branches bearing 

large red-brown globose heads; rachis dull brown, sparsely pubescent. 

Spikelets 1.2-2 cm long, lanceolate; empty glumes 3-4, broadly ovate, rounded 

with ciliate keels; fertile florets 2-3; lemmas ovate-acute, glabrous, mucronate, ciliate; palea of the lowest floret 

2-keeled, hairy on the keels, many-nerved, shortly bifid. Stamens 6. Ovary sub-globular, hairy; style hairy with clubshaped 

stigma. Caryopsis obovate, depressed, apiculate, shining above with few hairs. 

126


➤ 

Fig. 38. D. sikkimensis. 

A - culm with branches; 

B & C - leafy branches; 

D - culm-sheath; 


F - open spikelet; 

G - spikelet; H - palea of 

lower flower; I - palea of 

upper flower; J - stamen; 

K - pistil. 

line 38 


Flowering in this species has been observed in Kalimpong Forest Division in 1916, 1930 and 1982. Flowering has also 

been reported from Mizoram during 1977-79. It has been estimated that about 123 kg seeds are obtained from one 

clump. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in North-Eastern India, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya 

(Garo Hills). This is cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and elsewhere. It is found growing up to an altitude 

of 2100 m. 

127

Dendrocalamus 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis, stomata common, arranged in one band in 1-11 alternate rows, subsidiary cells not distinct, appear 

triangular due to overarching by large elliptical papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width with sinuous 

walls and almost straight ends, few in the middle row; papillae scattered, distinct. Interstomatal cells common, similar 

to long cells but shorter and broader with deep concave ends. Short cells solitary and paired, costal and intercostal. 

Cork cells costal distinct, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal, common, intercostal frequent. Silica bodies costal, 

saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell to crescent shaped. Prickles costal and intercostal, frequent to few, with round base 

and short to medium pointed apex, base surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs common, bicelled, apical cell 

shorter than the basal cell, apex tapering. Macro hairs common, costal and intercostal, long to medium, base raised, not 

surrounded by papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). 

USES 

In Sikkim Himalaya, this is one of the largest bamboos preferred by Lepchas and Bhutias for making the ‘Chungas’ for 

carrying water and milk. In Sikkim, it is used for fencing, posts, huts, ropes, boxes, water pipes and as animal fodder. It 

also can be used for pulp and paper (Holstrom, 1993). 

Dendrocalamus somdevai 

Dendrocalamus somdevai Naithani, Indian For. 119: 504-506. 1993. (Fig. 39). 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo. Culms greenish white with dense, appressed, pubescent, 12-20 m high and 6-7 cm diameter; 

nodes raised, internodes 15-40 cm long, 2.5-3 cm broad, thick. Culm-sheaths longer than internode, variable in size, 

20-75 cm long, 10-32 cm broad, striate, stiff, glabrous or covered with patches of stiff blackish-brown hairs on outer 

surfaces, under surface shining and glabrous, convexly truncate at the apex; imperfect blade variable in size, 2.5-4.0 cm 

long, 1.5-8 cm broad, striate, triangular with straight sides and long acute apex, covered with blackish brown hairs near 

the base on under surface, ligule glabrous, 7-12 mm high with dentate margin. Leaves 20-30 cm long, 2-4 cm broad, 

broadly lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, hairy when young, otherwise glabrous, base unequally rounded, petiole 

thick, 3 mm long, margins, serrate; midrib prominent, raised, secondary veins 6-10 pairs, intermediate 5-7; leaf sheaths 

striate, shining, with deciduous stiff hairs at the mouth; ligule 1 mm high, dentate. Inflorescence a huge, much branched, 

leafless panicle, with many whorls of branchlets, bearing globular heads of greenish-purple spikelets, supported at the 

base by scarious rounded bracts; heads variable, 1-2.5 cm diameter; rachis fistular, scabrous and white pruinose, 2.5 cm 

long. Spikelets 1 cm long, 5 mm broad, ovate, broader at apex 3-4 flowered, greenish with purple tinge at apex; glumes 

1-2 ovate, acute at apex, 4 mm long; lemmas 7-8 mm long and almost equally broad, glabrous, acute at apex, the upper 

most with a long mucro, many-nerved often with transverse veins, margins ciliate; palea as long as the lemmas, 2- 

keeled, ciliate on the keels, that of upper most flower not keeled, many-nerved between the keels, margins ciliate. 

Stamens long exserted; filaments dilated near the base; anthers purple, apiculate, tip glabrous. Ovary ovoid, hairy, 

tapering into a long hairy style; stigma one, plumose, often curled. Caryopsis not known. 

128


➤ 

Fig. 39. D. somdevai. A - culm-sheath; B - spikelet; 

C - bract; D - glume; E & F - lemmas; G, H & I - paleas; 

J - stamen; K - pistil. 

line 39 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Uttar Pradesh in 1991. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species has been collected for the first time from 

Uttar Pradesh. 

Dendrocalamus strictus 

Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees, Linnaea 9: 476. 1834; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 147. 1868; Gamble, 

Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 78. 1896 and Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 404. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 152. 1913; 

Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 61. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo. 77. 1992. (Fig. 40). 

Bambusa stricta Roxb. Pl. Corom. 1: 58, t. 80. 1798. 


Bengal - Karali, Gujarat - Nakur bans; Kiri bidiru; Maharashtra - Male bamboo, narvel; Orissa - Salia; Tamilnadu - 

Kalmungil; Andhra - Sadanapa Veduru; Tripura - Lathi bans; Kerala - Kallumula. 

DESCRIPTION 

A deciduous densely tufted bamboo. Culms 8-16 m high, 2.5-8 cm diameter, pale blue green when young, dull green or 

yellow on maturity, much curved above half of its height; nodes somewhat swollen, basal nodes often rooting, lower 

129

55 

130


nodes often with branches; internodes 30-45 cm long, thick-walled. Culm-sheaths variable, lower ones shorter, 8-30 

cm long with golden brown stiff hairs on the back, sometimes glabrous in dry localities, striate, rounded at the top, 

margin hairy; ligule 2-3 mm high, toothed; auricles small, blade triangular, awl-shaped, hairy on both sides. Leaves 

linear-lanceolate, small in dry localities, up to 25 cm long and 3 cm broad in moist areas, rounded at the base into a 

short petiole, tip sharply acuminate with twisted point, rough and often hairy above, softly hairy beneath; ligule very 

short. Inflorescence a large panicle of large dense globular heads 4-5 cm apart; rachis rounded, smooth. Spikelets 

spinescent, usually hairy, the fertile intermixed with many sterile smaller ones, 7.5-12 mm long and 2.5-5.0 mm broad, 

with 2 or 3 fertile flowers; empty glumes 2 or more, ovate spinescent, many-nerved; flowering glumes ovate, ending in 

a sharp spine surrounded by ciliate tufts of hair; palea ovate or obovate, emarginate, lower ones 2-keeled, ciliate on the 

keels and 2-nerved between them, uppermost not keeled, often nearly glabrous, 6 to 8-nerved. Stamens long-exerted; 

turbinate, stalked, hairy above and surmounted by a long style ending in a purple feathery stigma. Caryopsis brown, 

shining, ovoid to sub-globose, ca.7.5 mm long, hairy above, beaked with persistent base of the style, pericarp coriaceous. 

Different chromosome numbers are reported as 2n=72,70 and 56 hexaploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 


Gregarious flowering cycle varies from 25-45 years. 

This does not mean that all the clumps of a tract 

flower at the same time. It commences with intensive 

sporadic flowering for 2-3 years, increasing 

progressively resulting in the flowering of all the 

clumps in a period of five years. Sporadic flowering 

is seen almost every year. Gregarious flowering 

is related to injury, nutrition, climatic conditions 

and soil factors. Management practices and biotic 

56 

56b 

D. strictus 

- Natural growth 

➤ D. strictus 

- Close-up of new 

shoot 

➤ D. strictus 

- New shoot 

➤ 

131

Dendrocalamus 

➤ 

Fig. 40. D. strictus. 



C - a portion of 

flowering branch 

enlarged; D - culmsheath; 

E - young shoot; 

F - spikelet; G - a 

portion of culm. 

line 40 

interference influences 

flowering of D. strictus. 

When proper silvicultural 

practices are 

adopted flowering is reported 

to be delayed by 

3-5 years. Flowers appear 

from November to February 

and fruits are seen 

from February to April. 

Freak flowering of 1-3 

year old seedlings in 

nurseries and natural forests 

are occasionally reported. Studies have shown that precocious flowering was induced by tissue culture and mutants 

through gamma irradiation of seeds. Gregarious flowering has been reported from different parts of the country; Kalagarh 

Forest Division of Uttar Pradesh during 1950-56 and in Kalahandi and Rayagada Division of Orissa State in 1967, 

Mandal Division of Madhya Pradesh during 1961-63; various localities of Maharashtra during 1940-1942, 1948-49, 

1957-1958, 1961-1962, 1978-1980. Blatter (1930) listed the flowering years of this species from various parts of India 

and adjacent regions for the period 1865-1914. Ahmed (1969), Uppin (1978) and Kadambi (1949) reported that nonproduction 

of new culms in the preceding years could be an important event which signifies the approach of flowering 

in this species, but Banik (1981) observed that all the clumps produced new culms in the preceding years, some in the 

first year of flowering and no new culm production in the second year of flowering. Studies on floral biology and 

breeding behaviour showed that the species is dichogamous and protogynous. The gynoecium matures 3 to 4 days 

132


before the androecium. Flower opens between 6 to 13 hours and opening depends on atmospheric temperature. The 

species is anemophilous. The insects feed on pollen but not pollen vectors. Parthenocarpy and apomixis do not occur. 

Pollen fertility is about 98 per cent (Nadgauda et al., 1993). 

Fruit is a glans, fusiform with obtuse or aristate rostrum at the apex covered with white pubescence. The length of 

rostrum varies from 2 to 4 mm. The fruit is covered with three persistent glumes. Surface is smooth with hard seed coat. 

Average length and width of seed varies from 7 to 7.3 mm and 2.98 to 3.33 mm respectively. Fruit navel and ventral 

suture are absent and pericarp is crustaceous (Appasamy, 1993). 


This species occupies 53 per cent of total bamboo area in India. This is one of the predominant species of bamboo in 

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Western Ghats. Widely distributed in India in semi dry and dry zone along 

plains and hilly tracts usually up to an altitude of 1000 m., also commonly cultivated throughout the plains and foot 

hills. D. strictus is widely adaptable to temperatures as low as -5 o C and as high as 45 o C. This species is mainly found in 

drier open deciduous forests in hill slopes, ravines and alluvial plains. It prefers well-drained, poor, coarse, grained and 

stony soils. It occurs naturally in tracts receiving as low as 750 mm of rainfall and also in extensive gregarious patches 

or as an understorey in mixed forests and teak plantations. 

ANATOMY, MORPHOLOGY AND FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS 

Rhizome is pachymorphic type. There are two kinds of buds on the rhizome, the scaly pointed and the flat buds. The 

scaly pointed buds develop into rhizome and the flat ones develop into culms. Apical dichotomy is observed as a rare 

phenomenon (Krishnamoorthy, 1978). Three growth types are reported, common type, large type and dwarf type. The 

first type is common, second type is seen in depressions and third type is found in ridges and hotter places. 

The culm internode consists of a single layered epidermis followed by a layer of sclerenchymatous hypodermis. Cortex 

4-5-layered parenchymatous fibres constitute 40-50 per cent. Across the wall, the fibre length increases from periphery, 

reaches its maximum at about the middle and decreases towards the inner part. Fibres in the inner zone of culm 20-40 

per cent shorter, shorter fibres always near the nodes. With increasing height of the culm a slight reduction in fibre 

length occurs. Culm macerate shows very thick, thin and very thin-walled fibres, septate fibres present, fibre tips 

pointed or blunt, wall lamellation of 3-7-layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). In leaf 

epidermis, stomata common, arranged in two bands, in 1-3 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular, surrounded by 

small, globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, ends almost straight, walls sinuous. Papillae 

small, scattered. Interstomatal cells short and broad with sinuous walls and deep concave ends; papillae scattered. Short 

cells mostly solitary, costal and intercostal. Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal, distinct, 

common, intercostal, frequent. Silica bodies costal nodular, intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’-shaped. Prickles frequent, 

intercostal, with round base and small pointed apex, base surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, 

apical cell larger or equal to basal cell, apex tapering. Macrohairs common, long, costal and intercostal, base raised, 

surrounded by a ring of papillae (Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). The average fibre length of D. strictus is 2237µm, 

diameter 8.2 µm, lumen width 5.1 µm and wall thickness 6.2 µm, slenderness ratio 272.8, flexibility ratio 62.2, Runkel 

ratio 1.4. 

The thick-walled bamboo fibres exhibit a polylamellate structure with alternate broad and narrow lamellae. Its composition 

is such that narrow lamellae regularly alternate with broad ones. Width of the broad lamellae appears to vary. The 

133

Dendrocalamus 

➤ 

D. strictus - Flowering 

57 

microfibrillar arrangement in these two types of 

lamellae is of crisscross type. The narrow lamellae 

show a fibrillar angle of 80 to 90 o to the cell axis, 

while in the broad ones the fibrils are almost parallel 

to the axis (Parameswaran and Liese, 1976). Seed 

coat is made up of palisade like cells of sclereids in 

a single row. It is followed by dark stained 4 to 5 

layers of crushed cells. The seed coat is covered by 

a thick cuticle. Two to three layers of aleurone cells 

occur next to the crushed cells. It is followed by 

endosperm with reserve foods. The embryo is 

located at the chalazal end (Appasamy, 1993). 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis showed cold water 

solubility 6.6 per cent, hot water solubility 7.6 per 

cent, 1 per cent NaOH solubility 22 per cent, alcohol benzene solubility 6.9 per cent, holocellulose 70.9 per cent, 

Klason lignin 27.6 per cent, pentosan 17.1 per cent, ash 4.6 per cent (Maheswari and Satpathy, 1990). The pulping 

characteristics vary with age, locality and position of culm. Pulping properties of the species show moisture 10 per cent, 

screened pulp yield 45.2 per cent, total pulp yield 46.8 per cent, kappa No.285, viscosity 30.2 (Cp) at 25 o C’ lignin in 

bamboo 26 per cent, lignin in pulp 3 per cent, pentosan in bamboo 23.2 per cent, in pulp 15.3 per cent, pulp yield 

unscreened 57 per cent, screened 50.9 per cent (Singh et al. 1976). Yield and chemical analysis of holocellulose and 

hemicellulose is also reported by Rita Dhawan and Singh (1982). Spectral absorbance of cellulose 0.354, lignin 

0.296 (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

The hemicellulose of bamboo is similar to hemicellulose of hardwoods. The sugar composition of hemicellulose consists 

of xylose, arabinose and glucose. Glucuronic acid is also present in small amounts with xylose as the main constituent. 

The nodal portion has lower holocellulose content, but pentosan, lignin and ash are higher compared to internodal 

region (Maheswari and Satpathy,1988). Studies on the effect of pH on prehydrolysis of D. strictus indicate that pulp 

yield decreases at higher pH. Analysis of seeds showed 73 mg starch, 8 mg total sugars, 1 mg phenol, 4 mg lipid and 14 

mg protein per 100 mg of sample (Appasamy, 1993). 

134



Site requirements: Dendrocalamus strictus grows on practically all types of soils provided there is good drainage. It 

does not grow on water-logged or heavy soils such as pure clay or a mixture of clay and lime. Well-drained localities with 

sandy loam are the best for bamboo growth. The species is found growing well in the areas having a rainfall between 

750 mm-4000 mm and it flourishes in regions where the relative humidity of the air is low. The species is usually not 

found on precipitous slopes or on flat ground unless it is well-drained. It prefers hilly ground and is resistant to frost and 

drought. 

Seed storage: The seeds if not sown immediately after collection, may be stored in bags. If it is to be sown after one 

year, it should be dried and stored in sealed tins. The seeds can be stored for longer duration by keeping over silica gel 

or anhydrous calcium chloride in desiccator at 3 o C to 5 o C after reducing the moisture content to 8 per cent (Gupta and 

Sood, 1978). Hydration and dehydration treatments also reduce loss of viability (Sur et al., 1989). Abnormalities 

observed in seeds during storage were such as coagulated ball embryo, concentrated sporulation of storage fungi, 

embryo detachment along the epithelial layer, black encrustation of inner walls, discontinuous black spots, embryoless 

endosperm, jelly like embryo fragments, shrunken embryo, shredded endosperm and pitly air space (Karivaratharaju 

et al., 1987). 

Natural Regeneration: After gregarious or sporadic flowering, under natural conditions, the seeds germinate soon 

after the first monsoon showers. It is observed that large number of seedlings survive particularly on newly exposed 

soils. 

Artificial Regeneration: (1) Seedling: When fruiting occurs seeds are collected by sweeping the ground under the 

clumps during seed fall. Mature seeds are separated from the chaff by winnowing. Seeds are better collected before the 

onset of monsoon. One kilogram contains approximately 30,000 seeds. Germination varies from 25 to 61 per cent. A 

temperature of 30 o C and 50 to 70% moisture level in the germinating medium is ideal for germination. Degluming the 

seeds accelerates germination. 

A good irrigated nursery with standard sunken beds (12 x 1.25 x 0.3 m) is preferred. The soils in the bed is worked and 

sterilized by burning the debris and mixed with farmyard manure. Seeds are pretreated for 24-48 hrs in cold water. 

About 1/2 kg of seeds are sown in a bed in drills 24 cm apart and lightly covered with soil. Germination starts after 7 

days and completes in about 17 days. One-year-old seedlings are transplanted in the pits of 30 cm 3 at the espacement of 

6 m x 6 m. However, it was reported that 2-year-old seedlings give better survival percentage. The roots of the seedlings 

should not be exposed to sun and care should be taken that the buds on the rhizomes are not injured. 

(2) Vegetative propagation: Different methods like offset planting, rhizome planting, rooting of culm cuttings and 

tissue culture are used. One-year-old culms are cut through with a slanting cut about 90 or 120 cm from the ground and 

the rhizomes to which they are attached are dug up with roots intact and cut off to a length sufficient to include a welldeveloped 

bud. Planting is done before the onset of the rainy season. Rhizomes are separated from the mother plant 

during the onset of monsoon and planted in pits of 45 x 45 cm. Culm cuttings can be used for propagation when seeds 

are not available. About 40 to 70 per cent of rooting can be obtained in culm cuttings depending on the period of 

collection, age of culm and treatment with growth regulating substances. Cuttings treated with NAA 100 ppm during 

February to March gave maximum rooting response (Surendran and Seethalakshmi, 1985). Horizontal planting in the 

nursery beds was better than the vertical and oblique planting methods. Seasonal variation in rooting response is 

135

Dendrocalamus 

reported and it is attributed to the variation in nutrient contents in the culm (Gupta and Pattanath, 1976). Observations 

on fertilizer and spacing trials in the nursery of less than two years, indicated that closer spacing is better and the 

application of NPK enhance the biomass production by three times (Patil and Patil, 1990). Considerable work has been 

done on the tissue culture of this species. The various explants used are, node, seed, seedling, shoot, excised embryo 

and other methods like multiple shoot production, rooting and in vitro flower induction are used, (Zamora, 1994). 

Growth: The main period of growth of the bamboo is 2-3 months during which time they attain their full height and 

diameter. The development of lateral branches takes place during the second season of growth. After the first season 

silicification and hardening of culms take place. Growth is completed about 2 months after the rainy season. There is an 

initial short period of 14-18 days showing maximum rate of growth (22-33 cm/day) accounting for 25 to 56 per cent 

followed by moderate growth (11 to 16 cm/day) and subsequently slow growth (9 to 13 cm/day). During the day time, 

height increment is about 40 per cent as against the night increment of 60 per cent. Maximum growth per day is 37 

cm. The months of June-July-August is the season of continuous vegetative activity which indicates that there exist a 

definite periodicity with regard to growth (Shanmuganathan et al., 1980). 

Yield: It has been estimated that one hectare may contain a growing stock of 4000 to 5000 culms (250 to 300 clumps) 

and provide an annual harvest of 750 to 1000 culms on a three year felling cycle. From a plantation having a spacing of 

5 x 5 m yield is about 3.5 t/ha/ year. In favorable localities, D. strictus in each clump has 30-50 culms of 15-18 m height 

and 6-10 cm diameter. 

Plantation trials from Karnataka reports annual net income of Rs.35,000/ha/year starting from 6th year onwards (Yellappa 

Reddy et al., 1992). Intercropping with Sesbania grandiflora, Leucaena leucocephala, Lotononis bainesii and Casuarina 

equisetifolia are reported from Karnataka. Another study on the yield of D. strictus from a plantation with a spacing 

5 x 5 m for a period of eleven years showed a net income of Rs.70,000/-. This was found to be more profitable than 

rubber and cashew (Wagh and Rajput, 1991). 

Felling cycle suggested is 3 to 5 years. Although a three year felling cycle has been adopted, a cutting cycle of 4 years is 

preferable since it allows the clumps rest and the rhizomes are not disturbed too frequently. Congestion can occur by 

cutting the culms from the periphery of the clumps, grazing and extraction by neglecting the cutting rules. This can be 

avoided by observing the general ‘horse shoe’ pattern for cutting. Cultural operations like thinning, cleaning, protection 

from fire and grazing need to be followed (Gupta, 1964). 


Young shoots are susceptible to fungal attack. The green young shoot turns brown and comes off easily when pulled, 

leaving the area of transformation soft and brown, smelling strongly of molasses. Preventive measure is drenching the 

clumps with blue copper in advance. Many diseases like, damping off caused by Fusarium spp., leaf spots, leaf blight and 

leaf rusts caused by species of Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Dactylaria, Dasturella and Helminthosporium, culm rot 

caused by Fusarium oxysporum, culm-sheath rot by Glomerella cingulata and little leaf disease by Mycoplasma-like 

organisms are reported from Kerala (Mohanan, 1990). The major spermoplane fungi reported on stored seeds were 

species of Fusarium, Drechslera, Curvularia, Alternaria, Dactylaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium and Penicillium 

(Mohanan, 1990). A rust due to Dasturella bambusina affects bamboo. The other causal agents are white ants and 

rodents. The application of termiticide and rodenticide will reduce the damage considerably. 

The major insect pests of D. strictus are Ochrophara montana (affects seeds) Holotrichia consanguinea (affects rhizomes) 

Hieroglyphus banian (defoliates) termites (damages roots) Estigmene chinensis (culm borer) Cyrtotrachelus dux and 

136


C. longimanus (young shoot borers) Myocalandra exarata (green shoot borer) Chelyophora caratitina (young shoots) 

Olethreutes paragramm (young shoots) Calamochrous pentasaris (defoliator) Crocidophora ptyophora (leaf roller) 

Messepha absolutalis (defoliator) Pionea flavofimbriata (leaf skeletoniser) Pyrausta bambucivora (leaf roller) Pyrausta 

coclesalis (defoliator) Dinoderus sp. and Lyctus africanus (shoot borer) (Tewari, 1992). 


Mechanical properties vary according to the age, position of culm and locality. Average properties from ten locations in 

India are given below. Specific gravity 0.719, moisture content 10.7 per cent, modulus of rupture 118.4 N/mm 2 , modulus 

of elasticity 1.59 kN/mm 2 , crushing strength parallel to grain 64.5 N/mm 2 (Sekar and Gulati, 1973). 

As compared to teak, bamboo has in general higher basic strength. A comparative study with mild steel has shown that 

the average ultimate tensile strength of Dendrocalamus strictus is nearly equal to the strength of mild steel. The specific 

ultimate tensile strength of bamboo specimen is nearly six times the specific ultimate tensile strength of mild steel. The 

notch impact strength of bamboo specimens is only about 15-20 per cent of the impact strength of mild steel. But by 

taking into account the densities of mild steel and bamboo, the specific impact strength of bamboo specimens is 50 per 

cent greater and specific impact strength of bamboo specimens soaked in araldite is 100 per cent greater than the 

specific impact strength of mild steel. Bamboo specimens have poor torsional shear strength in comparison to the 

torsional shear strength of mild steel. Bamboos have maximum stiffness along the fibres and minimum stiffness transverse 

to the fibres. The variation of modulus ratio (E/E2) for bamboo specimen is similar to the variation of modulus ratio of 

fibres reinforced composities. 


Fresh bamboos can be treated by the following methods (1) Steeping (2) Sap displacement (3) Diffusion process (Singh 

and Tewari, 1981). Dry bamboos can be treated by soaking and hot- cold process. In another study, brush application 

with the oil type or water soluble type or solvent type of preservatives, particularly of the last kind is recommended. It 

is found that the untreated bamboo has a service life of 2-5 years. By open tank treatment the service life can be 

extended to 10-15 years and by pressure process further it can be enhanced to 10-20 years. Untreated bamboo used as 

posts are destroyed by termites and fungi in about 1 or 2 years. It is reported that bamboo under cover, or used for 

structural use lasts for 2 to 5 years. Natural durability varies from 18 to 30 months. Loss due to fungi and insects can 

be reduced by proper treatments at the time of stacking and storage. To prevent termite attack stacking is done on raised 

ground along with the application of lime sludge and 2 per cent BHC. 

Traditional non-chemical methods of preservation include controlling starch content by adjusting felling season, age of 

felling, water soaking and post-harvest transpiration. Other methods include baking on open fire, lime washing and 

other coatings. Preservative treatment of dry bamboos, the methods used are soaking, hot-cold process and pressure 

treatment (Kumar et al., 1994). 

USES 

This species is one of the two most important bamboos in India. It is found suitable for reclamation of ravine land. It is 

extensively used as raw material in paper mills and also for a variety of purposes such as construction, agricultural 

implements, musical instruments, furniture etc. Young shoots are commonly used as food. Decoction of leaves and 

nodes and silicious matter is used in the traditional medicine. 

137

Dendrocalamus 

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Dendrocalamus strictus Nees. Tree Physiology, 13: 401-408. 

Negi, S. S.; Pal, R. N. and Enrich, C. 1980. Tree fodders from Himachal Pradesh. German Academy for Technical 

Co-operation (GTZ), Eschborno, FRG. 

Osmaston, B. B. 1918. Rate of growth of bamboos. Indian Forester, 44: 52-57. 

Parameswaran, N. and Liese, W. 1976. On the fine structure of bamboo fibres. Wood Science and Technology, 10: 

231-246. 

Parthasarathy, N. 1946. Chromosome number in Bambuseae. Current Science, 15(8): 233-234. 

Patil, V. C. and Patil, S. V. 1990. Performance of the bamboo under varying spacing and fertility levels. In Bamboos: 


Workshop, 14-18, November, 1988. Cochin. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development 


Pattanath, P. G. and Rao, K. R. 1969. Epidermal and internodal structure of the culm as an aid to identification and 

classification of Bamboo. In Recent Advances in the Anatomy of Tropical Seed Plants Vol. 7. Hindustan Publishing 



Rao, K. S. and Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1988. Architectural plasticity of two bamboo species, Neohouzeua dullooa Camus 

and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees in successional environment in North-East India. Proceedings of the Indian Academy 

of Sciences (Plant Sciences), 98: 121-133. 

139

Dendrocalamus 

Rita Dhawan and Singh, S. V. 1982. Chemical characterisation of hemicelluloses isolated from three species of bamboo, 

Dendrocalamus strictus, D. hamiltonii and Melocanna baccifera. Journal of the Indian Academy of Wood Science, 13: 

62- 66. 

Seethalakshmi, K. K. 1991. Propagation. In Silviculture, Management and Utilisation of Bamboo Resources from Kerala. 

KFRI Research Report. (Unpublished). 

Sekar, A. C. and Gulati, A. S. 1973. A note on the physical and mechanical properties of Dendrocalamus strictus from 

different localities. Van Vigyan, 11(3/4): 17-22. 

Shanmuganathan, K.; Kumaravelu, G. and Stanley Jagadees, 1980. On the growth pattern of Dendrocalamus strictus. 

Third Southern Silviculturists Conference, 3-5, March 1980. Dharwad, Karnataka. 6 p. 

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Journal of the Timber Development Association of India, 18: 17-23. 

Sharma, O. P. and Kaushal, S. K. 1985. Exploratory propagation of Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Munro by one-node 

culm cuttings. Indian Forester, 111: 135-139. 



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Dip diffusion and osmose process. Journal of the Timber Development Association of India, 27(1): 38-44. 


3(1): 16-21. 


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Society of India, Bangalore: 36-44. 

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Rattan. INBAR Technical Report No. 5. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, New Delhi: 45-64. 

140


DINOCHLOA BUSE 

Open tufted, climbing bamboo; culms zig-zag, moderately 

thick, usually solid, covered by persistent sheaths. Culm-sheaths thick, loose clasping, lower portion leathery and 

persistent. The culm-sheath proper smooth, usually glabrous, purplish or green when young, very often covered with 

white wax; auricles usually present, often with long bristles; ligule very short or long and laciniate; blades broadly ovate 

or ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, purplish or green, covered with white wax when young. Branches 3-18 at each node with 

middle branch dormant but developing as the main culm when the apex gets damaged. Leaves large, soft in texture with 

transverse veinlets. Inflorescence a large compound panicle of thin spicate clusters of spikelets. Spikelets numerous, 

very minute, 1 or 2-flowered; empty glumes 1-4, broad, very obtuse, blunt, gradually larger upwards; flowering glume 

similar; palea convolute, equal to or larger than 

the flowering glume, not keeled, lodicules absent. 

Stamens 6, free, short. Ovary oval, glabrous; stigma 

3; style short. Caryopsis ovoid, acuminate, smooth 

or rugose; pericarp thick and fleshy when young, 

thinner when mature; endosperm almost absent 

● 

●✿ 

●✪ 

■✿ 

➡ 

■ 

in mature fruit. 

The genus consists of 20 species distributed in 

Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Malaysia and India. 

From India, 6 species have been reported. In 

North-Eastern India, 4 species and North-Western 

and Andaman Islands, 2 species each are known 

to occur. In this compendium, details of 6 species 

of Dinochloa have been compiled. 

▼❖ ➡ 

▼❖ ➡ 

▼D. andamanica 

● D. compactiflora 

✪ D. gracilis 

■ D. indica 

✿ D. maclellandii 

❖ D. nicobariana 


➤ 

Distribution map of Dinochloa 

141

Dinochloa 

Dinochloa andamanica 

Dinochloa andamanica Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42(11): 253. 1873; Camus, Les Bambusees 169. 1913; Blatter, Indian 

For. 55: 602. 1929; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 78. 1992. (Fig. 41). 

Dinochloa tjankorreh var. andamanica (Kurz) Gamble Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 112-113. 1896; and in Hook. f., 

Fl. Brit. India 7: 414. 1897. 

DESCRIPTION 

Plants with long, green, glossy, creeping culms. Culms single, creeping along the ground, and rooting at the nodes or 

climbing over tall trees 

usually to a height of 

35 m; branches geniculate, 

single, as long and stout as 

the culms; branchlets 

slender, numerous, in 

whorls, hanging with dense 

foliage; nodes swollen, 

marked by the base 

of fallen culm-sheath; 

internodes 23-46 cm long, 

2.5 cm diameter, walls thin. 

Culm-sheaths green, less 

than one-fourth of the 

line 41 

➤ 

Fig. 41. D. andamanica. 


B - leaves enlarged. 

142


length of the internodes, with a fugacious white 

bloom; imperfect blade leafy, deciduous, nearly as 

broad as sheath. Leaves 23-30 cm long and 5-7.5 

cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, attenuate at the base into 

a very short petiole, apex setaceous, smooth on both 

surfaces, scabrous on the edges, midrib prominent, 

secondary veins 7-9 pairs, transverse veinlets 

conspicuous owing to pellucid dots; leaf-sheaths 

appressed hairy when young, glabrous when old, 

ending in a callus and rounded mouth with white 

cilia; ligule broad, truncate, ciliate, fimbriate. 

Inflorescence a large compound panicle of spicate 

thin branches; rachis curved and nodes with 

a ring formed by the bases of fallen bracts. 

58 

➤D. andamanica - Natural growth 

➤ 

D. andamanica - Internode 

59 

Spikelets clustered, 2-2.5 mm long, glossy, straw-coloured, oneflowered; 

empty glume 1 with 1 or 2 smaller glumes at the base 

below the articulation, broad, obtuse, convolute, blunt, 5-7- 

nerved; flowering glume similar to empty glume; palea round, 

much convolute. Stamens included; filaments short; anthers with 

an acute tip. Ovary oval, ending in a thick style and bifid nonplumose 

stigma. Caryopsis not known. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is distributed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

Mostly occurs as impenetrable tangled thickets and often climbing 

on the tall trees. 

USES 

The long-cane like culm of this bamboo is used as rope by the 

aborigines of the Nicobar. 

143

Dinochloa 

Dinochloa compactiflora 

Dinochloa compactiflora (Kurz) McClure, Kew Bull. 253. 1936; Bennet, Van Vigyan 27: 120. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 82. 1992. (Fig. 42). 

Melocalamus compactiflorus (Kurz) Benth. and Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 3: 1212. 1883; Pseudostachyum compactiflorum 

Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42: 252. 1873; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 94. 1896; Bahadur and Naithani, 

Indian Forester 109: 266. 1983. 

DESCRIPTION 

This is an elegant climbing bamboo. Culms solid, grayish-green, rough, scandent, spreading, climbing over tall trees, 

10-33 m long and 1.2-2.5 cm diameter; nodes swollen, whitish; internodes 30-62 cm long. Culm-sheaths about 15 cm 

long and 8 cm broad, persistent, hard, brittle, cylindrical, smooth or covered with white appressed hairs; blade more or 

less equal to the length of the sheath, recurved, long-acuminate, rounded at the base; auricle narrow, dark, crescentshaped, 

fringed with stiff bristles; ligule narrow, entire. Young shoots spear-shaped, glabrous. Leaves 15-25 cm long and 

2.5-5 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, subulate towards apex and ending in a twisted point, base rounded; petiole 3-5 mm 

long and hairy; leaf-sheath striate with 

appressed white hairs when young, 

glabrous on maturity, mouth truncate; 

ligule very small, entire; auricle lunate, 

reflexed, fringed with stiff bristles, 

early caducous. Inflorescence a large 

compound interrupted panicle of small 

subglobose heads, often leaf-bearing; 

heads with several fertile and many sterile 

spikelets, 7.5-12.5 cm diameter; rachis 

pubescent, flexuose, flattened on one side. 

Spikelets 2.5 mm long, glabrous, blunt or 

line 42 

truncate, 2-cleft, with 2 fertile flowers and 

1 empty, terminal on a protruded rachilla; 

➤Fig. 42. D. compactiflora. A - leafy 

branch; B - flowering branch; C - culm 

with flowering branch; D - culm-sheath; 

E - spikelet; F - empty glume; G - palea; 

H - lodicule; I - stamen; J - pistil; 

K - a portion of culm with branches. 

144


glumes 2, broadly ovate, blunt, long ciliate. Stamens free; filaments short; anthers yellowish, bluntly acute at the tip. 

Ovary glabrous, ovoid-globose, surmounted by a short thick style; stigmas 2 or 3, plumose. Caryopsis large, subglobular, 

2.5-3.7 cm diameter. 

Chromosome number - 2n = 72, n = 36, hexaploid (Lalithakumari, 1983). 


This species has been reported to have flowered in Myanmar during 1871, 1878, 1894, 1902, 1917, 1920 and 1933; at 

Cachar of Assam in 1921; FRI arboretum, Dehra Dun in 1980. The seeds are globular and much like a miniature woodapple 

in shape; the testa is somewhat leathery. Fruit is 2.5 to 3.7 cm in diameter and fleshy. The germination is 100 per 

cent and viviparous. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found growing in Cachar, Assam. It is cultivated at Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Also found 

growing in hills and mountains, frequently between 1200-1800 m altitude, rarely below 900 m. 

ANATOMY 

Culm epidermis made up of long and short cells arranged in longitudinal rows. Long epidermal cells uniform in width, 

about 3-5 µm long with undulating walls; length ranging from 18 to 83 µm, short cells paired, alternating with long 

cells, 2-3 pairs occasionally present. Epidermal cork cells rectangular to saddle-shaped, 8 µm wide. Silica cells rectangular. 

Short cell pairs numerous, when in groups occasionally replaced by spicules. Macrohairs present. Base of macrohair 

encircled by a ring of micropapillae. Sometimes a thin walled bladder cell occurring in the place of short-cell and 

encircled by micropapillae. Stomata overarched by micropapillae. The average stomatal frequency 14 per 0.08 mm 2 . 

Leaf epidermis consists of paired short cells between and over the veins, saddle-shaped silica bodies and long cells with 

sinuous walls; macro hairs absent; 2-celled microhair having slightly longer distal cell from the intercostal zone. Prickle 

hairs absent, micropapillae overarching the stomata unequal. Four micropapillae with broad base originating from four 

corners of stomata and the smaller ones originating from the broad base. Papillae flatly placed. Internodal epidermis 

followed by narrow cortex with the fibro-vascular region, three concentric intergrading regions-a narrow peripheral 

region, a transition region and a wide central region present. Cortex 53-66 µm wide, homogeneous, with thin-walled 

parenchyma larger than epidermal cells. Peripheral part of the fibro-vascular region narrow; towards cortex small 

strands of isolated fibres and small oval, roundish vascular bundles consisting of two vessels and phloem found. Sieve 

tubes very narrow. The intra- and intervascular parenchyma thick-walled. Width of the transitional region varying from 

35-50 µm, vascular bundles larger towards the centre, than those of the periphery. Sclerenchyma strand separated by a 

patch of parenchyma cells. Vessels surrounded by parenchymatous cells. Phloem elongated and oval, the average tangential 

diameter of the sieve tube being 13.3 µm. The intra-and inter-vascular parenchyma thick walled. Vascular bundles of 

central region larger, scattered. Vascular bundles of type II and III. Sclerenchymatous fibre strands often intercepted by 

parenchymatous cells into two or three groups. Vascular bundles of this region wide in tangential diameter. Cavity 

surrounded by thin-walled parenchymatous cells. Phloem elongated and parenchyma thin-walled (Alam and Dransfield, 

1981). 

USES 

The culm is used for basket-making in Yunnan (China) and Shan (Myanmar). Fibrous layers of the internodes which 

are pliable and soft, are twisted into strands and shoes/sandals are made by interlacing them. 

145

Dinochloa 

Dinochloa gracilis 

Dinochloa gracilis (Majumdar) Bennet and Jain, in Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 82. 1992. 

Melocalamus gracilis Majumdar, Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocots 278. 1989. 

DESCRIPTION 

This species differs from M. mastersii in having non-falcate deciduous auricles and from M. indicus in having ciliate 

auricles, terete culms and acute nodal buds. The young shoot unlike other species with spreading, large leafy, culmsheath 

blades. Inflorescence not known. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is known to occur in the Borail 

Range of North Cachar Hills of Assam. 

Dinochloa indica 

line 43 

Dinochloa indica (Majumdar) Bennet, 

Van Vigyan 27(2): 121. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 81. 1992. (Fig. 43). 

Melocalamus indicus Majumdar, Bull. Bot. 

Surv. India 25: 236. 1985. 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen, scandent bamboo. Culms very 

long, solid, arching over tall trees and hanging 

downwards with tufts of green leaves at the branch-tips; culm-nodes with woody ring formed by the persistent lower 

part of the cylindrical culm-sheaths; internodal region white scurfy; branches many in tufts, supporting often a solitary 

large bud that develops into a branch as thick as the main culm. Culm-sheaths cylindrical, crustaceous and deciduous. 

Inflorescence large with globular clusters of spikelets on the nodes of the flexuous branches. Spikelets, 2-flowered, 

lower floret sterile and the upper hermaphrodite, but without extended rachilla. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Commonly found in the tropical lowland and rain forests of Cachar, Manipur and other adjoining parts of Assam. 

USES 

Culms are used for basket-making. 

➤ 

Fig. 43. D. indica. A - part of rhizome with thick roots; B - part of culm 

with white felty zone(h); culm-sheath base(b); culm-sheath(s); 

C - a portion of solid culm with hairy zone and slender branches; 

D - culm-sheath; E - lower glume; F - upper glume; G - lower lemma; 

H - upper lemma; I - upper palea; J - stamens; K - single stamen; 

L - lodicules; M - pistil. 

146


Dinochloa maclellandii 

Dinochloa maclellandii (Munro) Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 42 (2): 253. 1874 and For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 571. 

1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 115. 1896; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 415. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 

681. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 171. 1913; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 81. 1992. (Fig. 44). 

Bambusa maclellandii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 114. 1868. 

DESCRIPTION 

➤ 

line 44 

Fig. 44. D. maclellandii. A - leafy branch; B - culm and culm-sheath; 

C - young shoot. 

An evergreen, lofty, often scandent bamboo. 

Culms upto 30 m long, if climbing, shorter 

and straggling if growing unsupported, 2.5-3 

cm diameter, geniculate, covered by persistent 

loose sheaths, gray-green, walls thin; nodes 

swollen; internodes 15-20 cm long, often 

angled when young, scabrous with brown 

appressed hairs. Culm-sheaths cylindrical, 

leathery, persistent, 15-23 cm long, and 17- 

22 cm broad at the base, 5-7 cm wide at the 

top, covered with densely appressed goldenbrown 

pubescence, ending above in a narrow 

dark glabrous margin edging the whole of the 

truncate top outside the base of the imperfect 

blade; imperfect blade lanceolate-acuminate, 

rounded at the base and decurrent on the 

sheath, 15-30 cm long and 2.5-6 cm broad, 

recurved or spreading, glabrous outside, 

densely brown hairy within; ligule short, 

entire or faintly serrate. Leaves large to very 

large, broadly oblong, lanceolate, acuminate, 

unequal at the base, rounded into a short 

thick petiole upto 1.2 cm long, ending in an 

acuminate setaceous scabrous twisted tip; 

leaf-sheath striate, transversely veined, 

produced at the mouth into a naked rounded 

auricle, keeled at the back, appressed hairy 

when young, afterwards glabrous; ligule often 

broad, entire or serrate. 

147

Dinochloa 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to have flowered in Katakhal in Assam in 1968. Regeneration was not observed. Flowering has 

not been reported earlier to this and description of the inflorescence is not available (Gupta, 1972). 


It is known to occur in Assam and West Bengal. This species is found growing mainly in tropical lowland rain forests 

where ample water is available throughout the year. 

Dinochloa nicobariana 

Dinochloa nicobariana Majumdar, Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot 277. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 81. 1992. (Fig. 45). 

DESCRIPTION 

A climbing bamboo. Culms green, hairy, climbing over the trees, branchlets numerous from the nodes, slender; nodes 

marked by prominent nodal rings; internodes up to 30 cm long. Culm-sheaths green, long, having white dense tomentum, 

imperfect blade leafy, deciduous, nearly as broad as sheath. Leaves 5-12 cm long and 0.6-1 cm broad, lanceolate, 

attenuate to the base with very short petiole, apex setaceous, smooth on both surfaces. Midrib narrow, secondary veins 

4-5 pairs, leaf sheaths appressed, hairy. Inflorescence a large compound panicle of loosely arranged spikelets. Branch 

smooth and nodes with a ring formed by the base of fallen bracts. Spikelets clustered, 0.2-0.4 cm, straw-coloured, oneflowered; 

empty glumes 2, 2.5-3.5 mm broad, obtuse. Flowering glume similar to empty glume, 2.5 mm long; palea 

long, convolute, 2.5 mm long. Stamens 6, included, free, acute tip, filament short; ovary oval ending in a thick style and 

three plumose stigmas. Caryopsis not known. 

FLOWERING 

This species has been collected in flower for the first time by Renuka and Vijayakumar from 16 km, Nicobar during 

1993. The specimen has been deposited at KFRI Herbarium. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in North Nicobar (Katchal Island). 

148


line 45 

➤ 

Fig. 45. D. nicobariana. 

A - leafy branchlet with 

part of culm; B - leaves; 

C - flowering branch; 

D - a portion of culm; 


F & G - flowering glumes; 

H - palea; I - flower with 

pistil and stamens; 

J - stamen; K - pistil; 

L - vegetative shoot arising 

from the node with 

juvenile sheaths; 

M - young shoot with 

culm-sheath and auricles. 

REFERENCES 

Alam, M. K. and Dransfield S. 1981. Anatomy of Melocalamus compactiflorus. Bano Biggyan Patrika, 81: 1-11. 

Bahadur, K. N. and Naithani, H. B. 1983. On the identity, nomenclature, flowering and utility of the climbing bamboo, 

Melocalamus compactiflorus. Indian Forester, 109: 566-569. 

Bennet, S. S. R. and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, 

India: p 64. 

149

Dinochloa 

60 

Gupta, K. K. 1972. Flowering in different 

species of bamboos in Cachar District of 

Assam in recent years. Indian Forester, 98: 

83-85. 

Grosser, O. and Liese, W. 1973. Present status 

and problems of bamboo classification. 

Journal Arnold Arboretum, 54(2): 293- 

308. 

Lalithakumari, 1983. A note on mitosis and 

meiosis in climbing bamboo, Melocalamus 

compactiflorus (Kurz) Benth. Indian 

Forester, 109(4) 216-218. 

Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on 

Bamboo. International Book Distributors, 

Dehra Dun: 78-82. 

➤ 

➤ 

D. nicobariana - Internode and branches 

D. nicobariana - Development of a new 

branch 

61 

62 

➤ 

D. nicobariana - Flowering 

150


GIGANTOCHLOA KURZ 

Arborescent or climbing bamboo. Culms usually robust 

and bare at the base; sheaths generally stiff, auricled. Leaves rather large, usually attenuate at the base. Inflorescence a 

compound panicle; spikelets with imperfect flowers at the summit and at the base; hermaphrodite flowers few. Stamens 

6. Style elongate; stigmas 1-3, hairy. 

Sixteen species are reported from the world; distributed in Thailand, Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia. Seven 

species of Gigantochloa are known to occur in India, out of these 3 species are naturally occurring and 4 species are 

introduced. All the seven species of Gigantochloa are dealt with in this compendium. 

▼● 

❖✿ 

▼❖✿ 

▼ 

✪ 

➡ 

➡ 

✿ 

✿ 

▼✪ 

■✱ 

✿ 

❖ 

✿ 

✿ 

✿ 

▼G. albociliata 

● G. apus 

✪ G. atroviolacea 

■ G. atter 

❖ G. macrostachya 

✱ G. pseudoarundinacea 

✿G. rostrata 


➤ 

Distribution map of Gigantochloa 

151

Gigantochloa 

Gigantochloa albociliata 

Gigantochloa albociliata (Munro) Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 555. 1877; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos 

Growing in India 67. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 91.1992. (Fig. 46). 

Oxytenanthera albociliata Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 129. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 70. 1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 401. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 147. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. 

Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 


Assam: Kalisuneti 

DESCRIPTION 

A densely tufted bamboo. 

Culms 6-9 m high, 1.5-2.5 cm 

diameter, grayish-green with 

white stripes, hirsute above, 

nodes raised in a ring formed by 

the base of the sheath; 

internodes 15-38 cm long, walls 

moderately thick. Culm-sheaths 

10-20 cm long and ca.15 cm 

broad, covered with dense 

appressed hairs in the early 

stage, afterwards smooth, 

somewhat truncate, folded and 

coriaceous at the base, 

terminating at the truncate 

mouth in a narrow naked band; 

ligule 1.5-2.5 cm long, auricles 

small. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

15-20 cm long and 2-2.5 cm 

broad; petiole short, leaf sheath 

smooth. Inflorescence a large 

spreading panicle of spicate 

branchlets; rachis smooth, 

slender, 2.5-7.6 cm long between 

the verticils; spikelets slender, 

1.5-2 cm long, often curved, 

➤ 

line 46 

Fig. 46. G. albociliata. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; 

D - a part of flowering branch enlarged; E - spikelet; F - empty glume; G - flowering 

glume; H - palea; I - palea of upper most flower; J - staminal tube and stamens of 

lower male flower; K - stamen; L - pistil; M - young shoot. 

152


63 

➤ 

G. albociliata - A close-up of clump 

2.2 mm broad, fertile flowers mixed with few sterile ones; empty glumes 1-2, ovate, acute, white ciliate, one male flower 

followed by 1 or 2 hermaphrodite flowers, flowering glumes elliptic, acute or faintly emarginate, many-nerved, white 

ciliate on the edges, convolute; palea short, ovate obtuse, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, convolute, ciliate only at the tip. 

Stamens long, exserted, filaments at first connected in a short thick tube, afterwards into a long and membranous one; 

anthers long, greenish-yellow, long hirsute, apiculate. Ovary narrowly ovoid, much acuminate, pubescent, ending in a 

long style divided above into 2 white stigmas. Caryopsis elongate, oblong, cylindrical and acuminate. 

FLOWERING 

It has been reported to have flowered in Assam during 1956-60 and in 1987 (Gupta, 1987). Gupta also mentioned that 

it flowers sporadically almost every year. Seeds from sporadic flowering are not fertile. Clump flowering also has been 

reported (Anantachote, 1990). A flowering cycle of about 30 years has been reported from India. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is widely cultivated in West Bengal. It is also introduced in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and 

elsewhere in the country. 

153

Gigantochloa 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis, stomata common, arranged in two bands in 3-4 alternate rows, subsidiary cells high-domed, 

surrounded by 4-5 elliptical and 5-8 small, globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow, width uniform, walls sinuous, 

ends almost straight, 40-70 µm in length and 14-20 µm in width, papillae paired or single, arranged in a row in the 

middle. Interstomatal cells slightly shorter than long cells with concave ends. Short cells costal and intercostal, solitary 

and paired, cork cells costal indistinct, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal, saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell to 

rectangular. Silica bodies costal saddle-shaped, intercostal oval to rod-shaped. Prickles common, intercostal, with short 

to long, acute apex, surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent to infrequent, intercostal, bi-celled, distal cell, 

equal or shorter than basal cell, apex rounded. Macrohairs costal and intercostal, infrequent to frequent, short to 

medium in length, more towards the midrib. In the culm epidermis stomata clear, 20-25 µm long and 12-16 µm in 

width, surrounded by inconspicuous papillae. Long cells not uniform in width, slightly tapering at ends. 40-100 µm in 

length and 5.0-7.5 µm in width. Papillae small, scattered inconspicuous. Silica cells and silica bodies rectangular, rodshaped 

to rectangular. Cork cells silicified, slightly larger or equal to silica cells (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1992). 


Seed weight varies from 28.1 to 137.7 gms per 100 seeds depending on the locality with a germination percentage of 

about 3 (Anantachote, 1987). Propagation by tissue culture has been reported using node, shoot and leaf as explants 

and multiple shoots as well as rooting have been obtained (Zamora, 1994). 

USES 

This species was considered to be of very 

little use and a troublesome weed in the 

teak plantation of Burma (Gamble, 1896). 

In Thailand, it is considered to be a 

commercial species and the young shoots 

are edible (Anantachote, 1987). 

Gigantochloa apus 

line 47 

Gigantochloa apus (Bl. ex Schult.f.) 

Kurz, Tijdschr Ned. Ind. 27: 226. 1868; 

Parker, Indian For. 57: 108. 1931; Tewari, 


Bambusa apus Bl. ex Schult. f., Syst. Veg. 

7: 1353. 1830. Gigantochloa takserah 

Camus, Les Bambusees 141. 1913; Blatter, 

Indian For. 55. 591. 1929. Gigantochloa 

kurzii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 65, t. 56.1896. 

➤ 

Fig. 47. G. apus. A - leafy twig with flowering branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; E & F - empty glumes; G - palea; H - staminal 

tube and stamens around the pistil; I - pistil. 

154


DESCRIPTION 

Strongly tufted bamboo with erect drooping culms. Culms bright green or yellow, hollow at the base, 2.5-9 cm diameter, 

wall thickness 6-13 mm, little swollen at the nodes and constricted between the nodes. Culm-sheaths 35-45 cm with 

small rounded auricle; blade curved up towards middle, very acute, dark brown with spreading white soft hairs outside, 

inside glabrous, old sheaths persistent, yellowish and brown. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 10-15 cm long and 1.5-2 cm 

broad, petiole short. Inflorescence very large pseudo-panicle; apparently leafless, with finely hairy axes and clusters of 

up to 20 pseudo-spikelets. Spikelets ovate-lanceolate, acute, straight, distinctly laterally compressed; glumes 4-5; lemmas 

shortly mucronate below, apex with long dark brown cilia; palea 4-5-nerved; keels ciliate. Staminal tube longer than 

palea, anthers dark purple, 8-18 mm, connective prolonged into ca.1 mm, hairy, acute at tip. Ovary oblong with densely 

long hairy apex; style with upwardly directed hairs. Caryopsis ovate oblong with long attenuate furrow on one side. 

FLOWERING 

Kurz recorded flowering of this species in 1878 from Tenasserim in Myanmar. 


This species is distributed in Meghalaya (Garo hills). Holttum (1958) mentioned that this bamboo was probably native 

in Tenasserim, Myanmar and introduced a long time ago in Java and now it is widely cultivated. G. apus grows well 

either on sandy soil or clay soil. It grows in the lowland along river banks or on hill slopes upto 1500 m above sea level. 

This bamboo grows in open areas or disturbed forests. 

ANATOMY 

Macrohairs in the leaf lamina none, microhairs few, distal cell 36-43 µm. Prickle hairs numerous 23-63 µm long. 

Papillae 4-8 long, 2-6 short overarching the individual stoma. Stomata in 2-3 files, outlines obscured by overarching 

long papillae. Long cells in 5-7 files on inter costal zone. In T.S. of leaf lamina, four small vascular bundles on the 

adaxial side and four on abaxial side and a large vascular bundle in the middle of the midrib are seen. In the culm 

epidermis short cells mostly rectangular to trapezoid, papillae none. Stomata 50 µm x 25 µm wide. Long cells 170-290 

µm long, rectangular, sometimes with tapering ends with slightly wavy walls (Widjaja, 1987). 

CHEMISTRY 

Chemical composition of the culm has holocellulose 52.1 per cent; ash 2.7-2.9 per cent; silica 1.8-5.2 per cent; solibility 

in cold water 5.2 per cent; in hot water 5.4-6.4 per cent; in alcohol benzene 1.4-3.2 per cent and in one per cent NaOH 

21.2-25.1 per cent. Starch content fluctuates between 0.24-0.71 per cent based on the season. Nodes contain deposits of 

silicic acid. 

SILVICULTURE 

Multiple shoot production and rooting are induced from nodes and shoots respectively by tissue culture method. 

Callusing is reported from the leaf (Zamora, 1994). 


Culm rot caused by Encoelia helvola and Witches broom caused by Epichole bambusae are reported. Dinoderus minutus 

is the most serious borer attacking harvested culms. 

155

Gigantochloa 


The strength properties of this species were tested in green (Moisture content 54.3%) and in air dry (M.C 15.1%) 

condition. Average MOR 102.0 in green and 87.5 N/mm 2 in air dry, maximum crushing stress varies from 21.73 to 

26.50 in green and 27.29 to 48.64 kN/mm 2 in air dry. Average tensile strength was 294.1 in green and 298.9 kN/mm 2 

in air dry. Average shear strength in green varied from 5.99 to 7.68 whereas in air dry it was 7.47 to 7.65 kN/mm 2 

(Prawirohatmodjo, 1990). 

USES 

Gigantochloa apus is the most important bamboo in Java, especially in the handicraft and furniture industries. Moreover, 

it is used extensively for building materials such as roofing, scaffolding, bridges walls etc. This bamboo is called Bambu 

tali by most Indonesians, because it is the best bamboo used for making string. 

Gigantochloa 

atroviolacea 

line 48 

Gigantochloa atroviolacea 

Widjaja, Reinwardtia 10: 323. 1987; 

Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven 

Bamboos Growing in India 69. 


94.1992. (Fig.48). 

Gigantochloa atter sensu Kurz, 

Indian For. 1: 344. 1876; Varmah 

and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) 

Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. G. verticillata 

(Willd.) Munro sensu Backer, 

Handb. Fl. Java 2: 275. 1928. 

DESCRIPTION 

➤ 

Fig. 48. G. atroviolacea. A - a portion of leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; E - empty glumes; F - flowering glume; G - palea; 

H - stamens around pistil. 

Clumps loosely tufted. Culms 8-12 

m high, 6-8 cm diameter at the base, 

purple on maturity; internodes 

usually 30-50 cm long, 5-8 mm 

thick-walled, nodes with whitish 

ring, lower ones with aerial roots. 

Culm-sheaths deciduous, with dark 

brown hairs appressed on the back, 

156


15-20 cm long, triangular; ligule 1-2 mm high, denticulate; auricles 3-5 mm, rounded, slightly curved outward, not 

joined with the blade with 7 mm long bristles; blade 4-9 cm long, spreading or reflexed, ovate-oblong. Leaves 20-30 cm 

long and 2-5 cm broad, lanceolate, acute; petiole 3-5 mm long; leaf sheaths covered with white hairs; ligule 1-2 mm 

long, toothed; auricles upto 1 mm tall, rim-like. Inflorescence spikelets upto 18 in a cluster, ovate-lanceolate, 8-11 mm 

long, 3 mm wide, wide with 4 perfect and one sterile flower; glumes broadly ovate, mucronate, 3-5 mm long, brown 

hairy; lemmas 6-10 mm long, acuminate at the apex; paleas shorter than lemmas, acute and pointed; lodicules absent. 

Stamens 6; anthers 4-5 mm long, slightly hairy at the tip. Ovary hairy, oblong. 



This species grows widely in West Java especially in Banten and Sukabani District as well as Central Java and brought 

to Indian Botanic Gardens Calcutta, 100 years ago. It prefers to grow in dry areas on soil rich in limestone. The purplish 

colour of the culm is more prominent when it grows in dry areas. 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis stomata common, intercostal arranged in 2 bands in 2-3 alternate rows, 20 µm long and 11 µm 

wide. Subsidiary cell high-domed, surrounded by 4 large elliptical and 5-6 small globose papillae, not obscuring the 

stomatal pore. Long cell long and narrow, ends almost straight, uniform in width, walls sinuous; papillae conspicuous, 

large, compound, arranged in the middle in a row. Interstomatal cells similar to long cells but slightly shorter with 

concave ends. Short cells costal and intercostal, solitary or in pairs. Cork cells costal indistinct to distinct, intercostal 

inconspicuous to distinct, larger than the silica cells. Silica cells costal, saddle-shaped, inter costal dumbbell to ‘8’ 

shaped. Silica bodies costal, saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell or of ‘8’ shaped. Prickles intercostal, frequent to 

infrequent with short acute apex, common towards the margins, base filled with vitreous silica. Microhairs common, 

intercostal basal cell almost equal to the distal cell, apex rounded. Macrohairs infrequent small to medium sized, 140- 

210 µm long, more towards midrib. In the culm, stomata almost clear, slightly sunken, 18-22 µm in width. Long cells 

rhomboidal in shape, 45-95 µm in length and 9-11 µm in width. Papillae scattered, conspicuous, silica cells and silica 

bodies rectangular, small, oblong to rectangular. Cork cells silicified, larger than the silica cells. Macrohairs thin, long 

and also small, stiff pointed (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1992). 

SILVICULTURE 

This species can be propagated vegetatively by rhizome or culm cuttings. Recommended planting distance in the field is 

8 x 7 m (Dransfield and Widjaja, 1995). 


The strength properties of the species were tested in green (Moisture content 54%) and in air dry (M.C 15%) condition. 

Average MOR in green 92.31 N/mm 2 air dry 94.11 (N/mm 2 )compression strength parallel to grain in green, 23.83 

N/mm 2 in air dry 35.74, kN/mm 2 , maximum tensile strength in green 237.4 N/mm 2 air dry 237.4 N/mm 2 . Average 

shear strength varies from 6.4 to 11.3 N/mm 2 in green and 79.5 to 95.7, in air dry (Prawirohatmodjo, 1990). 

USES 

In Indonesia, this species is used for building construction and for making furniture. It is also used for making traditional 

musical instruments and handicrafts. 

157

Gigantochloa 

Gigantochloa atter 

Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz, Nat. 

Tijdschr. Ned. Ind. 27: 226. 1864; Munro, 

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 125. 1868; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 140. 1913; Varmah 

and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 

6(1): 3. 1980; Widjaja, Reinwardtia 10: 315. 

1987; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 94. 1992. 

(Fig. 49). 

Bambusa thouarsii Kunth, Bambusa atter 

Hassk., Pl. Jav. Rar: 41. 1848; Gigantochloa 

verticillata (Willd.) Munro sensu Backer, 

Hand. B. Fl. Java 2: 275. 1928. 

DESCRIPTION 

line 49 

Large tufted bamboo. Culms up to 22 m 

high, 5-10 cm diameter. Culm-sheaths 21- 

36 cm long, narrowly triangular with 

truncate apex, black, hairy, auricle rounded 

or slightly curved outward; ligule 3-6 mm 

high, irregularly toothed, blades reflexed, 

deciduous. Leaves lanceolate, oblong, 

20-44 cm long and 3-9 cm broad. 

Inflorescence spikelets up to 35 in a cluster, 

ovate, lanceolate, 9-12 mm long consisting 

of four perfect florets; glumes acutemucronate 

at the apex, 3-9 mm long, brown 

ciliate; lemmas broadly acuminate at the 

apex, 6-9 mm long, with brownish ciliae; 

palea shorter than lemma, acuminate at 

apex with brownish to white cilia, 3-4 veins 

between keels, 1-2 veins between keel and margin, 5-8 mm long; lodicules absent. Anthers 6, 4-5 mm long, slightly 

hairy. Ovary hairy, oblong. 


➤ 

Fig. 49. G. atter. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; 

D - spikelet; E - empty glume; F - flowering glume; G - palea; H - stamens 

around pistil. 

This species is native of Malaya, cultivated in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. In Java and Sumatra, it is commonly 

cultivated in village areas and very rarely found near the forest, on the forest edge and in other disturbed areas probably 

as remnants from previous human settlement. This bamboo is found in the low land and it has been observed growing 

from near the coast to about 1400 m above sea level. 

158


ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis macrohairs present on the abaxial side on the costal zone, 182-360 µm long; microhairs distal, 36- 

46 µm long, basal cell 33-36 µm long; prickles few, 23-39 µm long; papillae overarching each stoma; stomata 3-4 files; 

long cells in 6-7 files on intercostal zones with sinuous walls. A cross section of lamina shows two smaller vascular 

bundles on the adaxial side and 6 on the abaxial side with large vascular bundle in the middle of the midrib, seven small 

vascular bundles between successive large ones. Epidermal cells of the culm are short, trapezoid and some rectangular. 

Stomata 40 µm long and 30 µm wide; long cells short 40-70 µm, sinuous, thick, rhomboid, broadest in the middle and 

slightly tapering at the ends (Widjaja, 1987). 


The strength properties of the species were tested in green (Moisture content 72.3%) and in air dry (M.C 14.4%) 

condition. Average MOR varied from 87.9 to 108.1 N/mm 2 from base to top in green and 117.7 to 127.7 N/mm 2 in air 

dry. Compression strength parellel to grain 24.77 to 27.97 N/mm 2 in green, 32.87 to 30.98 N/mm 2 in air dry. Average 

tensile strength was 299.8 to 273.0 N/mm 2 from base to top in green and 33.15 to 24.70 N/mm 2 in air dry. Average 

shear strength was 5.8 to 10.8 N/mm 2 in green and 9.5 to 10.8 N/mm 2 in air dry (Prawirohatmodjo, 1990). 

USES 

In Central Java, people call this species bambu legi which means sweet bambu. Young shoots of this bamboo are as 

delicious as those of Dendrocalamus asper. The culm of this species is very useful for building material. It is also used for 

making musical instruments and other handicrafts. 

(Prawirohatmodjo, 1990). 

Gigantochloa macrostachya 

line 50 

Gigantochloa macrostachya Kurz, For. Fl. Burma 

2: 557. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 63 t. 54. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 399. 

1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 140. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, 

Fl. Assam 5: 36. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 94. 1992. (Fig. 50). 

Oxytenanthera macrostachya (Kurz) Brandis, Indian 

Trees 719. 1906. 

➤ 

Fig. 50. G. macrostachya A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; 

E & F - empty glumes; G - flowering glume; H - palea 

with imperfect terminal flower; I - palea; J - stamen; 

K - staminal tube and stamens around pistil; 

L - a portion of the flowering branch enlarged. 

159

64 

➤ 

G.macrostachya - An internode 


Garo Hills - Takserah. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large evergreen bamboo. Culms 10-16 m tall, 6-10 cm diameter. Internodes 45-75 cm long. Culm-sheaths short, 

12-20 cm long, broader than long. It is easily known by the white longitudinal stripes on the internodes. Leaves thin, 

lanceolate, 16-40 cm long and 1.2-5 cm broad. Inflorescence a very large leafy panicle, composed of heads of spikelets 

more or less distichously and alternately spaced on the branches, bracts at the base of the branchlets large, sub-foliaceous. 

Spikelets up to 5 cm long, acuminate, subulate, narrow, covered in part by the long ciliae of the glumes and lemmas, 

hermaphrodite florets 2-3, terminal barren, glumes 2-3, ovate-mucronate, long-ciliate, lemmas of the hermaphrodite 

florets ovate-mucronate, many-nerved. Palea very narrow, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, bifid at the top; lodicules 

absent. Stamens purple, filaments exserted, connate at the base into a short tube, connective produced into a hairy 

acumen. The style is neither bifid nor trifid, the lower and the greater portion of its length is covered with short stiff 

hairs, while the upper portion is densely papillose and has numerous short papillose branches. Ovary narrowly ellipsoid 

surmounted by a long slender style ending in a stigma. Caryopsis narrow, linear, mucronate. 

FLOWERING 

Brandis recorded flowering of this species in 1862. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is distributed in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram in India and in Myanmar. 

USES 

The species is used for making mats, baskets, and for construction. 

160


Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea 

Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea (Steud.) Widjaja, Reinwardtia 10: 304. 1987; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven 

Bamboos Growing in India, 71. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 97.1992. (Fig. 51). 

Bambusa pseudoarundinacea Steud., Syn. Glum. 1: 330. 1854; Bambusa verticillata Willd., Spec. Pl. 2: 245. 1799; 

Gigantochloa verticillata (Willd.) Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 124. 1868; Gigantochloa maxima sensu Kurz, 

Tijds. Ned. Ind. 27: 226. 1864 and Indian For. 1: 343. 1876; Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 16: 114. 1958. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large evergreen bamboo, 

Clumps densely tufted, rhizomes 

developing a mound at 

the centre. Culms 10-30 m high, 

7-13 cm diameter, green to 

yellowish green with thin yellow 

stripes. Internodes 40-45 cm or 

rarely 60 cm. Culm-sheaths 

upto 30 cm long covered with 

golden brown hairs when young 

and becoming glabrous on 

maturity. Leaves 20-25 cm long, 

2.5-5 cm broad, lanceolate, 

glabrous, petiole ca. 5 mm long; 

ligule ca. 4 mm high, irregularly 

toothed and hairy; auricle 

ca. 1 mm high, connected with 

ligule. Inflorescence a large 

leafy panicle bearing spicate 

branchlets with heads of spikelets, 

many together, rachis 

striate, heads upto 7.5 cm diameter. 

Spikelets linear 2.5-5 cm 

long, acuminate, marked by 

black fringes to the glumes; 

fertile flowers 2-3, terminal 

flower incomplete or reduced to 

a subulate protruded rachilla; 

empty glumes 2-3, ovate, mucronate, 

few appressed black stiff 

hairs on the back; flowering 

➤ 

line 51 

Fig. 51. G. pseudoarundinacea. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - apical portion of the culm sheath; E - a portion of flowering 

branch; F & G - spikelets; H - flowering glume; I - palea; J - lodicule; K - stamen; 

L - pistil; M - young shoot. 

161

Gigantochloa 

glumes similar, linear- lanceolate, longer than palea, very narrow, 2-keeled, white-ciliate on keels. Stamens exserted; 

anthers purple, ending in a fine setaceous hairy point. Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, rounded above, style curved, hairy; 

stigmas simple. Carararararyopsis 

narrow, linear, minutely pubescent, tipped with persistent style. 


FLOWERING 

This species has been reported to have flowered in 1854 and 1982 (Widjaja, 1987). 

DISTRIBUTION 

G. pseudoarundinacea is a native of Java. It is grown in the Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and distributed in 

Myanmar and Indonesia. 

ANATOMY 

Macrohairs of the leaf lamina few and short, 107-175 µm; microhairs with distal cell 23-36 µm, slightly smaller than 

basal cell, 33-40 µm. Prickle-hairs numerous. Papillae 4 long and 4 short, overarching each stoma. Stomata in 3-4 files. 

Long cells in seven files on intercostal zone, with sinuous walls. In the cross-section of lamina, there are seven small 

vascular bundles between successive large vascular bundles. Bulliform cells 3. Epidermal cells of culm short, mostly 

rectangular, 10 µm in pairs with rectangular and narrow silica bodies (Widjaja, 1987). Stomata common, intercostal, 

arranged in two bands in 2-3 alternate rows; subsidiary cells high-domed surrounded by 4-5 large elliptical and 5-6 

globose papillae. Long cells long and narrow, rectangular, 62-85 µm long, 11-15 µm wide, walls sinuous, ends straight. 

Papillae compound in a single row in the middle of the cell. Interstomatal cell similar to long cells but shorter and wider 

with concave ends. Short cells costal and intercostal in pairs or solitary, cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal ‘8’ 

shaped, inconspicuous; silica cell costal, saddle-shaped, intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’ shaped. Silica bodies costal saddleshaped, 

intercostal dumbbell to ‘8’ shaped. Prickles frequent to infrequent with long acute apex, base not surrounded 

by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, intercostal basal cell equal to distal cell. Macrohairs infrequent, 

costal and intercostal, costal medium sized, 120-160 mm long, base not surrounded by a ring of papillae. In the culm 

epidermis stomata subsidiary cells not clear due to overarching the surrounding papillae 18-23 µm long and 12-15 µm 

wide. Long cell not uniform in width slightly tapering at ends, 37-95 µm long and 7.5-11 µm wide. Papillae scattered and 

conspicuous. Silica cells and silica bodies rectangular, small rod-shaped to rectangular. Cork cells silicified, equal or 

larger than silica cells. Microhairs and Macrohairs in groups (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1992). 

SILVICULTURE 

It is propagated vegetatively by rhizome, culm or branch cuttings. A spacing of 8 x 8 m is recommended for plantations. 


It is usually attacked by witches broom (Epichole bambusae) and the most serious pest is the borer (Dinoderus minutus) 

attacking harvested culms. 

USES 

It is widely used as poles and also used for roofings and walls of village houses in Indonesia. This is also used as water 

pipes and for making furniture, musical instruments and basketry (Widjaja, 1987). This is an important source of edible 

shoots in Java. 

162


Gigantochloa rostrata 

Gigantochloa rostrata Wong, Malay. Forester 45(3): 349. 1982; Widjaja, Reinwardtia 10(3): 333. 1987; Bennet 

and Gaur, in Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 73. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 99. 1992. (Fig. 52). 

Gigantochloa maxima var. minor Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 16: 116. 1958; Oxytenanthera nigrociliata Munro, 

Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 128. 1868. p.p. non Bambusa nigrociliata Buse Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 69. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 145. 1913. 


Madhya Pradesh - Panibans; Orissa 

- Bolangi; Tripura - Kailyai. 

DESCRIPTION 

➤ 

line 52 

Fig. 52. G. rostrata. A - leaf with flowering branch; B - culm-sheath; C - spikelet; 

D - empty glume; E - flowering glume; F - palea; G - stamen; H - anther; I - pistil; 

J - young shoot; K - a portion of culm. 

Tufted dark green bamboo. Culms 

5-8 m tall 2.5-5 cm diameter. 

Thick-walled, slightly drooping, 

basal portion with yellowish stripes; 

internodes 20-30 cm long. Culmsheaths 

upto 10 cm long and 5.5 

cm broad, deciduous, with dark 

brown hairs on the back; auricles 

low, glabrous; ligule 1-1.5 mm high, 

irregularly toothed, blade upto 8 cm 

long, leaf like, spreading or reflexed. 

Young shoots green, sheath covered 

with glossy black pubescence, 

blades erect imbricating, apex longpointed. 

Leaves 15-22 cm long, 

2-3 cm broad, puberulous; 

petiole 3-4 mm long, auricles an 

inconspicuous rim, glabrous; ligules 

3-8 mm high. Inflorescence 

spikelets slender, 26-31 mm long 

and 2-3 mm broad, with 3 perfect 

flowers, glumes 3, 6-11 mm long, 

narrowly ovate, apiculate; lemma 

15-30 mm long, apex long, pointed 

and rostrate, hairy on the back, 

163

Gigantochloa 

fringed by dark brown hairs; upper lemma inrolled; palea 10-22 mm long, keeled, notched to bifid, 5-veined between 

keels; anthers 6, 6-10 mm long with rostrate and hairy apex, maroon. Caryopsis cylindrical, 10-14 mm long grooved 

along the dorsal side, pale brown. 

FLOWERING 

It was reported that gregarious flowering and seeding occurred in Bastar in 1960. G. rostrata flowered gregariously in 

Bangladesh during 1961 and 1978 (Banik, 1987). The species is also reported to flower sporadically. A flowering cycle of 

30-50 years has been reported. 

DISTRIBUTION 

G. rostrata is distributed in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. 

It is also cultivated in different parts of the country. 


The culm epidermis shows long cells rectangular with sinuous to wavy walls, papillae in single large groups, guard cells 

dumbbell shaped and subsidiary cells absent, microhairs with spicules. Internodal cortex homogeneous, thin-walled, 

peripheral vascular bundles reduced, transitional vascular bundle have both the caps and sheath fused, central vascular 

bundle with six fibre groups, lining of the cavity parenchymatous (Pattanath and Rao, 1969). 

The culm macerate of the species showed a fibre length of 2.54 mm, fibre diameter 15.68 µm, lumen diameter 4.41 µm, 

wall thickness 5.80 µm and parenchyma 19.25 per cent (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). 

CHEMISTRY 

Beating characteristics showed caustic soda 23 per cent, Kappa No.27.9, Lignin in bamboo 22.6 per cent, Lignin in 

pulp 3.8 per cent, Pentosans in bamboo 16.2, Pentosans in pulp 16.7 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 52 per cent, 

screened 50.9 per cent (Singh et al., 1976). 


Seeds linear-oblong in shape with either acute or truncate tips. Length 1.91 cm, mid width 0.29 cm, mid breadth 0.21 

cm. About 26500 seeds weighed one Kilogram. Seed germination observed was 39 per cent and the germination period 

is reported to be 1-9 days (Banik, 1987). 

Studies on soil profile from Assam indicates that good growth is observed in brown forest soils having less oxides. Also 

occurs in lighter textured soil under high rain fall. This species can easily be propagated by culm cuttings. A three year 

felling cycle has been generally recommended for the species. 

USES 

The culms are used for building huts and making baskets. Also used as a raw material for paper industry. Seeds are used 

as food by the local people. 

164


REFERENCES 

Agrawal, S. P. and Luxmi Chauhan, 1992. Culm and leaf epidermis of Indian Bamboos. Part V - Gigantochloa Kurz ex 

Munro. Indian Forester, 118: 284-295. 

Alam, M. D. K. 1982. A Guide to Eighteen Species of Bamboos from Bangladesh. Plant Taxonomy Series Bulletin -2. 

Forest Research Institute, Chittagong: 29p. 

Anantachote, A. 1987. Flowering and seed characteristics of bamboos in Thailand. In Recent Research on Bamboos. 

A. N. Rao, G. Dhanarajan and C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, 1985, Hangzhou, 

China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 136-145. 

Anantachote, A. 1990. Flowering characteristics of some bamboos in Thailand. In Bamboos: Current Research. 

I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, November 

14-18, 1988, Cochin. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 

66-75. 


Bennet, S. S. R. and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun: 

67-73. 

Dransfield, S. and Widjaja, E. A. (Eds.). 1995. Plant Resources of South East Asia No.7. Bamboos. Backhyuys Publishers, 

Leiden: 189 p. 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, 7: 61-68. 

Gupta, K. K. 1987. Gregarious flowering of Oxytenanthera spp. Indian Forester, 113: 385-386. 

Holttum, R. E. 1958. The Bamboos of the Malay Peninsula. Garden’s Bulletin Singapore, 16: 104-133. 

Pattanath, P. G. and Rao, K. R. 1969. Epidermal and nodal structure of the culm as an aid to identification and 

classification of bamboo. In Recent Advances in the Anatomy of Tropical Seed Plants Vol. 7. Hindustan Publishing 


Prawirohatmodjo. S. 1990. Comparative strengths of green and air-dry bamboo. In Bamboos: Current Research. 

I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, November 

14-18, 1988, Cochin. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 

218-222. 

Singh, M. M.; Parkayastha, S. K.; Bhola, P. P.; Lal, K. and Singh, S. 1976. Fibre morphology and pulp sheet properties 

of Indian bamboos. Indian Forester, 102: 579-595. 


Widjaja, E. A. 1987. A revision of Malesian Gigantochloa. Reinwardtia, 10(3): 291-380. 

Wong, K. M. 1982. Two new species of Gigantochloa (Bambusoideae) from the Malay Peninsula. Malaysian Forester, 

45(3): 345-353. 

Zamora, A. B. 1994. Review of micropropagation research on Bamboos. In Constraints to Production of Bamboo and 

Rattan. INBAR Technical Report No.5. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, New Delhi: 45-100. 

165

166


MELOCANNA TRIN. 

Arborescent bamboo of moderate size; unarmed. Culms 

erect, arise singly from the rhizomes at distance. Culm-sheaths often persistent, brittle, short with short, auricles; 

imperfect blade very long. Leaves broad, petiole, smooth, no transverse veinlets. Inflorescence a large compound panicle 

of spikes. Spikelets 2-3, fasciculate in bracts in the axils of the spikes, acuminate, with one fertile and one or more sterile 

flowers; empty glumes indefinite, acuminate, mucronate, striate; flowering glume similar to empty glumes; palea also 

similar, convolute, not keeled; lodicules 2, narrow. Stamens 5-7; filaments free or irregularly joined. Ovary glabrous; 

style elongate; stigma 2-4, short hairy. Caryopsis very large, pear-shaped, long-beaked; pericarp very thick. 

So far, only two species are known. M. arundina is native to Myanmar and cultivated in several parts of the world. 

M. baccifera is found natural in Bangladesh, 

Myanmar and North Eastern parts of India. It is 

occasionally introduced and cultivated in different 

botanical gardens. 

● 

➡ 

▼● 

➡ 

● 

▼● 

● 

● 

● ● 

● 

▼M. arundina 

● M. baccifera 


➤ 

Distribution map of Melocanna 

167

Melocanna 

Melocanna arundina 

Melocanna arundina Parkinson, Indian For. 61: 326. 1935; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in 

India 77. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 104. 1992. (Fig. 53). 

Melocanna humilis Kurz, For. Fl. Brit. Burma 2: 569. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 120. 1896 and in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 418. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 180. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) 

Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen bamboo. Culms 3-5 m high, ca.2.5 cm diameter, dark green, very hollow, nodes hardly thickened, internodes 

ca.30 cm long. Culm-sheaths shining, cylindric, very short, rounded and inflated at the sinuate mouth, blade 

linear, subulate-acuminate, erect, 

decurrent into a narrow naked 

green stripe bordering the sinuses; 

ligule very short, entire. Young 

shoots with grooved depression at 

the upper part of the sheath, blade 

long, green, flagellate, attached to 

the centre of the groove. Leaves 

10-15 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad, 

lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 

obtuse at the base, under surface 

line 53 

slightly rough; petiole ca. 2-3 mm 

long, leaf-sheath glabrous, with 

long deciduous bristles at the 

minutely auricled mouth. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is native of Myanmar. 

It has a restricted distribution in 

Assam. Cultivated in Indian 

Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. 

➤ 

Fig. 53. M. arundina. A - leafy 

branch; B - culm-sheath; 

C - young shoot; D - a portion of 

culm. 

168



Brown leaf disease of M. arundina has been reported during 1986 in bamboo plantations in Assam Agricultural University. 

Lesions on the leaves eventually become brown. The causal agent was identified as Fusarium pallidoroseum (Deka et 

al., 1990). 

USES 

Culms are used for construction purposes and fencing. 

Melocanna baccifera 

Melocanna baccifera 

(Roxb.) Kurz, Prelim. Report 

Fl. Pegu, Append. B. 94. 

1875; Skeels, U.S. Dept. Agr. 

Bur. Pl. Ind. Bull. 223: 50. 

1911; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 104. 1992. (Fig. 54). 

Bambusa baccifera Roxb, Pl. 

Corom. 3: 38, t. 243.1819. 

and Fl. India 2: 197. 1832; 

Melocanna bambusoides 

Trin, Sprengel, Neue Entd. 

2: 43. 1821; Gamble, Ann. 

Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 

118. 1896. 

line 54 

➤ Fig. 54. M. baccifera. 





E - spikelet; F - stamens 

aroung pistil; G - lodicule; 

H - stamen; I - young shoot. 

169

65-(crop 

from 

bottom) 

170


➤ 

M. baccifera - Natural growth 

➤M. baccifera - A clump 

➤ 

M. baccifera - Internode with culm sheath 


Assam - Tarai; Bengal - Muli; Cachar - Wati; Garo 

- Watrai; Manipur - Moubi; Mikir - Arten; 

Nagaland - Turiah; Sylhet - Bajail; Dhaka - Nali. 

66 

DESCRIPTION 

Evergreen bamboo, clump diffuse. Culms 10-20 m 

high, 3-7 cm diameter, green when young, straw 

coloured when old; longest internodes 20-25 cm 

long. Culm-sheaths 10-15 cm long, yellowish green 

when young and yellowish brown on maturity, 

brittle, striate, truncate or concave at the tip, 

glabrous or sparsely with whitish appressed hairs 

on the back. Ligule very short with undulated or 

toothed margin, auricles small, sub-equal, 

membranous, fringed with silvery bristles; blade 

deciduous, usually 15-30 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, 

subulate. Young shoots smooth, light purple or 

purplish green; ligule with long hairs, soon 

67 

caducous, blades linear, green. Leaves 

15-30 cm long, 2.5-5 cm broad, oblong 

lanceolate, apex acuminate, leaf sheath 

thick, ligulate; auricles very small with 

silvery bristles. Inflorescence a large 

compound panicle of one-sided 

drooping, spicate branches, bearing 

clusters of 3 to 4 spikelets in the axils of 

short, blunt, glabrous bracts, empty 

glumes 2-4. Palea glabrous, convolute, 

mucronate, acuminate not keeled. 

Lodicules 2, narrow, linear-oblong, 

obtuse and erose-fimbriate at the tip. 

Stamens free at base or irregularly 

joined, filaments flat; anthers yellow, 

171

Melocanna 

notched at the apex; ovary ovoid; style elongate, divided in to 2-4 hairy recurved stigmas. Caryopsis very large, fleshy, 

pear-shaped, the stalk is inserted at the thick end and the apex terminates in a curved beak. 

The species can be recognised easily by diffused clump habit, having culm-sheath straight for about two-third of the way 

up, then once or twice transversely waved with subulate flagelliform blade (Alam, 1982). 

Chromosome number 2n = 72. 


Flowering has been reported during 1863, 1866, 1892, 1893, 1900-1902, 1910-1912, 1933 and 1960 (Chatterjee, 1960; 

Vaid, 1972). Sporadic flowering was reported in Cachar and Manipur in 1967 (Nath, 1968). Sharma (1992) reported 

flowering at FRI, Dehra Dun. Flowering and fruiting was observed at Pune during 1993. Length of flowering period 

according to Gamble (1896) is 30 years, according to Kurz (1876) is 30-35 years, according to Troup (1921) is about 45 

years. Culms and rhizomes die after flowering. Profuse natural regeneration has been observed. 

Seed is green, smooth, sessile, very large having a mid length and diameter of 6.9- 7.2 cm and 4.1-4.3 cm, respectively; 

obliquely ovoid, thick fleshy, onion shaped and the apex terminating in a curved beak. There is no endosperm in the ripe 

seed, but it has a 7-13 mm thick white to creamy coloured fleshy pericarp filled with starch just below the green surface 

of the seed. A more or less round shaped white-coloured embryo with a broad fleshy cotyledonary body is present inside 

the seed cavity. The fruit is not a true caryopsis, it can be termed as a bacciform caryopsis. Vivipary is observed. 


The species is distributed in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, cultivated in many Asian countries. In India, it is mainly 

seen in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal and other parts of Eastern India in the plains and 

low hills (Biswas et al., 1991). Also found in Singtam, East Sikkim. Seen in cultivation in Maharashtra and parts of 

Karnataka. It grows almost equally on the well-watered sandy clay loam, alluvial soil and on the well drained residual 

soils consisting of almost pure sand even at the summits of the low sand stone hills. It springs up in practically pure 

patches where natural forests have been cleared for agricultural purposes (McClure 1966). 


The epidermis is made up of long cells alternating with short cells longitudinally. The long epidermal cells uniform in 

width (about 7.4 µm) with undulating walls, vary in length from 16.5 µm-122 µm. The cell wall thick and septa-like 

partitions absent. One pair of short cells alternate with an epidermal cell, two pairs of short cells present occasionally. 

The cork cells small and rectangular or reniform. Silica cells very small, angular or rectangular. The average number of 

short cell couples is 1894 per mm 2 . Bicellular and fan-like hairs common often occurring in place of short cells. Spines 

present, few, mostly solitary, as many as 22 per microscopic field (0.17 mm 2 ). The average number of stomata 10 per field 

(Ghosh and Negi, 1960). In culm macerates three fibre types are seen; very thick, thick, and thin walled. Septate fibres 

absent, fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked and wall lamellation 4-7-layered. Slenderness ratio 142.2, flexibility ratio 75.6, 

Runkel ratio 0.8, fibre length 2.68 mm; fibre diameter 14.37 µm, lumen diameter 4.08 µm, wall thickness 5.15 µm, 

parenchyma 20 per cent (Singh et al., 1976). 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis showed ash 1.9 per cent, cold water solubles 3.25 per cent. hot water solubles 6.4 per cent, 

alcohol benzene solubles 1.43 per cent, ether solubles 0.81 per cent, caustic soda solubles 18.97 per cent, pentosans 

172


15.13 per cent, lignin 24.13 per cent, cellulose 62.25 per cent (Bhargava, 1945). Analysis of hemicellulose showed 

17.3 per cent yield with the following sugars, pentosans 79.8 per cent, methoxyl 0.8 per cent xylose 79.4 per cent, 

arabinose 79.4 per cent, rhamnose 0.2 per cent, glucose 16.2 per cent, glucuronic acid 2.1 per cent (Rita Dhawan and 

Singh, 1982). 

Beating characteristics of the species showed caustic soda 25 per cent; kappa no.25; lignin in bamboo 27 per cent, in 

pulp 4.1 per cent, pentosans in bamboo 19.6 per cent, in pulp 15.5 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 43.9 per cent, 

screened 43.8 per cent (Bose et al., 1988). Spectral absorbance value of cellulose 0.275, lignin 0.255 (Sekar and 



One clump produces about 5-7 Kilogram of seeds. Average seed weight is about 55.3 g. In a sample of 1000 seeds, the 

length, diameter and weight varied from 3.6- 10.9 cm, 0.2-6.1 cm and 7.8-150.6 g, respectively. Freshly collected seeds 

have high viability (78.4%). Under normal conditions the viability is for about 35 days. Storage under air dry condition 

prolongs viability to 45 days and storage in dry sand in jute bags upto 60 days (Banik, 1991). Seeds have a high 

germination percentage under shade (negatively photoblastic). Mature seeds germinate even in storage. Number of 

shoots produced from a single seed vary from 1-6. Fresh seeds start germination within 5-7 days and continue for the 

next 20-25 days. Shoots are thick (4-6 mm) soft and conical in shape. Germination is hypogeal. Survival and health of 

seedlings are influenced by seed weight. Seeds can be classified into three grades according to weight. Seedlings from 

the medium and light seeds develop abnormalities like stunted radicle, albino forms, leafless plumule and radicles 

growing upward. Generally 1 to 2 plumules develop and form 1-2 stems. Soon after 2-3 weeks of germination fibrous 

roots develop from the base of young shoot. Shoots emerge successively, new shoots are taller and bigger, biomass 

gradually increases, recording 86.7g in about 10 months. Rhizome development starts within 40 days after germination. 

The leaves produced by seedlings are bigger than the mature leaves (Banik, 1991). 

Seedlings are kept in the nursery for 10-12 months before planting in the next rainy season. To prevent interlogging 

between seedlings, they are transplanted to other beds after six months. Pruning of the three months old seedling stem 

tip induce bud activation. The excised seedlings become woody and it minimises seedling damage during transportation 

(Banik, 1991). 

This species is easy to regenerate from rhizomes. Rhizomes with one to two buds may be planted at a spacing of 4 to 5 

m. Using culm cuttings rooting up to 75 per cent is obtained from two-year-old culms. Such propagules produce on an 

average 20 culms after 4 years of transplanting (Saharia and Sen, 1990). Treatment with growth regulating substances 

enhances rooting response. The offsets can be planted during April to June. Younger offsets of about oneyear-old 

showed better survival than the older ones. It is better to plant 2-3 offsets at a time than a single offset. 

Due to elongated rhizome necks, the culms are produced at varying intervals in all directions forming a diffuse and open 

type of clump formation, which can accommodate the space required for the increased number of culm production in 

later years. Due to this type of growth, the pattern of clump expansion is different in this species. 


Root rot caused by Poria rhizomorpha, has been reported from North Bengal and Assam. Emerging culm mortality 

(about 10%) is reported (Banik, 1983). 

173

Melocanna 


Strength properties tested under air dry condition showed a moisture content of 12.8 per cent, specific gravity 0.751, 

fibre stress at elastic limit 43.4 N/mm 2 , modulus of rupture 57.6 N/mm 2 , modulus of elasticity 12.93 kN/mm 2 , compression 

strength parallel to grain 69.9 N/mm 2 . 

USES 

This species is used for building houses, for making woven ware and as an important source of superior paper pulp. 

Highly suitable for kraft paper making. The culms are strong, durable with inconspicuous nodes. ‘Tabasheer’ an ancient 

elixir of Manipur can be isolated from the culms and branches. Fruits are edible. The culms are used for making floats 

to transport wooden logs. Enormous logs can be transported by these floats. 

REFERENCES 

Alam, M. D. K. 1982. A guide to eighteen species of bamboos from Bangladesh. Plant Taxonomy Series Bulletin 2. FRI, 

Chittagong: 29 p. 

Banik, R. L. 1983. Emerging culm mortality at early developing stage in bamboos. Bano Bigyan Patrika, 12: 47-52. 

Banik, R. L. 1991. Studies on the seed germination, seedling growth and nursery management of Melocanna baccifera 

(Roxb.) Kurz. In Bamboo in Asia and the Pacific. Proceedings of the Fourth International Bamboo Workshop, Chiangmai, 

Thailand, International Development Research Centre, Canada and Forestry Research Support Programme for Asia 

and the Pacific, Bangkok. 113-120. 

Bhargava, M. P. 1945. Bamboo for pulp and paper manufacture. Indian Forest Bulletin No. 129. 

Biswas, S.; Naithani, H. B. and Chandra, S. 1991. Occurrence of Melocanna baccifera in Sikkim. Indian Forester, 117: 

p 583. 

Bose, S. K.; Chowdhury, A. R. and Akhtaruzzaman, A. F. M. 1988. Influence of age on kraft pulping of Muli bamboo 

(Melocanna baccifera). Bano Biggyan Patrika, 17: 41-45. 

Chatterjee, D. 1960. Bamboo fruits. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 57: 451-453. 

Deka, P. C.; Baruah, G. and Mala Devi, 1990. A preliminary investigations on diseases of bamboo in North-East region 

of India. Indian Forester, 116: 714-716. 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, 7: 118-121. 

Ghosh, S. S. and Negi, B. S. 1960. Anatomy of Indian bamboos Part I. Epidermal features of Bambusa arundinacea 

Willd. B. polymorpha Munro. B. vulgaris Schrad., Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro., D. strictus Nees and 

Melocanna bambusoides Trin. Indian Forester, 86: 719-727. 

Kurz, S. 1876. Bamboo and its use. Indian Forester, 1: 219- 235. 

McClure, F. A. 1966. Bamboos: A fresh perspective. Harward University Press, Cambridge: 347 p. 

Nath, G. M. 1968. Flowering of Muli bamboos (Melocanna bambusoides). Indian Forester, 94: p 346. 

Rita Dhawan, R. and Singh, S. V. 1982. Chemical characterisation of hemicelluloses isolated from three species of 

bamboo, Dendrocalamus strictus, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Melocanna baccifera. Journal of the Indian Academy 

of Wood Science, 13(2): 62-66. 

174


Saharia, V. K. and Sen, S. K. 1990. Optimum age of bamboo culm for nodal cuttings. Indian Forester, 116: 780-784. 

Sharma, A. 1992. Muli bamboo flowers in FRI. Indian Forester, 118: 862-864. 

Singh, M. M.; Purkayastha, S. K.; Bhola, P. P. and Sharma, L. 1976. Fibre morphology and pulp sheet properties of 

Indian bamboos. Indian Forester, 102: 579-595. 


Troup, R. S. 1921. The Silviculture of Indian Trees. Vol. 3. Oxford, Clarendon Press: p 1011. 

Vaid, K. M. 1972. Vivipary in bamboo, Melocanna bambusoides Trin. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 

59: 696-697. 

175

176


OCHLANDRA THWAITES 

Shrubby gregarious reed like bamboo. Culms small, thinwalled, 

erect with comparatively longer internodes. Culm-sheaths thin persistent, auricles small. Leaves small to 

moderate-sized, rarely large, linear or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, shortly petiolate, veins many, margin cartilaginous; 

leaf sheath striate, fringed, ligule short. Inflorescence a terminal spike or spicate panicle on a leafy branchlet. Spikelets 

in verticils, partly fertile, partly sterile, 1-flowered, empty glumes 2-5, variable, usually mucronate. Flowering glume 

similar to empty glume; palea membranous, not keeled, lodicules one to several, conspicuous, variable, usually appressed 

to the filaments. Stamens many, filaments free or monadelphous, exerted, anthers long, mucronate. Ovary narrow; 

style elongated; stigmas 4-6, plumose, before opening either close together or twisted. Caryopsis large, ovoid, longbeaked, 

supported by persistent glumes; pericarp 

thick, fleshy. 

The genus Ochlandra is known to have nine 

species of which eight species are endemic to 

Western Ghats of Southern India and one to Sri 

Lanka (O. stridula). The single species reported 

from Malaya (O. ridleyi Gamble), has since been 

transferred (Holttum, 1958) to Schizostachyum 

(Kumar, 1995). 

✪✱ 

▼●✪■ 

❖✿◆✜ ➡ 

▼✪■ 

❖✿✜ 

▼ O. beddomei 

● O. ebracteata 

✪ O. scriptoria 

■ O. setigera 

❖ O. sivagiriana 

✱ O. talboti 

✿ O. travancorica 

◆ O. travancorica var. hirsuta 

✜ O. wightii 

➤ 

Distribution map of Ochlandra 

177

Ochlandra 

Ochlandra beddomei 

Ochlandra beddomei Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 124. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 419. 

1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 182. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 109.1992; Chand Basha and Kumar, Rheedea 4(1): 25.1994; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1): 66.1995. 

(Fig. 55). 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms erect, arching, 10-12 m. high; nodes solitary with single nodal line, slightly pubescent and green. Internodes 15- 

17 cm long, 3-4 cm diameter. Culm-sheaths 11 cm long and 3.5 cm broad, deciduous, glabrous and with a shortlanceolate 

blade, progressively smaller towards the culm apex, blade reflexed horizontally. Leaves oblong, lanceolate 10- 

14 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, obliquely rounded at the base into a 5 mm long petiole, long-acuminate above with a 

twisted setaceous point. Seedling 

leaves up to 50 cm long, leaf surface 

smooth above except on the veins 

towards the edge, smooth and 

somewhat glaucous below; margins 

cartilaginous, revolute, midrib narrow. 

Secondary nerves about 8 pairs, 

intermediate 6-7, transverse veinlets 

none. Petiole 2-5 mm long, sheaths 

auricled and bristly, striate, pubescent, 

callus at tip; callus with a few erect, 

stiff, pale bristles; ligule very narrow. 

Inflorescence short terminal spicate 

panicle on leafy branches or on leafless 

nodes. Spikelets clustered, 2-3.5 cm 

line 55 

long, sub cylindric, covered with 

scattered, stiff bulbous-based, brown 

➤Fig. 55. O. beddomei. A - leafy 

branch; B - leaf and leaf-sheath; 

C - culm with branches; D - culmsheath; 

E - spikelet; F - empty glumes; 

G - flowering glume; H - palea; 

I - lodicules; J - stamen; K - pistil; 

L - pistil with stigma spread; 

M - caryopsis. 

178


hairs. Bracteate 2-4, empty glumes 2, basal ovate, often long mucronate at apex, many-nerved, hirsute, outer glume 2 

cm long, linear, longer than the inner flower, 1-1.5 cm in fruit; flowering glume ovate-lanceolate, mucronate, 2.8 cm 

long, many-nerved; glabrous, in flower, 2.3-3 cm long in fruit. Palea membranous, lanceolate-subobtuse, shorter than 

the flowering glume, 2.6 cm in flowers, in fruits 3 cm long. Lodicules 5, narrowly elongate, 2 lodicules bipartite at the 

apex 2-2.5 cm and 0.2-0.4 cm, 2-5-nerved, glabrous. Stamens many, exerted, filaments free; anthers narrow, 1.2-1.6 cm 

long, bifid at apex, mucronate. Ovary glabrous, sub-orbicular, beak of the perigynium produced into an angular stylar 

sheath enclosing the style which is terminated by 6 plumose whitish stigmas. Caryopsis 5 x 1.7 cm, beak 2.5 cm long, 

smooth, glabrous, supported by persistent glumes and paleas. Pericarp thick and fleshy. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering of this species was reported in 1875, 1876. Recently collected in flower in 1986, 1988 and it flowered under 

cultivation at KFRI, Peechi in 1992. The clump dried after flowering. 


This species is endemic to Western Ghats. Rare and localised in distribution, located at few places in Kerala and Tamil 

Nadu. 

USES 

Mainly used for basket and mat making. This is also used for the construction of huts and as a raw material for pulp. 

➤ 

O.beddomei - Natural growth 

68 

179

Ochlandra 

Ochlandra ebracteata 

Ochlandra ebracteata Raizada and Chatterji, Indian For. 89: 362. 1963; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 110.1992; Kumar, 

Rheedea 5(1): 68.1995. (Fig. 56). 


Kerala - Valleeta. 

DESCRIPTION 

An erect, shrubby or arborescent, reed-like, 

gregarious bamboo, clumps tufted, 

comprising 60-70 culms. Culms up to 4.6 m 

high. 1.9-3.8 cm diameter, nodes shining 

green, internode 45.7 cm long. culm-sheaths 

13-15 cm long excluding the blade, 6-11 cm 

broad, covered with many appressed, 

chocolate-brown to black subulate hairs; 

blade 12-15 cm long, 1.5-2 cm broad, 

lanceolate-acuminate; ligule 5-9 mm long. 

Leaves narrow to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 

40-50 cm long, 6-11 cm broad; more or less 

cuneate at base, glabrous on both sides; 

petiole grooved and twisted, 2-10 mm long, 

apex long acuminate and scabrous, both 

surfaces glabrous, margin smooth to very 

slightly scabrous, midrib thick and raised 

below, secondary veins 10-15 pairs, 

intermediate 6-8, transverse veinlets 

numerous; leaf-sheath longitudinally striate, 

glabrous and 2 short ciliate auricles; ligule 

2-4 mm, arching. Inflorescence a flagellate 

spike of sub-verticillate to verticillate clusters 

of sessile spikelets with a few comparatively 

large fertile spikelets mixed with smaller 

sterile ones. Fertile spikelets 2.5-3 cm long 

0.5-0.7 cm broad, cylindro-conical, smooth, 

➤ 

line 56 

Fig. 56. O. ebracteata. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; C - flowering 

branch; D - empty glumes; E - flowering glume; F - palea; G - lodicules; 

H - stamens around pistil; I - stamen; J - pistil; K - caryopsis. 

shining, glabrous. Sterile glumes 2-4, 0.6-1.3 cm long in flower, 1.3-1.8 in fruit, fertile glume 1.75 cm long in flower, 

2.5-3 cm in fruit. Palea slightly shorter than fertile lemma, thinner in texture, lodicules 4. Stamens numerous, 

monadelphous; anthers 10-15 mm long; ovary very small, dorsally compressed, somewhat spherical; styles fused into a 

long and thick rostrum surmounted by 7-9 plumose, spirally twisted stigmas. Caryopsis 6.0 x 1.5 cm, light chocolate 

brown, oblong, somewhat wrinkled ending in a conical beak. 

180



Flowering was first noted during March-April 1961 and 1963. It flowers gregariously and the clump dries after flowering. 

Recently collected in flower during 1987, 1988 and 1992 from Achenkoil and Edapalayam of Southern Kerala. Flowering 

started in January and first set of mature seeds were available by April. The local people reported that they observed 

flowering once in six years. 

Fruits arise in clusters at the base of branches and in one cluster 3-10 fruits are seen. Rarely solitary. Fruit length vary 

from 3.2 to 4.1 cm excluding the length of long beak which is about 2.9 to 3.7 cm. Fresh weight vary from 3.6 to 4.8 g/ 

fruit. In one kilogram there would be 200 to 280 fruits. The fresh fruits contain 58 to 61 per cent moisture, soon after 

collection. Profuse natural regeneration was seen in the flowered areas soon after the onset of monsoon. Vivipary was 

observed (Seethalakshmi, 1993). 


This species was first recorded from Parithipally range, Kottur Reserve, Trivandrum Division, Kerala in the year 1963. 

It is endemic to Western Ghats and is confined to the hilly districts of Kerala along the stream side. 


Culm anatomy of the species show vascular bundles predominantly of Type III (based on Grosser and Liese, 1971) in the 

internodal region. The bundles of the outer region with thick sclerenchymatous sheath, enclose a patch of parenchymatous 

tissue towards inner protoxylem. The innermost bundles show Type I structure. Additional patches of sclerenchyma 

found scattered in the inner region. Type II bundles rarely found at basal part of the culm, more common in the upper 

region (Bhat - unpublished). Culm macerates show very thick, thin and very thin-walled fibres. Septate fibres present 

and striate. Fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked. Wall lamellation 3-10 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal 

communication). Seed anatomy shows navel and ventral sutures are absent. The seed coat is made up of palisade-like 

sclereids, followed by 2-3 layered spherical or oval-shaped cells with dark stained thick walls. Aleurone tissues observed 

between fleshy pericarp and embryo. Endosperm absent. Developed embryo occurs at the centre of the fruit. Pericarp 

thin walled and parenchymatous. (Appasamy, 1993). 

CHEMISTRY 

Biochemical analysis of seed showed starch 73.88 per cent, total sugar 8.61 per cent, phenol 3.46 per cent, protein 9.84 

per cent and lipid 4.24 per cent. The amount of protein was less when compared to B. bamboos and D. strictus seeds 

and phenol was high (Appasamy, 1993). 


Seeds are sown in raised nursery beds filled with soil sand mixture. Germination starts within 3 days and complete by 

10 days. It is essential to protect the seeds from rodents by covering with wire mesh. Partial shade is necessary for proper 

germination. The seedlings reach a height of 0.5-1 m within one year. Trimming of the top portion helps to reduce 

damage during transport. (Seethalakshmi - unpublished). Germination of seeds vary from 57 to 73 per cent initially 

and it was observed that the germination was reduced to 4 percent within a period of 3 months (Seethalakshmi, 1993). 

Rhizomes can be planted directly during the onset of monsoon. For vegetative propagation, two-noded culm cuttings 

treated with growth regulating substances (NAA 100 ppm, aqueous solution) by cavity method gives 30 per cent 

rooting (Seethalakshmi - unpublished). 

181

Ochlandra 

pix 4-ss 

➤ 

➤ 

Flowering of O. ebracteata 

Fruits of O. ebracteata 

➤(opposite page) A clump of O. scriptoria 

pix 5 ss 


Witch’s broom disease has been reported in this species causing profuse 

growth of axillary shoots and pronounced reduction of internodal length 

and size of the stem, sheath and leaves. The fungus, Balansia linearis was 

seen associated with this disease. It produced dark brown to black 

fructifications on the affected leaves and usually spread lengthwise from 

the leaf base to the apex. Often the whole leaf appeared to be a fungal 

fructification with the exception of a small portion at the tip. The infection 

was recorded throughout the year (Mohanan, 1990). Sooty mould caused 

by Spiropes scopiformis, Meliola sp., and leaf spot caused by Glomerella cingulata, Dactylaria sp. have also been recorded. 

The major fungi reported on stored seeds were species of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Dactylaria, Mucor and 

Rhizopus (Appasamy, 1993). 

USES 

Used in paper industry and for making baskets and mats. Powder prepared from the dried seeds is used as cattle feed. 

Ochlandra scriptoria 

Ochlandra scriptoria (Dennst.) Fisch. in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 3(10):1863. 1934; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1):3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 110.1992; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1):70.1995. (Fig. 57). 

Bambusa scriptoria Dennst., Schluessel Hort. Malab. 31. 1818; Bheesa rheedii Kunth, Enum. 1:434.1822; Ochlandra 

rheedii (Kunth) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7:121. 1896 and in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 

7:418.1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 181. 1913. 


Kerala- Ammei, Bheesa, Kolanji, Ottal. 

182


DESCRIPTION 

A gregarious shrubby bamboo. Culms erect up to 5m tall, smooth; 

nodes somewhat raised; internodes ca.45 cm long, 2.5 cm diameter. 

Culm-sheaths truncate with 2 falcate, long-ciliate auricles; blades 

long, ensiform, 10-15 cm long, purplish. Leaves linear lanceolate, 

10-25 cm long and 1-3 cm broad, smaller and larger ones intermixed, 

smaller being most frequent, rounded at base, pointed at apex, 

smooth on both surfaces, sheath smooth, with 2 falcate auricles 

fringed with deciduous bristles, ligule very short. Inflorescence a 

short terminal or axillary spike. Spikelets cylindric, acute, glabrous, 

sterile in heads, smaller, 1.2-1.8 cm long, fertile few, subsolitary with 

bracts, empty glumes 2-3, flowering glume larger, sub-acute, palea 

convolute, not keeled, lodicules many. Stamens 15-18 or more, 

exserted, filaments free, slender, anthers mucronate. Ovary oblong, 

surmounted by perigynium containing the style, which is cleft at 

the apex into 3 plumose stigmas. Caryopsis oblong, large, long- beaked, 7.5 x 1.2 cm. 

69 


Although flowering is reported to be annual, it is not very frequent. From the Western Ghats, this species was collected 

in flower during 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1995. Clumps dry after gregarious flowering. 

Of all the species of Ochlandra reported from Southern India, the fruits of this species is found to be the smallest. The 

length of the fruit vary from 2.8 to 3.9 cm with a beak of 2.7 to 3.4 cm. Fresh weight is 1.56 to 1.6 gm/fruit. One 

kilogram contains about 625 to 640 fruits. The moisture content vary from 65 to 70 per cent (Seethalakshmi, 1993). 


This species is endemic to Western Ghats. Distributed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, found growing mostly on 

river banks. 


Vascular bundles at the internode scattered, triangular, radially elongated at outer region and tangentially elongated at 

the inner region. Sclerenchymatous bundle sheaths prominent towards the outer region. Sheath size vary in the protoxylem 

and metaxylem elements. At the nodal region, the hypodermis has 4 to 5 layered sclerenchyma, bundle sheath 

sclerenchyma found adjacent to the phloem and protoxylem. Three variants of libriform fibres present. The vessel 

elements are long, narrow with simple perforation plate (Appasamy, 1989). Recent observations (Bhat - unpublished) 

show that vascular bundles of Type I occur along with the Type II in this species. The central bundles are of Type II with 

a transition to Type I towards the inner region. The upper height levels of the culm do not show a distinct transition in 

bundle morphology from Type II to Type I as evident at lower height levels. 

Fibre characteristics in this species showed a fibre length of 1954 µm diameter 12.0 µm, lumen width 6.9 µm wall 

thickness 4.8 µm, slenderness ratio 162.8, flexibility ratio 57.5 and Runkel ratio 1.3 (Sekar and Balasubramanian - 

personal communication). 


Seeds are sown after collection in nursery beds filled with sand and soil mixture, partial shade is necessary for initial two 

months. Initial germination is about 70 per cent. Seeds are viable only for a period of two months (Seethalakshmi, 

1993). Seedlings can be transplanted after a period of one year. Rhizomes can be separated from the culms during the 

183

Ochlandra 

onset of monsoon and can be 

used for field planting. Twonoded 

culm cuttings treated 

with IBA 100 ppm give the 

highest percentage of rooting 

in culm cuttings (50%). The 

rooting and shooting 

responses can be significantly 

enhanced by the application 

of suitable growth regulating 

substances. The cuttings are 

treated by the cavity method 

and planted horizontally in 

nursery beds (Seethalakshmi 

et al., 1990). 

line 57 

MYCORRHIZAE 

The presence of vesicular 

arbuscular mycorrhizae 

(VAM) Glomus fasciculatum 

is reported in the rhizosphere. 

About 86 per cent 

infection was observed in the 

roots collected from plants 

growing near Pudukode lake, 

Wynad District. (Appasamy 

and Ganapathy, 1992). 

PESTS AND 

DISEASES 

Damping-off and seedling rot 

has been recorded in this 

species, caused by Fusarium 

moniliforme. Leaf spots 

caused by four new 

pathogens, Dactylaria sp., 

Exserohilum sp., Glomerella cingulata and Pythomyces sp. has been found. Two other diseases recorded from Kerala are 

Sooty mould and Witch’s broom caused by Spiropes scopiformis and Balansia linearis respectively (Mohanan, 1990). 

USES 

➤ 

Fig. 57. O. scriptoria. A - rhizome; B - leafy branch with inflorescence; 

C - empty glumes; D - flowering glume; E - palea; F - lodicules; G - pistil surrounded by 

stamens; H - stamen; I - pistil; J - caryopsis. 

This is one of the important bamboo species used mainly in pulp and paper industry. Also used for making mats, 

baskets, floats and rafts. Bamboo boards are made from the mats. Small culms are used for making flutes. 

184


Ochlandra setigera 

Ochlandra setigera Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 128. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 420. 

1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 184. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 113. 1992; Chand Basha and Kumar, Rheedea 4(1): 26. 1994; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1):72.1995. (Fig. 58). 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms erect or straggling, 

culms ca.6 m high, 1.2-1.8 

cm thick, smooth, without 

branches below, much 

branched above; nodes 

hardly swollen; internodes 

25-30 cm long, whitish 

below the nodes, walls 0.2- 

0.5 mm thick. Culmsheaths 

persistent, 15-19 

cm long, thin, papery, 

striate, wrinkled near the 

top, gradually attenuate to 

a narrow apex, 1.1-2 cm 

long, subulate, hair like, 

edges incurved and hairy 

within; ligule very narrow, 

short. Leaves oblonglanceolate, 

acuminate 12-26 

cm long and 1.8-3 cm 

broad, rounded at the base, 

smooth above minutely 

line 58 

➤Fig. 58. O. setigera. 

A - leafy branch with 

inflorescence; B - leafsheath; 

C - flowering 

branch; D - culm with 

branches; E - culm-sheath; 

F - caryopsis; G - empty 

glumes; H - flowering 

glume; I - palea; 

J - lodicules; K - stamen; 

L - pistil; M - stamens 

aroung pistil; N - young 

shoot. 

185

Ochlandra 

70 

hairy beneath scabrous on margins, tip twisted and 

hair-like; midrib narrow, secondary veins 5-7 pairs, 

intermediate 6-7, pellucid glands many; 3-6 mm long 

petiole; sheath smooth with short decurrent auricles, 

fringed with long stiff curved bristles. Inflorescence 

a short terminal or axillary spike on leafy branchlets. 

Sterile spikelets in heads, smaller than the fertile, 

rachis smooth, spikelets cylindric, tip pointed, clothed 

with white hairs. Spikelets 1.8-2.2 cm long, empty 

glumes 3, hairy, 0.7-1.3 cm long, many-nerved, ovate, 

acute and mucronate. Flowering glume larger, 

glabrous, acute at the apex 2.4 cm. Palea more or 

less same length of lemma, membranous manynerved, 

acute at the tip. Lodicules 5, 1.3-1.4 cm long, 

3-6-nerved, 3 of them bifid. Stamens many, 26-32, 

exserted, filaments free, short; anthers 1.2-1.5 cm 

long. Ovary narrow, glabrous; style surmounted by 

perigynium, at the tip 5 plumose stigmas, 3 long and 

2 short. Caryopsis oblong, 6.8 x 1.3 cm, fleshy 

pericarp, glumes persistent, beak 3 cm long. 

FLOWERING 

➤ 

O. setigera - A clump 

For the first time, flowering was reported from Nilambur in 1988 and 

subsequently in 1994 (Chand Basha and Kumar, 1994). 


The species is endemic to Western Ghats. Restricted in distribution, found in 

Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris) and Kerala (Nilambur) at an elevation of 1000 m and 

above. 

ANATOMY 

71 

Sub-epidermal layers are mostly sclerenchymatous showing no distinct 

demarcation between fibrous and fibro-vascular bundles in the peripheral region. 

In the mid-part of the ground tissue bundles are of Type I. The innermost 

bundles lining the cavity are of Type II. Fibre strands absent in the inner region 

(Bhat - unpublished). 

USES 

Local people use the culm of this species for tying bundles of firewood, basket 

and mat making. Leaves are used as fodder. 

➤ 

O. setigera - New shoots 

➤O. setigera - Internode and branches 

186


72 

187

Ochlandra 

Ochlandra sivagiriana 

Ochlandra sivagiriana (Gamble) Camus, Les bambusees 181. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) 

Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 

113.1992; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1):74.1995. 

(Fig. 59). 

O. rheedii var. sivagiriana Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 122. 1896. 

DESCRIPTION 

Small straggling reed-like bamboo. Culms 

up to 5 m. high nodes somewhat raised, 

internode 36 cm long 1.8 cm diameter. Culmsheaths 

18 cm long, striate on maturity. 

Leaves linear-lanceolate, acuminate at the 

tip, 8-22 cm long and 1-2.5 cm broad, 

attenuate at the base. Petiole 2-4 mm long. 

midrib narrow, secondary veins 7-10 pairs; 

sheath smooth, glabrous, with two falcate 

auricles fringed with deciduous bristles; ligule 

very short. Inflorescence a short terminal 

or axillary spike or spicate panicle on leafy 

branchlets; spikelets cylindric, acute, slightly 

hairy, fertile, few, 4 x 0.5 cm. Empty glumes 

2, many-veined, acuminate at the tip. 

Flowering glumes larger, 3 cm long, manyveined; 

palea 3.2 cm long, convolute, long, 

mucronate, membranaceous at the base. 

Lodicules 6, ca.1.5 cm long; 1-5-nerved. 

Stamens 27 to 32 exserted, filaments free; 

anthers slightly apiculate. Ovary oblong, 

surmounted by perigynium containing the 

style which is cleft at the apex in 5 plumose 

stigmas. 

line 59 

This species is similar to O. scriptoria in 

general appearance. It differs from 

O. scriptoria in having 27-32 stamens, 

shorter connectives, 6 lodicules; leaves 

attenuate at the base into a petiole ca.4 mm 

long. Leaf-sheath hairy and ciliate. 

➤ 

Fig. 59. O. sivagiriana. A - leafy branch; B - culm with branches; C - culm 

with culm-sheath; D - spikelet; E - empty glume; F - flowering glume; 

G - palea; H - lodicules; I - stamen; J - stamens around pistil; K - pistil. 

(see page 190 for picture of Plant habit) 

188


FLOWERING 

For the first time, flowering was observed in the few clumps growing naturally at Vazhachal (Trichur, Kerala) in 1993. 

After flowering, the clumps dried. Fruit formation was not observed (Kumar, 1995). 

DISTRIBUTION 

Very restricted in distribution, found only in Sivagiri and Palni Hills of Tamil Nadu and Vazhachal of Kerala. 

ANATOMY 

In the internode, fibrous patches present with fibro-vascular strands in the peripheral region. The central bundles are 

of Type II. Fibrous strands occasionally present in the inner region. Between different height levels no appreciable 

anatomical variations 

found. (Bhat-unpublished). 

USES 

Used for basket making and 

tying purposes. Culms are 

used by tribals for fencing. 

Ochlandra 

talboti 

Ochlandra talboti 

Brandis, Indian Trees 684. 

1906; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 181. 1913; 

Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 

6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 115. 

1992; Kumar, Rheedea5 

(1):80.1995. (Fig. 60). 

line 60 

➤Fig. 60. O. talboti. 

A - leafy branch with 

inflorescence; 


C - spikelet; D - empty 

glumes; E - flowering 

glume and palea; 

F - lodicules; G - stamen; 

H - stamens around pistil; 

I - pistil; J - caryopsis; 

K - culm with branches. 

189

Ochlandra 

➤ 

O. sivagiriana - 

Natural growth 

73 

O. rheedii var. sivagiriana sensu Talbot, Trees of Bombay 348. 1902, non Gamble 1896; O. stridula Woodr., J. Bombay 

Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 442. 1901. 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect, arborescent bamboo, growing in dense clump. Culms 3 to 6 m high, 1.2-1.8 cm diameter, slender and drooping 

at the top; internode about 40 cm long; Culm-sheaths smooth, striate, ciliate on the margin, rounded with two small 

ciliate auricles at the tip; blade subulate, acuminate, hairy within at the base; ligule short. Leaves lanceolate, 20-26 cm 

long and 3-3.5 cm broad, ending in a long setaceous point at the apex, cordate or subacute at the base, pale green 

beneath; midrib prominent, secondary veins 10 pairs; petiole short ca. 4 cm long, broad and grooved above; sheath 

smooth, striate, truncate at the tip, bearded with long stiff bristles, ligule very short. Inflorescence terminal or axillary 

spike, 10-20 cm long. Spikelets 2-6, 1-3 cm long in half whorls which are 2 cm apart at the base and congested at the top 

of the rachis; fertile spikelets ovoid, cylindric, few. Empty glumes 3-4, 1-1.9 cm long, broadly ovate, acute, spinous, 

mucronate with spreading white hairs at the tip. Lemma larger, acute, 2.8 cm long; palea similar to lemma; lodicules 

6-7, linear. Stamen 26-40, exserted, pendulous; filaments long, slender; anther linear, sagittate at the base. Ovary 

prolonged into a slender style, 2 cm long and surmounted by 5 plumose stigmas. Caryopsis ovoid, 7.8 cm long, glabrous, 

shining, prolonged into a long slightly curved beak, completely enclosed by 4 persistent glumes. Pericarp thick, fleshy. 

FLOWERING 

In North Canara, it flowered sporadically in 1896. Recently, flowering was observed in Karnataka in 1994 near Virajpet. 

(Kumar, 1995). 


The species is distributed in Karnataka (Coorg and North Canara), and endemic to Western Ghats. It is found growing 

well in the rain forests, often along the banks of rivers and nallahs. 

USES 

It is used for mat and basket making. 

190


Ochlandra travancorica 

Ochlandra travancorica Benth. in Benth and Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 3: 1215. 1883; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 125, pl. 111. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 419. 1897; Camus , Les Bambusees 182. 1913; Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 115.1992; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1):82.1995. 

(Fig. 61). 

Bheesa travancorica Bedd., Fl. Syl. 239, pl. 324. 1873. 


Kerala - Etta, Kar-eetta, Vei; Tamilnadu - Eeral, Eerakalli, Iral, Irul, Ita-kalli, Nanal, Odai. 

➤ 

O. travancorica - Natural growth 

74 

191

Ochlandra 

➤ 

Fig. 61. O. travancorica. 

A - rhizome; B - young shoot; 

C - culm-sheath; D - leafy branch 

with inflorescence; E - empty glumes; 


H - lodicules; I - stamens around 

pistil; J - stamens; K - pistil; 

L - caryopsis. 

line 61 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect, shrubby or arborescent, reedlike, 

gregarious bamboo. Culm 2-6 m 

high, grayish-green, rough, 2.5-5 cm 

diameter; nodes somewhat swollen 

and marked with base of fallen 

sheaths; internodes usually 45-60 cm 

long, sometimes even 1.5 m long, 

walls very thin 2.5 mm. Culmsheaths 

15-20 cm long, thin, 

longitudinally wrinkled, striate, 

covered densely with appressed golden 

or black bulbous-based hairs when 

young, glabrous afterwards, truncately 

rounded above and with a fringe of 

erect stiff bristles, ciliate on the 

margins; imperfect blade narrow, subulate, 4-8 cm long; ligule narrow, entire. Leaves broadly oblong-lanceolate, 9-30 cm 

long and 5-12 cm broad, often obliquely rounded at the base into a thick, broad, somewhat concave, 0.7-1.0 cm long 

petiole, apex long, setaceous, often twisted, both surfaces glabrous or slightly rough, edges scabrous, midrib prominent 

at the base, tapering upwards; secondary veins 12-17 pairs; intermediate 6-8; regular transverse veinlets none but 

pellucid glands, present; sheath striate, glabrous, keeled, ciliate on the edges, ending in a smooth callus and short falcate 

auricles, mouth furnished with several bristles upto 2.5 cm. long; ligule short, truncate. Inflorescence a sub-verticillate 

spicate panicle with a few large fertile spikelets and a few much smaller sterile spikelets in the axils of ovate- lanceolate, 

smooth bracts which bear deciduous imperfect blades. Spikelets ovate or oblong-ovate, 3-4 x 0.8-1 cm, glabrous, striate, 

supported by 2-4 small sheathing bracts; empty glumes usually 3, concave, ovate, truncate at the top and tipped with 

192


a subulate apex, many-veined and faintly transversely veined; flowering glume similar to the third empty glume; palea 

shorter and narrower, thinner, acute, faintly 2-keeled; lodicules 3, unequal, membranaceous, 1.6-2.2 cm long, 3-7 

nerved, one 2-cleft. Stamens up to 120, monadelphous, at first included and afterwards long exserted; filaments slender; 

anthers ca 2.5 cm long, narrow, long-hairy, apiculate. Ovary narrow, smooth, surmounted by tri- or quadrangular 

perigynium enclosing the style with 5-6 plumose stigmas, spirally twisted together. Caryopsis very large, 7.5 x 2.4 cm, 

brown, oval-oblong, wrinkled, tipped with ca.5 cm long beak; pericarp fleshy, surmounted by persistent glumes and 

palea. 



Although flowering cycle reported by Gamble is 7 years, later field observations do not agree with this. Reported 

flowering dates are 1868, 1875, 1882 and 1905. Gregarious flowering is reported in Kerala during 1976. About a total 

area of 65 km 2 flowered in Sholayar, Kodanad, Erumeli, Vallakkadav, Ranni, Goodrical and Parithipally ranges during 

this period (Asari, 1976). Recently, this species was collected in flower during 1988, 1992 and 1993 from Southern parts 

of Western Ghats. The dichogamous characteristics of the flowers in this species has been reported to be favourable for 

cross-pollination and advantageous for controlled breeding purposes (Venkatesh, 1984). 

The fruit is large in size. About 45 to 57 fruits weighed in one kilogram and the weight of individual fruit varied from 

17.5 to 22.2 gm. Fruit recorded a length of 4.1 to 5.7 cm. The moisture content varies from 62 to 72 per cent. The seeds 

are viable only for 45 days (Seethalakshmi, 1993). Ovule hemi-anatropus and unitegmic. All the cells of nucellar 

epidermis divide periclinally to form a multilayered tissue over the nucellus. Embryo sac development is of polygonum 

type. Endosperm is completely cellular during the globular stage and is absorbed during development. Do not contain 

any starch grains. The fruit development is similar to Melocalamus compactiflorus except that the cells of parenchymatous 

zone do not collapse, but have a large quantity of starch in them. The thickness of pericarp remains same except at the 

base of the fruit where it becomes thin to facilitate the emergence of the plumule and radicle during germination. The 

style persists as long beak even at maturity (Hari Gopal and Mohan Ram, 1987). 


This species is distributed throughout the Western Ghats and is more abundant in South Kerala. It occurs widely as an 

undergrowth in the low level evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Pure patches which grow as impenetrable thickets 

are also found along the sides of rivers and streams where other tree species are not allowed to come up. This species 

prefers diffused light, requires a rainfall of more than 1500 mm, and requires good drainage for proper growth (Asari, 

1976). The soil under this species in general is dark brown, acidic, sandy loam with granular structure, high porosity, 

good aggregate stability and with high water holding capacity. A comparison of soil under O. travancorica with other 

species from natural forests reveals that this species is very efficient for soil conservation (Thomas and Sujatha, 1992). 


The culm internode consists of uniseriate layer of epidermis followed by 4-5 layered hypodermal parenchyma. The 

morphology and frequency of the vascular bundle vary from outer to inner region. Peripheral vascular bundles are 

intermixed with variably shaped isolated bundles. Sclerenchymatous bundle sheath is pronounced towards the outer 

region. At the nodal region, a single layered epidermis is followed by 5-6 layered sclerenchymatous tissue. At the inner 

side the vascular bundles are slender waist type and less frequent. Two types of libriform fibres present. The vessels are 

short and wide with simple perforation plates (Appasamy, 1989). During the recent anatomical investigations, it was 

193

Ochlandra 

➤O. travancorica - A clump 

observed that in the peripheral 

region fibrous patches occur 

along with the fibrovascular 

bundles. The vascular bundles 

are predominantly of Type II. 

However, the bundles lying nearest 

to the cavity are almost of Type I 

in their morphology. There is 

no appreciable difference in 

distribution of these bundle types 

across the stem between different 

height levels of the culm (Bhat - 

unpublished). This species has the 

largest fibre length up to 9 mm. 

The fibre studies have shown a 

slenderness ratio 148.7, flexibility 

ratio 81.6 and Runkel ratio 0.9 

(Sekar and Balasubramanian - 

personal communication). 

75 

CHEMISTRY 

The average chemical composition 

of culms (oven-dry) is as follows: cellulose, 61.8, lignin 26.9, pentosan 17.8, hot water solubles 5.1, ash 2.6 and silica 2.1 

per cent. Pulping tests have shown that among the Indian bamboos, this species gives the maximum yield of pulp 

(unbleached, 48.3 per cent; bleached 45.8 per cent). Analysis of bleached pulp yielded 32 per cent by the water prehydrolysis 

sulphate process; followed by multi- stage bleaching and refining gave the following values; cellulose 96.9, 

pentosans 4.1, ash 0.11 per cent; iron 33 ppm; copper 0.7 per cent; cuprammonium viscosity 13.9 cp, bleaching degree 

85.2 per cent, GE (General Electric Brightness Tester) and filtration factor of viscose prepared from pulp 330 (Bhat and 

Veeramani, 1961). Spectral absorbance value recorded for cellulose 0.277 and for lignin 0.239. (Sekar and 



Natural regeneration occurs from seeds and rhizomes. Soon after the seeds fall, they germinate and within a period of 

6-8 years develop into full clumps which last for a period of 25 years. The sprouting season is usually after 

194


pre-monsoon showers and during rainy season. The height growth is 

completed within two months. One year growth is sufficient for a culm to 

attain full size (Asari, 1976). 

➤ 

76 

O. travancorica - Internode and 

branches 

➤Fruits of O. travancorica 

O. travancorica can be propagated from seeds and by vegetative methods. 

Seeds are sown after collection in nursery beds filled with sand and soil 

mixture in partial shade initially for two months. Seedlings can be 

transplanted after a period of one year. Rhizomes can be separated from the 

culms during the onset of monsoon and used for field planting. Two-noded 

culm cuttings of two year old plants treated with NAA or coumarin by 

cavity method and planted horizontally in nursery beds during summer gives 

50 per cent rooting. After one year, the rooted cuttings can be transplanted 

to field. During field planting, many plantlets are obtained from the rooted 

cuttings by separating the sprouts along with the rhizome. A comparative 

study for two years on growth of plants raised from seedlings and rooted 

cuttings showed 76 to 85 per cent survival. Average 5 culms are produced 

from seedlings and 9 culms from the cuttings. The average height of culms 

in seedlings is found to be 93 cm and in cuttings 160 cm (Seethalakshmi et 

al., 1990). 

Recently, propagation by tissue culture using nodal vegetative buds as explants 

and in vitro flower induction have been reported (Shaji Philip and 

Baby Chacko, 1996). 

To effectively manage the existing resource, the following management strategies are 

recommended. Scientific extraction depending on the annual increment, protection 

from fire and grazing, periodic assessment of growing stock and strict adherence to 

the felling rules. The management in general involves a selective felling system with 

a felling cycle of four years. The suggested felling rules are: (1) culms less than two 

years old should not be cut; (2) all the new culms and 25 per cent of the old culms 

should be retained; (3) no clump should be clear-felled before seeding; (4) culms should 

be cut at one internode above ground; (5) cutting should be done without disturbing the 

new emerging culms (Kumar, 1990). 

pix 6 

(cut out) 

MYCORRHIZAE 

Occurrence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM), Glomus albidum is reported from the rhizosphere and cent per 

cent infection was reported in the roots collected from Ponmudi, Kerala (Appasamy and Ganapathy, 1992). 


Witch’s broom disease has been reported widespread in the natural reed growing areas. It causes profuse growth of 

axillary shoots and pronounced reduction of internodal length and size of the stem, sheath and leaves. The normal size 

of the leaf (40 x 10 cm) is reduced to 3-10 x 0.5-1 cm due to infection. The fungus, Balansia linearis has been associated 

with this disease. Leaf spot caused by Dactylaria sp., Glomerella cingulata and Pythomyces sp. have been recorded. 

Sooty mould disease caused by Spiropes scopiformis has also been reported (Mohanan, 1990). 

195

Ochlandra 

The main insects associated with damage of stored culms and products are termites and some of the beetles including 

Dinoderus ocellaris, D. minutes, Heterobostrychus aequalis, Minthea rugicollis and Myocalandra exarata (Nair et al., 

1983). 


Storing the reeds under water or chemicals prevents staining and deterioration of mats woven from them. The cheapest 

method is storing in bundles completely immersed in running water. If facility for this is not available, storing under 

copper sulphate or boric acid solution (2%) is also equally effective and the finished products have a glossy greenish 

tinge and pleasing appearance (Gnanaharan et al., 1993). 

USES 

An ideal raw material for paper manufacture. Culms are used for mat and basket making, umbrella handles, fishing 

rods, handicraft, and for making walls of huts. Leaves are used for thatching. The mats made from reeds are used for 

making ‘Bamboo ply’. 

Ochlandra travancorica var. hirsuta 

Ochlandra travancorica Benth var. hirsuta Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 126. 1896; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 183. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 117.1992; 

Chand Basha and Kumar, Rheedea 4(1): 28.1994; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1):85.1995. (Fig. 62). 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect shrubby or arborescent, reed-like gregarious bamboo. Culms 2-6 m tall, gray-green, rough, 2.5-5 cm diameter, 

nodes somewhat swollen and marked with base of fallen sheaths; internodes 45-60 cm long, sometimes even 1.5 m long, 

walls very thin, 2.5 mm. Culm-sheaths 20 cm long, thin longitudinally wrinkled and striate, covered densely with 

appressed golden or black, bulbous-based hairs when young, glabrous afterwards, truncately rounded above with a 

fringe of erect stiff bristles, ciliate on the margins; imperfect blade 4 cm long, narrow, subulate; ligule narrow, entire. 

Leaves broadly oblong-lanceolate, 9-32 cm long and 5-6 cm broad, thicker, edges more cartilaginous, often obliquely 

rounded at the base into a thick broad somewhat concave, 0.4-0.8 cm long petiole, apex long, setaceous, often twisted, 

both surfaces glabrous, midrib thick below. Secondary veins 7-10 pairs, intermediate 6-8, pellucid glands present, leaf 

sheath with appressed bulbous based hair, ending in a smooth callus, short falcate auricles, ligule short, truncate. 

Inflorescence a sub-verticiliate spicate panicle, a few large fertile spikelets, few much smaller sterile spikelets in the 

axils of ovate-lanceolate bracts. Spikelets thickly clothed with light brown velvety pubescence. Spikelets ovate or oblong 

ovate 2.5-3.5 x 0.6-0.8 cm, empty glumes 3, concave ovate, truncate at the top and tipped with a subulate apex, manynerved. 

Flowering glume 4.5 cm long, oblong with a ciliate tip, margin inrolled. Palea 4.5 cm, slightly narrower, thinner 

and acute, faintly 2-keeled; lodicules 3, unequal, membranous 2.6-2.9 cm long, 1-4-nerved, one bifid. Stamens up to 

120, monadelphous, filaments slender; anthers 2-2.5 cm long, narrow, apiculate and hairy. Ovary narrow, smooth, 

196


perigynium 3-4 angled; style linear, stigma 5, plumose. Caryopsis very large, 12 x 3.5 cm, brown, oval-oblong, tipped 

with a 5 cm beak, pericarp fleshy with persistent glumes and palea. 


Flowering has been recorded for the first time from Pandimotta of Kulathupuzha range, Southern Kerala, in 1992 and 

1993. The flowering appeared to be sporadic in nature. Flowering initiated in January and fruits matured by April. 

Large single fruits are seen attached to the base of the branches. About 31 to 41 fruits weighed in one kilogram and the 

weight of individual fruits vary from 24 to 32 gm/fruit. The fruit length is about 5.2 to 7.4 cm with a beak of 4.1 to 5.7 

cm. The fruits are the largest among the species of Ochlandra and probably will come next to the fruits of Melocanna 

baccifera which is reported as the largest bamboo fruit. Moisture content of the fruit was 60-70 percent. Within one 

month, the fruits get dried and wrinkled completely (Seethalakshmi, 1993). 

line 62 

➤ 

Fig. 62. O. travancorica 

var hirsuta. A - leafy 

branch with inflorescence; 

B - culm with branches; 

C - culm with sheath; 


E - empty glumes; 



I - staminal tube and 

stamen; J - pistil; 

K - caryopsis. 

197

Ochlandra 


Endemic to Kerala region of Western Ghats. Distributed mainly in Thenmala, Ranni, Konni and Trivandrum Forest 

Divisions. 

ANATOMY AND MORPHOLOGY 

The structure and distribution of vascular bundles resemble that of O. ebracteata. The sub-epidermal layers are mostly 

sclerified showing no sharp demarcation between fibro-vascular bundles and fibrous strands. In the basal part of the 

culm, the outer vascular bundles are of Type III with a transition to Type I towards the central cavity. However, at upper 

height levels of the culm Type I are more common with occasional Type II in the mid-part of the ground tissue (Bhat - 

unpublished). In the seed, rostrum mucronate at the apex, acuminate. Naval and ventral sutures absent. Seed coat 

formed by scleroids and covered with a thin cuticle, followed by 4-5 layered parenchyma cells, rectangular, pericarp 

fleshy, parenchymatous, four, thin-walled, devoid of any dark contents. Aleurone tissues often found adjacent to the 

pericarp and to the embryo; embryo non-endopsermous (Appasamy, 1993). 

CHEMISTRY 

Biochemical analysis of seeds of this species showed major portion to be of starch, followed by protein and sugar. Small 

quantities of lipids and phenols were also detected (Appasamy, 1993). 


Seeds can be sown soon after collection in nursery beds. Initial germination was about 40 to 50 per cent, vivipary is 

observed. The seeds are viable only for a month. Nursery techniques used for other Ochlandra species can be used. 

Rhizomes can be separated from the mother clumps during the onset of monsoon and planted in pits. Two-noded culm 

cuttings can be used for propagation. Treatment with NAA, enhance rooting response and vigour of rooted cuttings 

(Seethalakshmi - unpublished). Management strategies are similar to Ochlandra travancorica. 

pix 7-ss 

USES 

As the species yields superior 

quality pulp, it offers 

possibility for use in 

rayon manufacture. Other 

uses are similar to that of 

O. travancorica. 

➤ 

Flowered culm of 

O. travancorica var. 

hirsuta 

198


Ochlandra wightii 

Ochlandra wightii (Munro) Fischer in Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 3(10): 1864. 1934; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 117. 1992; Kumar, Rheedea 5(1): 88. 1995. (Fig. 63). 

O. brandisii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 126. 1896 and in Hook. f., Brit. India 7: 419. 1897; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 182. 1913. 


Tamilnadu - Ira-Calli. 

DESCRIPTION 

An erect shrubby bamboo, much 

resembling O. ebracteata. Clumps tufted 

comprising about 30-50 culms. Culms up 

to 6.5-7.5 m tall, 1.5-2 cm diameter; nodes 

prominent with a grayish band on both 

sides, internode ca.48 cm. Culm-sheaths 

8-15 cm long excluding the blade, 5 cm 

broad, covered with many appressed light 

brown subulate hairs; blade 6 cm long and 

1-1.5 cm broad, lanceolate acuminate. 

Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, thick 

18-36 cm long and 3.5-7.5 cm broad, 

attenuate at the base, glabrous on both 

surfaces, whitish beneath, margins 

cartilaginous, smooth, midrib prominent. 

Secondary veins 10-14 pairs; sheath striate 

ending in a smooth rounded callus with two 

short auricles and a few stiff deciduous 

bristles; ligule very long. Inflorescence on 

terminal spike with thick rachis. Spikelets 

several in the verticils in the axils of bracts, 

glabrous, 2.3-2.8 x 0.4-0.6 cm, conical, 

striate; empty glumes 4, basal, manynerved, 

glabrous, 0.6-2 x 0.2-0.4 cm, outer 

two thicker, ovate-truncate with a subulate 

point, the inner 2 ovate, acute mucronate, 

flowering glume thin, membranaceous, 

1.8 x 0.15 cm, many-nerved; palea as long 

➤ 

line 63 

Fig. 63. O. wightii. A - leafy branch with inflorescence; B - spikelets; 

C - empty glumes; D - flowering glume E - palea; F - lodicules; G - stamens 

around pistil; H - stamen; I - pistil; J - caryopsis. 

199

Ochlandra 

as flowering glume, narrow; lodicule 1, large, 1.3 x 0.25 cm, many-nerved, tip serrate; stamens upto 60, filaments 

narrow, long, apiculate. Ovary glabrous, perigynium thick enclosing the style; stigmas 5, plumose. Caryopsis fleshy, 

covered by persistent glumes, 5.5 x 1.8 cm, beak small, 1.5 cm long. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering in this species was reported in 1835 and 1882. Recently collected in flower in 1992 from Achenkoil, Kerala. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is endemic to Western Ghats. It is restricted in distribution to Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This species occurs 

from low elevations up to an altitude of about 1000 m. 

ANATOMY 

Fibrous strands are common in the peripheral region of the internode. In the middle part, vascular bundles are of Type 

II. Towards the inner side, the bundles are of Type I. Additional fibre strands occasionally present in the inner region. 

The internodal structure remains basically the same in the upper levels of the culm except for the absence of a clear-cut 

radial transition of bundles from Type II to Type I (Bhat - unpublished). 

USES 

This species is used for basket and mat making. Also found suitable for paper pulp. The culms are used for making huts 

and leaves are used as fodder. 

REFERENCES 

Appasamy, T. 1989. Histo-Morphological and Histo-Chemical Studies on Some Indian Bamboos. M. Phil. Dissertation, 

Madras University: 31 p. 

Appasamy, T. 1993. Studies on Bamboo Seed Biology and its Propagation. Ph.D. Thesis, Bharathidasan University, 


Appasamy, T. and Ganapathy, A. 1992. Preliminary survey of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) association 

with bamboos in Western Ghats. BIC-India Bulletin, 2(2): 13-16. 

Arora, R. K. and Mauria, S. 1988. Genetic resources of bamboos - An Indian perspective. Indian Forester, 114: 539- 

547. 

Asari, P. K. S. 1976. Habit and Growth of Reeds in Industry-Oriented Management Plan for Reeds 1971-72 to 1991-92. 

Kerala Forest Department, Trivandrum (Unpublished) 348 p. 

Bhat, R. V. and Viramani, K. C. 1961. Viscose rayons from Ochlandra travancorica by water prehydrolysis sulphate 

process. Indian Pulp and Paper, 16(8): p 317. 

Chand Basha, S. and Kumar, M. 1994. Three little known species of Ochlandra Thwaites (Poaceae) from Western 

Ghats, India. Rheedea, 4(1): 24-30. 

Gnanaharan, R.; Mohanan, C. and Chand Basha, S. 1993. Post harvest technology for reed bamboo. BIC-India Bulletin, 

3: 1-6. 

200


Grosser, D. and Liese, W. 1971. On the anatomy of Asian bamboos with special reference to their vascular bundles. 

Wood Science and Technology, 5: 290-312. 


Botany, 60: 477-483. 

Kumar, M. 1990. Reed bamboos (Ochlandra) in Kerala: Distribution and Management. In Bamboos: Current Research. 

I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and C. B. Sastry, C. B. (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, 

Cochin, 14-18, November 1988. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development Research 

Centre, Canada: 38-43. 

Kumar, M. 1995. A reinvestigation on the taxonomy of the genus, Ochlandra Thw. (Poaceae-Bambusoideae). Rheedea, 

5(1):63-89. 

Mohanan, C. 1990. Diseases of Bamboos in Kerala. In Bamboos: Current Research. I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and 

C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Cochin, November 14-18; 1988. Kerala Forest 


Nair, K. S. S.; Mathew, G.; Varma, R. V. and Gnanaharan, R. 1983. Preliminary investigations on the biology and 

control of beetles damaging stored reed. KFRI Research Report 19: 35 p. 

Raizada, M. B. and Chatterji, R. N. 1963. A new bamboo from South India. Indian Forester, 89: 362-364. 

Seethalakshmi, K. K. 1993. Flowering and fruiting of reed bamboos in Kerala. BIC-India Bulletin, 3(2): 37-41. 

Seethalakshmi, K. K.; Surendran, T. and Somen, C. K. 1990. Vegetative propagation of Ochlandra travancorica and 

O. scriptoria by culm cuttings. In Bamboos: Current Research. I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and C. B. Sastry (Eds.). 

Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Cochin, 14-18, November, 1988. Kerala Forest Research Institute, 

Peechi and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 136-143. 

Shaji Philip and Baby Chacko. 1996. In vitro flowering and seed set in vanishing bamboo Ochlandra (Reeds) in Kerala 

State. In Proceedings of Eighth Kerala Science Congress, January 1996. Kochi. State Committee on Science, Technology 

and Environment Trivandrum: 419-421. 


Thomas, T. P. and Sujatha, M. P. 1992. Environmental importance of Ochlandra travancorica with particular reference 

to soil conservation: A case study of Ranni Forest Division, Kerala, India. In Bamboo and its industrial use. Proceedings 

of the International Symposium on International Use of Bamboo, Beijing, 7-11 December 1992. International Tropical 

Timber Organisation, Yokohama and Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing: 299-304. 

Venkatesh, C. S. 1984. Dichogamy and breeding system in a tropical bamboo, Ochlandra travancorica. Biotropica, 

16(4): 309-312. 

201

202


OXYTENANTHERA MUNRO 

Arborescent or climbing bamboo. Culm-sheaths various 

usually rather narrow. Leaves variable but generally small, shortly petiolate. Inflorescence a large panicle with spicate 

heads of few or many spikelets; glumes 1-3. Stamens 6, monadelphous. Ovary ovoid; style slender; stigmas 3. 

There are a total of 16 species for the genus. In India, 2 species are known to occur, of which O. abyssinica is an 

introduced one. The other is distributed in Assam and Mizoram. In this compendium 2 species of Oxytenanthera are 

described. 

▼ 

● 

● 

▼ O. abyssinica 

● O. parvifolia 


➤ 

Distribution map of Oxytenanthera 

203

Oxytenanthera 

Oxytenanthera abyssinica 

Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro in Trans. Linn. Soc. London. 26: 127, 1868; Camus, Les Bambusees, 

144, 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos 

growing in India, 81. 1990. (Fig. 64). 

Bambusa abyssinica. A. Rich. Text. Fl. Abyss. 2: 439. 1851. 

DESCRIPTION 

A fine distinct looking tufted bamboo. Young shoots bluish green with creamish yellow blades, apex shortly pointed. 

Culms 6-10 m tall; 6-10 cm diameter, bright green, unarmed; internodes about 20 cm long; branches sometimes in 

dense fascicles. Culm-sheaths about 20 cm long, 4-10 cm broad, tight, overlapping, covered with dark-brown bristly 

hairs; ligule short; blade 10-13 cm long, involute. Leaves 5-25 cm long, 1-3 cm broad, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 

some what glaucous, with inconspicuous transverse veins, gradually narrowed in to a fine tip. Inflorescence, spikelets 

15-40 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate 

in globose clusters 5-6 cm diameter which are 

some times aggregated into an interrupted false 

spike; fertile florets 1-2; lemmas sharply 

mucronate, convolute, merging into glumes 

below, stamens 6, monadelphous; style long, 

hirsute; stigmas 3, long, hairy, caryopsis linearoblong. 

FLOWERING 

Breitenbach (1961) mentioned that this species, 

in Ethiopia, flowered and died over seven years. 

line 64 

DISTRIBUTION 

Found in Tropical Africa - cultivated at Forest 

Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 

➤ Fig. 64. O. abyssinica. A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering branch; C - spikelet; D - palea; 

E - stamen; F - flower with stamens removed; 

G - culm with branches; H - young shoot. 

204



In the culm epidermis, long cells rectangular with sinuous wall, papillae scattered, guard cell overarched by papillae; 

microhairs cylindrical, bicellular (Pattanath and Rao,1969). Stomata common, unevenly distributed, 25-30 per mm, 18- 

22 µm long, 15-18 µm wide; subsidiary cells high-domed to parallel-sided, long cells narrow, width not uniform, walls 

almost straight but appear wavy due to inconspicuous papillae on the cell, 40-130 µm long and 50-100 µm wide. 

Papillae small, scattered. Short cells solitary and paired, cork cells silicified, equal or smaller than silica cell. Silica cell 

rectangular. Silica bodies rectangular to oval, distinct. Microhairs, macrohairs and prickles absent (Agrawal and Luxmi 

Chauhan, 1991). In the leaf epidermis stomata common, arranged in two bands in 2-3 alternate rows, subsidiary cell not 

clear, appear high-domed to triangular, surrounded by 7-10 elliptical and globose papillae. Interstomatal cell similar to 

long cells but smaller in length, ends concave. Long cells long and narrow, arranged in 4-5 files, walls prominently 

sinuous, rectangular, ends almost straight, Papillae conspicuous, arranged in two rows. Short cells costal and intercostal, 

mostly solitary, cork cells costal inconspicuous, intercostal distinct. Silica cells costal common, intercostal frequent, 

distinct. Silica bodies costal, saddle-shaped, intercostal mostly ‘8’ shaped. Prickles, microhairs and macrohairs present 

(Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1991) Internodal structure - cortex homogenous, thin-walled, peripheral vascular bundles 

reduced, both caps and sheaths fused, central vascular bundles all with five fibre groups, lining of the cavity 

parenchymatous (Pattanath and Rao, 1969). 

The fine structure of thick-walled bamboo fibres is polylamellate. Its composition is such that narrow lamella regularly 

alternate with broader ones, whereby the width of the broad lamella varies. The microfibrillar angle is 80-90 o to the cell 

axis, while in the broad ones, the fibrils are almost parallel to the axis (Parameswaran and Liese, 1976). 

SILVICULTURE 

Under suitable soil and climatic conditions O. abyssinica produces 8-12 tonnes/ha /yr and with irrigation, productivity 

can be enhanced (Waheed Khan, 1968). 

USES 

Culms are used to paddle canoes and the smaller ones as shaft for spears. This species gives good yield of pulp, but it is 

not comparable in quality with other pulp-yielding species. 

Oxytenanthera parvifolia 

Oxytenanthera parvifolia Brandis ex Gamble in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta. 7: 72. 1896 and in Hook. f. Fl. 

Brit. India. 7: 402. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 147. Pl. 91. F. B. 1913. Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 119.1992. (Fig. 65). 


Burmese Tseikdoo-mindoo. 

DESCRIPTION 

A large sized-bamboo with culms up to 7.6 cm in diameter. Culm-sheaths 20.3-22.8 cm long and 20.3-25 cm broad, 

striate, rounded at the top and truncate, appressed brown hairy on the back, imperfect blade 5-7.6 cm long and 

205

Oxytenanthera 

ca. 2.5 cm broad, ovate-acuminate, decurrent on 

the top of the sheath in a narrow, naked, slightly 

auricled band, base rounded; ligules rather broad, 

dentate. Leaves linear-lanceolate 7.6-10 cm long 

and ca. 1.2 cm broad. rounded at base, apex with a 

short subulate twisted point marginal veins 

scabrous above, pale and slightly pubescent 

beneath. Scabrous on one or both margins, leaf 

sheaths hairy in the beginning, later ending in a 

prominent callus and furnished with a few 

deciduous bristles at the top; ligule acute faintly 

dentate, pubescent. Inflorescence, a large panicle 

of spicate branchlets bearing verticils of spikelets, 

each verticil with 4-10 spikelets, bracts small, 

polished, rachis thin, wiry. Spikelets narrow, 

glabrous 13-20 x 0.25-5 mm fertile and sterile 

mixed, empty glumes 2-3, flowering glumes longer; 

palea as long as flowering glume. Stamens exserted; 

anthers obtuse. Ovary ovoid acuminate, hairy, style 

long, slender with 1-2 shortly plumose stigma. 

line 65-60 

FLOWERING 

Brandis recorded its flowering in 1880 from 

Yonzalin Valley (Myanmar). Gupta recorded 

gregarious flowering in Haflong (Assam) during 

1987. 

DISTRIBUTION 

➤ 

Fig. 65. O. parvifolia. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm sheath; D - spikelet; E - empty glume; F - flowering glume; 

G - palea; H - stamen; I - pistil. 

Distributed in Assam, Mizoram and Myanmar. 

REFERENCES 

Agrawal, S. P. and Luxmi Chauhan, 1991. Culm and leaf epidermis of Indian bamboos pt. IV-Oxytenanthera. Indian 

Forester, 117: 1073-1075. 

Breitenbach, F. Von. 1961. Bamboo - a source of cellulose. Ethiopian Forest Review, 1: 21-23. 

Gupta, K. K. 1987. Gregarious flowering of Oxytenanthera spp. Indian Forester, 113: 385-386. 


231-246. 

Pattanath, P. G. and Rao, K. R. 1969. Epidermal and Internodal structure of the culm as an aid to identification and 

classification of Bamboo. In Recent Advances in the Anatomy of Tropical Seed Plants, Vol.7. Hindustan Publishing 



Waheed Khan, M. A. 1968. Economics of bamboo plantations. zcx 94: 718. 

206


PHYLLOSTACHYS SIEB. AND ZUCC. 

Shrubby or arborescent caespitose bamboo. Culms smooth, 

flattened on one side in alternate nodes; nodes prominent, internodes short; branches 2-3, alternate at the nodes. 

Culm-sheaths papyraceous, tessellate. Leaves articulate on the sheath; sheaths loose, smooth. Inflorescence a terminal 

panicle, base covered with spathiform imbricate bracts which often end in an imperfect limb. Spikelets sessile, 1-4- 

flowered, glumes 1-2, many-nerved; lemmas ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, P. assamica many-nerved; paleas 2-keeled, 

often bi-mucronate, many-nerved. Lodicules often 3 unequal. Stamens 3, long exserted; anthers linear. Ovary stipitate, 

ovoid or globose, glabrous; stigmas 3, long, plumose. 

✪ 

This genus is represented by 41 species of which 5 

species are seen in India. Two species naturally 

occur in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and 

Meghalaya and 3 species are introduced. In this 

compendium, details of 5 species of Phyllostachys 

are given. 

▼■ 

●✪❖ 

▼✪ 

■ 

▼P. assamica 

● P. aurea 

✪ P. bambusoides 

■ P. mannii 

❖ P. puberula 


➤ 

Distribution map of Phyllostachys 

207

Phyllostachys 

Phyllostachys assamica 

Phyllostachys assamica Gamble ex Brandis, Indian Trees 667. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 65. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, 

Fl. Assam 5: 55. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 119. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo. Culms 10-12 m tall, bright green in colour, up to 20 cm diameter, with a waxy ring below the 

nodes which disappears on maturity; nodes glabrous and internodes short. Culm-sheaths 15-25 cm long, thin, contracted 

at the summit into a short, truncate or rounded collar, covered with black hairs, imperfect blade subulate, lanceolate, 

wrinkled; ligule fringed with long hairs. Leaves broadly linear glaucous, shortly petioled, somewhat long acuminate, 

setaceous at the tip. 8-12 cm long, 12-16 mm broad, toothed on the margins, covered on the lower surface with stiff 

white hairs; sheaths keeled, ciliate on the margins, shortly auricled, throat with a few hairs. Inflorescence a panicle 

made up of lanceolate spikelets; bracts ciliate at the throat, with a foliaceous limb, large. Spikelets brownish or greenish, 

20-25 mm long, with 3-5 perfect florets, the upper floret imperfect. Lemma ovate acute, many-nerved. Paleas as long as 

the lemmas, narrow, bimucronate at the tip, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels. Lodicules ovate- lanceolate or oblanceolate, 

some times emarginate or bifid fimbriate. Stamens exserted, pendulous, connective apiculate; ovary ovoid, furrowed at 

base. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Found in patches in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh at an elevation of 2400 m. 

USES 

Used for making walking sticks. 

Phyllostachys aurea 

Phyllostachys aurea Carrie ex A and C. Riviere, Bull. Soc. Accl. 3, 5: 716. 1878; Camus, Les Bambusees 64. 1913; 

Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 121. 1992. (Fig. 66). 

DESCRIPTION 

Tufted bamboo with creeping rhizome. Culms 2-8 m tall, 2-3 cm diameter; internode 8-10 cm long, cylindrical or 

grooved, green, golden-yellow when old, smooth glabrous, the lower ones often irregularly shortened and swollen; 

thrusting the sheath scars into an irregularly slanted zig-zag pattern, nodes swollen above the sheath scar, the latter 

always fringed with short white hairs when newly formed, wall 4-6 mm thick. Culm-sheaths 12-18 cm long, promptly 

deciduous, green or light orange-yellow when fresh, with purple red or light green ribbed striation and brown spots on 

208


➤Fig. 66. P. aurea. A - leafy branch; B - culm with branches; 

C - culm-sheath. 

outer surface, covered with short white hairs towards the base, 

auricles lacking, imperfect blade 3-6 cm long, lanceolate to 

line 66 

narrowly lanceolate bent downwards, some times wrinkled; ligule 

1-2 mm high, fringed with long hairs. Leaves 5-8 cm long and 

5-11 mm broad, lanceolate, densely softly hairy, almost glabrous 

with rectangular tessellate veins on lower surface; auricles lacking 

or rudimentary when present with three bristles; ligule 1 mm 

high, long ciliate. Inflorescence a large foliate panicle, occupying 

nearly whole stem, straw-coloured with deciduous spathes. 

Spikelets 18-25 mm long, 2-flowered, glume usually one, papery; 

lemmas glabrous, lightly inrolled; paleas with fine rough hairs at 

apex, 2-keeled. Lodicules ovate lanceolate. Stamens exserted, 

filaments 3-5 cm long; anthers yellow; ovary ovoid, glabrous; style long; stigmas 3 plumose. Caryopsis linear - lanceolate, 

6-8 mm x 1.5-2.0 mm, grooved on back, style persistent. 

Chromosome number 2n = 48, tetraploid (Chengde and Widjaja, 1995). 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to have flowered in 1963. Gregarious flowering may occur when clumps are 15-30 years old 

after which the clumps do not die (Chengde and Widjaja, 1995). 


This species is native of China. Cultivated at Dehra Dun and Mussoorie. P. aurea is frost hardy, grows on rich, deep and 

well-drained sandy soils. 


This can be propagated by seed and by clump division. Seeds being rarely available, normal propagation method is by 

clump division. Clump parts, 0.5-1 metre are taken having a rhizome, roots and one to several culm parts. They are 

planted in previously prepared holes, enriched with organic manure (Chengde and Widjaja, 1995). Propagation by 

tissue culture is attempted from shoot tips, nodes and leaves as explants and found successful (Zamora, 1994). 


Preservation of culms has been tried using cold soaking treatment. Boron penetration after an immersion period of 5 

days was about 93 per cent for split and 79 per cent for unsplit culm parts. (Chengde and Widjaja, 1995) 

USES 

The species is cultivated as an ornamental. The culms are used for making handicrafts. 

209

Phyllostachys 

Phyllostachys bambusoides 

Phyllostachys bambusoides Sieb. and Zucc., Abh. Akad. der Phys. Wissensch Munchen 3: 745, tab.5, fig.3, 1843; 

Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 27, Pl. 27. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 386. 1897; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 56. 1913; Kedharnath and Chatterjee, Indian For. 92: 429. 1966; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 

(n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 121., 1992. (Fig. 67). 

Phyllostachys reticulata sensu Koch., Dendr. 2(2): 350. 1873. 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo. Culms graceful, yellow, 2-4 m high, flattened at one side, 1-1.5 cm diameter, rarely attaining 2 cm 

diameter, glabrous, smooth, polished, green with waxy ring below the nodes, disappears with age, internodes 20-30 cm 

long. Culm-sheaths variable, yellowish-brown, back conspicuously purplish-brown or black spot and blotches; imperfect 

blade lanceolate, less than 2 cm long, auricles usually 2, sometimes only one or entirely lacking with bristles; ligule 2- 

4 mm high, laciniate. Leaves 4-6 at first, later only 2-3 remain, 12-16 cm long and 11-25 mm broad, linear, attenuate at 

the base into a short petiole, long acuminate, setaceous at the apex; sheath with well developed auricles and long 

bristles; ligule well developed, 2-3 mm high. Inflorescence consisting of multispiculate lanceolate spikes, 40 x 10-15 mm 

long, bracts ciliate near the mouth, limb imperfect, foliaceous, large, ovate lanceolate, cordate 35 x 20 mm. Spikelets 

20-25 mm, fertile flower 3-5, terminal flower imperfect; flower greenish; glumes 2, lower very large, sheath like, bluntly 

truncate with a foliaceous green cordate blade, becomes smaller or disappears in the upper flowers, upper short, 7 mm 

long, oblique, keeled, ciliate on the keels, few-nerved, those of the upper flowers longer and more unequal sided in 

terminal spikelets, sometimes absent. Lemmas 20 x 7 mm, ovate-acuminate, main nerve strong, secondary nerves 5-6 

77 

➤ 

P. bambusoides - 

Internodes 

210


pairs paleas, about as long, narrow, two-keeled, minutely scabrous, ciliate on the keels, bimucronate at the apex. Lodicules 

ovate-lanceolate, unequal, emarginate or bifid, ciliate, 3-7-nerved. Stamens exserted; filaments long, 4-4.5 cm; anthers 

1 cm long; ovary ovoid, stipitate, glabrous; styles 2.5-3 cm long, stigmas 3, plumose. 

FLOWERING 

Reported flowering cycle in the species is 120 years. Flowering is reported from Sikkim for the first time in 1968 

(Majumdar et al., 1985). Gregarious flowering was observed in 1961 from Soviet sub-tropics. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is a native of China and Japan. Introduced to Assam and Himachal Pradesh. It is cultivated in Darjeeling 

and Dehra Dun. 

CHEMISTRY 

Laboratory pulping test using 30-50 per cent 

sodium xylene sulphonate as pulping agent, gave 

41.6 per cent unbleached and 39.5 per cent 

bleached pulp. The cellulose content of the 

unbleached pulp was 93.6 per cent and that of 

bleached 92.5 per cent. 

SILVICULTURE 

line 67 

Observations on growth showed that short 

slender culms originate before flowering at the 

base of tall culms, emergence of these culms are 

not seasonal. Soon after flowering, the tall culms 

and rhizomes die and short slender culms grow 

from nodes of dead rhizomes. They bear bottleshaped 

leaves or no leaves at all and seem to die 

gradually. The next set of short slender culm start 

the new generation. They have large leaves and 

no flower. Gradually the culms grow and attain 

normal size and shape. Propagation by tissue 

culture has been attempted from nodes, stem and 

leaves and root induction was obtained (Zamora, 

1994). 

USES 

Young shoots are edible. In China, the roots are 

considered as a tonic. The oral administration 

of the extract of culms has been reported to 

produce rapid hyperglycemia in rabbits. 

➤ 

Fig. 67. P. bambusoides. A - flowering branch; B - culm-sheath; 

C - spikelet; D - flowering glume; E - palea; F - lodicules; G - stamen; 

H - pistil. 

211

Phyllostachys 

Phyllostachys mannii 

Phyllostachys mannii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 28, Pl. 28. 1896, and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 

386. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 65, Pl. 33 fig. A. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 56. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 122. 1992. (Fig. 68). 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose shrubby bamboo. Culms 5-6 m tall, nodes prominent; internodes 20 cm long and 2.5-3 cm diameter, 

green or yellow, flattened on one side. Culm-sheaths 20-22 cm long and 2.5-5 cm broad, papery, straw-coloured, 

rounded at the tip and truncate, extended at the base of the blade into two conspicuous fimbriate, caducous, curved 

auricles; imperfect blade 5-7.5 cm long, recurved, narrow, subulate, decurrent on the sheath; ligule broad, long, pectinate. 

Leaves in pairs in branches, thick, 10-12.5 

cm long and 1.25-2 cm broad, rounded at 

the tip smooth and glabrous on both 

surfaces except for a few white hairs near 

the midrib below, spinulose serrate on the 

margins, midrib prominent below, 

shining, secondary veins 5 pairs, 

intermediate veins 7-8, transverse veinlets 

extremely numerous and finely tessellate; 

sheaths loose, glabrous, smooth, straw 

coloured, ending in narrow ciliate callus 

with few deciduous bristles; ligule short. 


line 68 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is distributed in Arunachal 

Pradesh, Meghalaya and Naga Hills. 

Cultivated in Khasi Hills at an elevation 

of 1500 m. 

USES 

Culms are used for making walking sticks. 

➤ 

Fig. 68. P. mannii. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath. 

212


Phyllostachys puberula 

Phyllostachys puberula (Miq.) Munro, Gard. Chron. (n.s.) 6: 773. 1876; Camus, Les Bambusees 57. 1913; Varmah 

and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 122.1992. (Fig. 69). 

Bambusa puberula Miq. Ann. Mus. Lugd. Bat. 2: 285. 1866. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby bamboo. Culms 3-6 m tall, 2-4 cm diameter, nodes with prominent rings; internodes green, dull, grayishgreen 

when mature; Culm-sheaths yellowish green to light orange-yellow when young, ciliate, ciliated auricles conspicuous 

with scabrous bristles; imperfect blade short, reflexed, lanceolate; ligule 2- 2.5 mm long, ciliate. Leaves 2-3 on twigs, 

5-10 cm long and 8-12 mm broad, lanceolate, chartaceous, acuminate, glaucescent and pubescent near base, slightly 

hairy along nerves, tessellate, margins minutely spinulose, sheath auricles lacking substituted with none to few bristles, 

ligule membranous, 0.5 mm high, ciliate. Inflorescence a fasciculate spike, 2.5-3 cm long, bracts shorter than the 

spike, lanceolate, short-pubescent on the back near the tip, with a short subulate blade at the apex. Spikelets linear, 

usually 2-flowered; glumes 1, 12 mm long, 9-11-nerved, lemmas linear lanceolate, ca.15 mm long, pubescent, gradually 

tapering at the apex; paleas a little shorter than the lemmas, pubescent. Stamens 3, elongate, pendulous; anthers 7-8 

mm long, yellow. Ovary oblong-ovate, style 1, elongate, glabrous; stigmas 3. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is native of China. Introduced in India. 

USES 

This is cultivated as an ornamental bamboo. 

line 69 

➤Fig. 69. P. puberula. A - flowering branch; B - culmsheath; 

C - spikelet; D - flowering glume; E - palea; 

F - lodicules; G - stamen; H - pistil. 

213

Phyllostachys 

REFERENCES 

Chengde, Chu and Widjaja, E. A. 1995. Phyllostachys aurea Carrie ex A & C. Riv. In S. Dransfield and E. A. Widjaja 

(Eds.). Plant Resources of South East Asia No.7. Bamboos. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden: 129-130. 

CSIR. India, 1969. Phyllostachys (Graminae). In Wealth of India, Raw materials. Vol. 8. Council of Seientific and 

Industrial Research, New Delhi: 36-37. 

Majumdar, R. B.; Majumdar, N. C. and Banerjee, R. N. 1985. First Report of the flowering of Phyllostachys bambusoides 

Sieb. et Zucc. In Sikkim with a note on the allied species. Indian Forester, 111: 630-633. 


Zamora, A. B. 1994. Review of micropropagation research on bamboos. In Constraints to Production of Bamboos and 

Rattans. INBAR Technical Report, 5: 45-100. 

214


PLEIOBLASTUS NAKAI 

A reed-like bamboo with long creeping rhizome. Culms 

hollow, glabrous below the nodes. Culm-sheath longitudinally striate. Branches up to seven from each node. Inflorescence 

arises from the culm on axils of the branches. 

Only one species, P. simonii is reported from India (Arunachal Pradesh). 

▼ 

▼ P. simonii 

➤ 

Distribution map of Pleioblastus 

215

Pleioblastus 

Pleioblastus simonii 

Pleioblastus simonii (Carr.) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 145. 1925; 

Tewari, Monogr. bamboo. 123. 1992. (Fig. 70). 

Bambusa simonii Carr., Rev. Hort. 37: 380. 1866; 

Arundinaria fortunei Fenzi, Gard. Chron. 773. 1876 (non. 

Riv.); Arundinaria simonii (Carr.) A. and C. Riv., Bull. Soc. 

Accl. 3. Ser. 774. 1878; Arundinaria brachyclada Hack. ex 

Matsumura, Ind. Pl. Jap. 2: Pt. 1: 89. 1905. 

DESCRIPTION 

A reed-like bamboo with long, creeping rhizome. Culms 

generally monopodial, 90 cm to 6 m tall, 2-2.5 cm diameter, 

hollow, green, glabrous below the nodes at first with 

powdery covering; buds in each node 3-7; branches 1-7 

divaricate, spreading. Culm-sheaths green or pale, 

glabrous, longitudinally striate, lanceolate with small 

appendages, upper half with transverse veins, margins 

ciliate; Leaves 4-30 cm long, 7-30 mm broad, linear 

lanceolate, base narrowed to a short petiole, margins 

serrulate, nerves tessellated; bristles parallel, white, smooth. 

Inflorescence laterally growing from culm or from branches. 

Spikelets 2-7 cm long, lax-flowered, with two bracts, 8-10 

mm long, tessellate. Glumes 11-16 mm long. Lemma 10-14 

mm long, apex bidentate, dorsally hairy, 2-keeled. Palea 3, 3 

mm long, hyaline. Stamens 3; anthers 6-7 mm long with no 

connective. Style short; stigma 3, pilose. 


DISTRIBUTION 

➤ 

line 70 

Fig. 70. P. simonii. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 


The species is distributed in China, Japan and India. It grows in Arunachal Pradesh at an elevation of 3000 m. Cultivated in 

Europe, South Korea and Argentina. 

REFERENCES 

Bennet, S. S. R. and Naithani, H. B. 1986. Pleioblastus simonii (Carriere) Nakai - A bamboo new to India from Arunachal 

Pradesh. Indian Forester, 112: 85-87. 

Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on Bamboo. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun: p 123. 

216


PSEUDOSASA MAKINO 

Rhizome monopodial. Culms erect. Branches arise from 

the upper part of the culm. Culm-sheath persistent. Inflorescence a panicle, spreading, stalked. Stamens 3. Style 1; 

stigma 2-3. Caryopsis oblong, longitudinally sulcate. 

The genus is represented by only one species, Pseudosasa japonica, which is native to Japan and is reported from India 

under cultivation in several botanical gardens. 

▼ 

▼ 

▼ P. japonica 


➤ 

Distribution map of Pseudosasa 

217

Pseudosasa 

Pseudosasa japonica 

Pseudosasa japonica (Sieb. and Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 150. 1925; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6: 4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 123.1992. 

Arundinaria japonica Sieb. and Zucc. ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Gram. 334. 1855. 

DESCRIPTION 

Rhizome creeping. Culms erect, 2.5 m high, 5-15 mm diameter, glabrous, tufted, usually branched in upper half. Culmsheaths 

17-27 cm long, persistent, white or yellow, appressed, deciduous hairs on dorsal surface, apex narrow and 

elongated, ligule 1-2 mm, with hairy edge, blade linear or narrowly lanceolate, 1.5-6 cm long and 3-8 mm broad, at first 

erect and later deciduous. Leaves 8-35 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, narrowly lanceolate, long acuminate, acute at base, 

deep green above, glabrous, oral setae usually absent. Inflorescence a panicle, 7-20 cm long. Spikelets ca. 10, purplish 

or purplish-brown; empty glumes 2, first glume 5-8 mm long and acuminate, second glume 7-10 mm long; lemmas 10- 

12 mm long, oblanceolate or narrowly ovate, more or less scabrous on the dorsal surface, apex acute; palea 8-12 mm long 

with ciliate keels. 

Chromosome number 2n = 48 (Mehra and Sharma, 1975). 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is native to Japan and is largely cultivated in Botanical Gardens of India, particularly in Eastern Himalaya, 

Lloyd Botanical Garden, Darjeeling. 

ANATOMY 

Distribution of short cells is in rows of 3-5 in both surfaces of leaf, shape of silica bodies tall and narrow approaching 

oryza type, bulliform cells and arm cells present. Macro hairs, microhairs and prickles are absent (Sharma et al., 1986). 

SILVICULTURE 

Propagation by tissue culture is attempted from shoots, leaves and nodes of the species (Zamora, 1994). 

USES 

It is grown in the garden as an ornamental and for aesthetic landscaping. 

REFERENCES 

Mehra, P. N. and Sharma, M. L. 1975. Cytological studies in some Central and Eastern Himalayan grasses V. The 

Bambuseae. Cytologia, 40: 463-467. 

218


Sharma, M. L.; Monica Jain and Raj Kumar, 1986. Leaf epidermal studies in bamboos (Gramineae) I. Journal of Tree 

Science, 5: 102-109. 


Zamora, A. B. 1994. Review of micropropagation research on bamboos. In Constraints to Production of Bamboos and 

Rattans. INBAR Technical Report, 5: 45-100. 

219

220


PSEUDOXYTENANTHERA SODERSTROM AND ELLIS 

Culms forming loose clumps, becoming thin and whiplike 

at the tip and bending over. Culm-sheaths abscissile from a thickened girdle. Inflorescence capitate, spikelets nondisarticulating 

with short rachilla segments; glumes 10-11-nerved. Stamens 6, anthers penicillate. Ovary glabrous, style 

long, hairy, stigmas 3. Fruit a caryopsis, with the pericarp separable from the seed below. 

This genus is endemic to South India and Sri Lanka. From South India, 4 species are reported and all the four are 

included in this compendium. 

●✪■ 

■ ➡ 

✪■ 

▼● 

✪■ ➡ 

●✪ 

▼P. bourdillonii 

● P. monadelpha 

✪ P. ritcheyi 

■ P. stocksii 


➤ 

Distribution map of Pseudoxytenanthera 

221


Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii 

Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii (Gamble) 

Naithani, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 440. 1990; Tewari, 


78 

Oxytenanthera bourdillonii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 76, t. 67. 1896 and in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 

403. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 149. 1913; Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 


Kerala - Arambu, Tamil Nadu - Ponmungil. 

DESCRIPTION 

A moderate sized, straggling bamboo forming open clumps. 

Culms with long internodes. Culm-sheaths 15-30 cm long 

and 15 cm broad, striate, glabrous except for a few stiff 

black hairs below; imperfect blade triangular, 5-7.5 cm long, 

sharply mucronate, decurrent at the base into rounded 

recurved entire wings lining the whole of the upper edge of 

the sheath; ligule faintly serrate. Leaves 15-22.5 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm broad linear, lanceolate, acuminate, unequally 

attenuate, ending above in a twisted scabrous point, scaberulous near the 

margin and midrib above, smooth below, edges scabrous; sheath striate, 

ending in a pair of shining calluses with a depression between; ligule long, 

serrate. Inflorescence a large panicle of spicate branchlets bearing 

globular heads of many spikelets, heads up to 5 cm diameter, rachis striate. 

78b 

➤ 

P. bourdillonii - New shoot 

➤ P. bourdillonii - Part of a culm 

222


Spikelets 14-16 mm long, 3-flowered mucronate; empty glumes 2, ovate, mucronate; flowering glumes long; palea 

2-keeled, terminal, rachilla ciliate, with a short setaceous imperfect flower; stamens exserted; anther apiculate; ovary 

ovoid acute; style hairy; stigmas 3, small, sub-plumose. Caryopsis linear-oblong, crowned by the hairy persistent enlarged 

base of the style, grooved on one side. 

FLOWERING 

Blatter (1929) reported its flowering in 1889. According to Brandis, it flowers at long intervals. Flowering was observed 

in Vazhachal, Chalakudy Forest Divisions of Central Kerala in the year 1983. The flowered clump dried subsequently. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is endemic to 

Kerala. Distributed in the 

hills between an altitude of 

900-1500 m. 

USES 

Culms are ideal for the 

manufacture of high quality 

toothpicks and combs. Young 

shoots are edible. 

line 71 

➤Fig. 71. P. bourdillonii. 

A - leafy branch; B - leafsheath; 

C - nodal region 

with culm-sheath with 

juvenile branches; D - culm 

with branches; E - culmsheath; 

F - culm with bud; 

G - a portion of flowering 

branch; H - spikelet; 

I, J & K- empty glumes; 

L - flowering glume ; 

M - palea; N - staminal tube 

with stamens; O - stamen; 

P - pistil. 

223


Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha 

Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha (Thw.) Soderstrom and Ellis, Smithson. Contrib. Bot. 72: 52. 1988; Tewari, 

Monogr. bamboo 124.1992. (Fig. 72). 

Dendrocalamus monadelphus Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 376. 1864; Oxytenanthera thwaitesii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. 

London 26: 129. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 64. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 402. 1896; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 147. 1913; Oxytenanthera monadelpha (Thw.) Alst. in Trim., Handb. Fl. Ceylon (Suppl.) 342. 

1931; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

A small gregarious, straggling or subscandent, reed-like bamboo. Culms 3-3.5 m high, ca.2.5 cm diameter, smooth, 

usually ending in a curved whip with small branchlets in verticils and very small leaves, branched from the base; leaf 

and flower bearing branches on the same culm; internodes 30-45 cm long, rough, hairy when young. Culm-sheaths 

ca.15 cm long and 7.9 cm broad, truncate at the mouth, ciliate on the margins, those of thicker shoots appressed hairy 

on the back, younger and thinner shoots nearly glabrous; imperfect blade 7.5-12.5 cm long and 2.5 cm broad ovateacuminate, 

rounded at the base and decurrent; auricles large, rounded, falcate, with stiff curved bristles. Leaves very 

variable in size, lanceolate, acuminate, 

ending in a sharp twisted setaceous 

point; petiole small, glabrous above, 

sparsely hairy beneath, margins 

scabrous; sheaths striate, keeled, often 

very hirsute, ligule variable. Inflorescence 

a large leafy panicle with spicate 

branchlets bearing heads of more or less 

closely packed spikelets, bracts small, 

ovate, rachis smooth; spikelets often 

in pairs, usually 1-flowered; empty 

glumes 2-3, ovate, mucronate, 

sometimes ciliate on edges; flowering 

glume ovate-acute, mucronate, palea 

line 72 

➤ 

Fig. 72. P. monadelpha. A - leafy 

branch; B - a portion of flowering 

branch; C - spikelet; D - empty 

glumes; E - palea with staminal tube 

of outer flower; F & G - flowering 

glumes; H - palea with stamens and 

pistil. 

224


convolute, glabrous except at the ciliate point. Stamens exserted; anthers narrow, long, apiculate, hairy at the tip. 

Ovary ovate acuminate, style hairy, stigmas 3, short, plumose. Caryopsis elliptic-oblong, glabrous except at the long 

mucronate apex. 

FLOWERING 

Wight recorded its flowering in 1847 and 1851 from Nilgiris; Beddome from Anamalai in 1865 and 1871; Clarke from 

Coonor in 1870; King from Ochterlong Valley in 1878 and Gamble in 1883 and 1889 from various places in India. 

Recently in 1994, flowering was observed on few cultivated culms in Maharashtra. 


This species is endemic to South India and the mountains of South-Central Sri Lanka. 

USES 

P. monadelpha is found suitable for fencing, thatching and basket making. 

Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi 

Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi 

(Munro) Naithani, J. Bombay Nat. 

Hist. Soc. 87: 440. 1990; Tewari, 


Bambusa ritcheyi Munro, Trans. 

Linn. Soc. London 26: 113. 1868; 

Oxytenanthera monostigma Bedd. Fl. 

Sylv. 233. 1873; Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 74, t. 65.1896 

and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 402. 

line 73 

➤ Fig. 73. P. ritcheyii. A - leafy branch 

with spikelets; B - flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; E, F & 

G - empty glumes; H - flowering 

glume; I - palea; J - stamen; K - pistil. 

225


1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 148. 1913; Oxytenanthera ritcheyi (Munro) 

Blatter and McCann, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 773. 1929. Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) 6(1): 4. 1980. 


Maharashtra - Huda, Udhe, Manga, Tandali; Karnataka - Choomaree, Choua, 

Chiwa, Chiwan, Chawa. 

79 

DESCRIPTION 

A medium sized strong bamboo. Culms 3-4.5 m high, nearly solid, densely 

covered with deciduous soft, pale-yellow velvety tomentum; nodes prominent; 

internodes 37-45 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm diameter. Culm-sheaths thin, papery 

at the margins, striate, sparsely covered with white appressed, stiff hairs, 15- P. ritcheyi - Seeds 

22 cm long, 7.5 cm broad at the base, gradually attenuate upwards the apex, 

rounded on either sides with deep sinus with imperfect blade attached at the 

base. Leaves variable, 5-20 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, 

acuminate, rounded at the base, unequally into a 5 mm long flat petiole, 

apex setaceous, twisted, pointed, glabrous above except for the scabrous points on vein near the margins and on the 

midrib, sparsely hairy and pale beneath, scabrous on one side of the margin, mid vein yellow. Inflorescence a large 

terminal panicle of spicate branchlets bearing dense globular heads of 5-6.5 cm diameter. Spikelets 2-2.5 cm long, less 

than 2.5 cm broad, 1-flowered, glabrous, long-spinose apiculate, numerous, fertile and sterile about equal in numbers, 

glumes ovate-mucronate, lower smaller, upper ovate-lanceolate, lemmas linear-lanceolate, convolute, long mucronate. 

Paleas shorter than the lemma, not keeled, blunt. Stamens exserted, fused; anthers 5-7 mm long, bristly-apiculate, 

bristles some what hairy at the apex. Ovary ovate acuminate, rounded, glabrous; style long; stigma one, plumose. 

Caryopsis narrow, linear oblong, grooved ending in a conical mucro formed by the persistent base of the style. 


According to Blatter (1929), this species flowered in 1852 in Kala Naddi; in 1870 in Satara Ghat; in 1884 and 1889 in 

North Kanara; in 1892 in Mahabalashwar and Ahmednagar. Gregarious flowering was observed in Ambumala (Nilambur) 

during 1987-88. Profuse fruit formation was observed during the flowering in 1987-88 in Nilambur, Kerala. Flowering 

was again observed during 1995-96 from natural forests, Silent Valley, Kerala. 


The species is distributed in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is a light-demanding species and 

generally found on tops of the ridges and hills in the Western Ghats. 

FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS 

Fibre characteristics of this species showed a fibre length 2.40 mm, diameter 14.6 µm, wall thickness 5.3 µm, lumen 

diameter 4.0 µm (Bhanadri, 1981). 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis of oven-dry culms showed ash 2.02 per cent, solubility in cold water 4.32 per cent, hot 

water solubility 6.03 per cent, 1 per cent NaOH solubility 21.31 per cent, alcohol benzene solubility 3.44 per cent. 

Percentages of lignin 27.3, holocellulose 68.5, (Bhanadri, 1981). 

➤ 

226


SILVICULTURE 

About 75000-78000 seeds weighed 1 kg. Initial viability of the seeds is about 70 per cent. The seeds can be stored for 

a period of more than one year over anhydrous calcium chloride in a desiccator or in deep freeze (Seethalakshmi, 1991). 

Plantation trials are reported from Asoga (Shivanagi, 1980). 


Basal culm rot caused by Fusarium species is reported. 

USES 

Culms are used for fencing, walking sticks, umbrella handles and baskets. 

Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii 

Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii (Munro) Naithani, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 440. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 

129.1992. (Fig. 74). 

Oxytenanthera stocksii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 130. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 75, 

t. 66. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 403. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 149. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 


Maharashtra - Chivari, Mes; Karnataka - Konda, Oor - shema. 

DESCRIPTION 

A medium-sized bamboo. Culms up to 9 m tall, glabrous, when young covered with dense white or gray deciduous 

tomentum, internodes 15-30 cm long and 2.5-4 cm broad; branches few at the node. Culm-sheaths 15-22 cm long and 

7-17 cm broad, striate, silvery shining within, covered outside with matted deciduous reddish hairs mixed with small 

white hairs with bulbous black bases, tapering gradually upwards and somewhat concavely truncate at apex, imperfect 

blade, subulate-acuminate, rounded at the base and again expanded in rounded wavy long- fringed auricle on the top of 

the sheath; ligule 7 mm, fimbriate. Leaves 10-20 cm long and 1-2 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, rounded or attenuate at 

the base into a 2 mm long petiole at apex ending in a setaceous point, glabrous above, except the scabrous margins, 

ligule long, dentate. Inflorescence a large panicle of spicate heads with many closely packed spinous spikelets; heads 

about 2.5 cm diameter supported by rounded chaffy bracts. Spikelets 1-1.2 cm long, narrow, glabrous, mucronate, fertile 

florets many and mixed up with a few sterile. Glumes ovate, mucronate, 5-7-nerved, 2 hermaphrodite flowers; lemmas 

ovate, sub acute, mucronate at the back; palea of the lower flowers as long as lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels. 

Stamens long, exserted; anthers short, acute; ovary ovoid, hairy; style long; stigma 1 plumose. Caryopsis not known. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported in 1884 and 1889 in North Kanara (Blatter 1929). Flowering was observed recently in 1994 

at Silent Valley, Kerala. 

227



ECOLOGY 

This species is distributed in Maharashtra, 

Karnataka, Kerala and Goa. It is cultivated 

in the costal belts of Karnataka. This 

bamboo is mostly confined to the banks 

of streams and requires a well drained 

deep loamy soil. 

SILVICULTURE AND 

MANAGEMENT 

Vegetative propagation by two-noded 

culm cuttings from more than one year 

old culms planted in nursery beds filled 

with red earth, sand and farm yard 

manure in equal proportions gives 90 per 

cent rooting (Yellappa Reddy and 

Yekanthappa, 1989). 

line 74 

USES 

The culms are used for construction 

purposes, umbrella handles and basket 

making. 

➤Fig. 74. P. stocksii. A - flowering branch 

with leaf; B - culm with branches; 

C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; 

E & F - empty glumes; G - flowering 

glume; H - palea; I - pistil; 

J - monadelphous stamens; K - stamen. 

REFERENCES 

Bhanadri, K. S. 1981. Kraft pulping of Oxytenanthera ritcheyi. Indian Forester, 107: 454-458. 

Blatter, E. 1929. Flowering of bamboos. Part I. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 32: 899-921. 

CSIR. India. 1966. Oxytenanthera (Gramineae). In Wealth of India - Raw Materials, Vol. 7. Publication and Information 

Directorate, New Delhi: 201-202. 

Naithani, H. B. 1990. Nomenclature of Indian species of Oxytenanthera Munro. Journal of the Bombay Natural History 

Society, 87: 439-440. 

Seethalakshmi, K. K. 1991. Propagation: Silviculture, Management and Utilisation of Bamboos in Kerala. KFRI Research 

Report (unpublished). 

Shivanagi, N. V. 1980. Notes on plantations at Asoga. In Proceedings of Third Southern Silviculturists and Forest Research 

Officers Conference. 3-5 March, 1980. Karnataka Forest Department, Dharwad: 127-131. 

Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on Bamboo. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun. 127-129. 

Yellappa Reddy, A. N. and Yekanthappa, K. 1989. Propagation technique for Oxytenanthera stocksii. Myforest, 25: 30-32. 

228


RACEMOBAMBOS HOLTTUM 

Usually climbing or scrambling bamboo. Rhizome 

sympodial. Culm very long and climbs upto a height of 10 m or more on trees, solid, slender; internode long, walls thick; 

nodes swollen with a small ring; branchlets many, fascicled. Culm-sheath persistent, very long; imperfect blade striate. 

Leaves oblong-lanceolate, transverse veinlets inconspicuous. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary panicle in leafy or 

leafless branches. Spikelets sessile subtended by small bracts. Stamens 6; anthers basifixed. Style undivided, very short, 

with 3 long plumose stigmas. 

This genus was erected by Holttum in 1956. Chao and Renvoize (1989) consider 18 species in South Asia. The genera 

Mycrocalamus and Neomicrocalamus are treated 

as cogeneric by them. The genus Racemobambos 

is reported to be confined to Malaysia (Dransfield 

and Widjaja, 1995). However, this genus is quite 

different from Arundinaria and matches well with 

Neomicrocalamus Keng. Chao and Renvoize 

(1989) have included only one Indian species 

▼ 

under Racemobambos. The remaining two species 

earlier known as Neomicrocalamus now fall under 

✪ ✪ 

●✪ 

Racemobambos. Therefore, two new combinations 

▼ 

have been proposed in this compendium. Three 

species of this genus are distributed in North- 

Eastern parts of India. In this compendium, details 

of 3 species of Racemobambos are given. 

➡ 

▼R. clarkei 

● R. mannii 

✪ R. prainii 

➤ 

Distribution map of Racemobambos 

229

Racemobambos 

Racemobambos clarkei 

Racemobambos clarkei (Gamble ex Brandis) Muktesh kumar comb. nov. 

Arundinaria clarkei Gamble ex Brandis, Indian Trees 666. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 49. 1913; Blatter, Indian For. 

55: 547. 1929; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec.(n.s) Bot. 6(1): 1-2. 1980. Neomicrocalamus clarkei (Gamble ex 

Brandis) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 279. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 108. 1992. 


Manipur - Lading wa. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby bamboo. Culm ca. 3m high, solid. Leaves ca. 9 cm long and 1.2 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, rounded, 

attenuate, towards the base into a thick ca. 4 mm long ciliate petiole, glabrous, striate, slightly ciliate at the margin, 

apex long, acuminate, midrib prominent; secondary veins and intermediate veins not distinct; transverse veinlets 

inconspicuous, leaf sheath thick, glabrous, striate, ending in to a callus with 2 or 3 very small bristles. Inflorescence a 

loose panicle with 10 spikelets in leafy branches. Spikelet with 2 empty glumes and 1 or 2 fertile flowers, stamens 6, 

ovary with very short undivided style having 3 long plumose stigmas. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Manipur and Sikkim. 

Racemobambos mannii 

Racemobambos mannii (Gamble) Muktesh kumar, comb. nov. (Fig. 75). 

Arundinaria mannii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 26. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 385. 1897; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 50. 1913; Blatter, Indian For. 55: 547. 1929; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam. 5: 42. 1940; Bahadur 

and Jain, Indian J. For. 4: 280. 1981. Neomicrocalamus mannii (Gamble) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. 

Enum. Monocot. 279. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 108. 1992. 


Khasi Hills - Beneng; Jaintia Hills - Kabeneng. 

DESCRIPTION 

This is a slender, graceful, tufted, climbing, wiry, bamboo. Culms ca. 10 m long, ca. 8 mm diameter, solid, much 

branched; internode ca. 90 cm long, smooth, node thickened. Culm-sheaths 30-40 cm long and ca.0.7 cm broad at the 

top, thin and slender, persistent, outer surface rough with stiff brown bristles; imperfect blade ca. 25 cm long, continuous 

with the sheath, hairy on the ventral surface at the base, linear, apex narrowed into a long setaceous point; ligule 

narrow, dentate. Leaves ca.20 cm long and 2 cm broad, lanceolate, thin and papery, glaucous, glabrous on the dorsal 

230


➤Fig. 75. R. mannii. A - leafy branch; B - culmsheath. 

surface, hairy on the ventral surface, scabrous 

on the edge, attenuate at the base into ca.5 mm 

long wrinkled petiole, tip hirsute with long 

setaceous point; midrib narrow, shining, 

secondary veins 5 pairs, intermediate 6; 

transverse veinlets inconspicuous; leaf sheath 

glabrous, striate, ending on one side a round 

shining callus without auricle, on the other side 

into a pointed auricle with few long bristles, 

ligule small, hairy. 

line 75 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is reported from North-East India - Meghalaya (Jaintia Hills). 

USES 

The culms are split and used as a binding material for building huts (Bahadur and Jain, 1981). 

Racemobambos prainii 

Racemobambos prainii (Gamble) J. Campbell, Gen. Himal. Bamb. 10. 1985. Keng.f. & Wen, J. Bam. Res. 5(2): 13. 

1986. (Fig. 76). 

Arundinaria prainii. Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 21. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 383. 1897; 

Blatter, Indian For. 55: 546. 1929 and J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 902. 1930; Thamnocalamus prainii (Gamble) 

Camus, Les Bambusees 54. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam. 54. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 

6(1): 4. 1980; Biswas, Indian For. 114: 528. 1988; Microcalamus prainii Gamble, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 59(2): 207. 

1890; Holttum, Gard. Bull. Singapore 15: 267. 1956. Neomicrocalamus prainii (Gamble) Keng, J. Bamboo Res. 2(1): 

38. 1983; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 108. 1992. 


Khasi and Jaintia Hills-Sampit, Usepeit, Uppit; Naga Hills- Kevva. 

DESCRIPTION 

A wiry climbing shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 10 m long and ca. 8 mm diameter, solid, slender, smooth yellowish; 

internode ca. 20 cm long, walls thick, nodes swollen with a well marked ring; branchlets many, fascicled. Culm-sheaths 

231

Racemobambos 

➤ 

line 76 

Fig. 76. R. prainii. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; 

C - flowering branch; D - spikelet; E - opened flower; 

F - lodicules; G - stamen; H - pistil; I - single leaf. 

5-15 cm long and ca. 2 cm broad, at the base striate, thin, 

scabrous on the outer surface, imperfect blade ca. 5 mm 

long, needle like; ligule short, rounded. Leaves ca. 6 cm 

long and 0.7 cm broad, thin, oblong lanceolate, rounded at 

the base in to ca. 2 mm long petiole, glabrous except one, 

scabrous at margin, terminating above in a long curved 

scabrous setaceous point; midrib not prominent, secondary 

veins 2-3 pairs, intermediate 7 pairs, transverse veinlets 

not conspicuous, leaf-sheath smooth, striate ending into a 

prominent glabrous callus below the petiole, protruding 

upwards to meet the long rounded ligule. Inflorescence 

terminal or axillary panicle, rachis slender, wiry, smooth, 

spikelet ca. 3.5 cm long on slender pedicels, 5-6-flowered, 

terminal flower empty; rachilla ca.6 mm long, clavate, 

flattened, empty glumes 2, outer glume with ciliate keels, 

inner glume 5-nerved and ovate acute with ciliate tip; lemma 

ca.8 mm long and 3 mm broad, triangular, falcate, acute, 

ciliate on the edges, palea as long as lemma, with two 

minutely ciliate bifid keels, lodicules 3; stamens 6; anther 

purple, bluntly apiculate basifixed, filament short. Ovary 

ovoid-oblong, glabrous style thick, bulbous at the base with 

three long plumose stigmas. 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to flower rarely. Prain (1886) 

recorded its flowering from Naga Hills. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Reported from North-East India, Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland. Distributed mostly in subtropical zone. 

USES 

Culms are used for basket making and for the construction of huts. 

REFERENCES 

Bahadur, K. N. and Jain, S. S. 1981. Rare bamboos of India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 4: 280-286. 

Chao Chi-son and Renvoize, S. A. 1989. Revision of the species described under Arundinaria (Graminae) in Southeast 


Dransfield, S. and Widjaja, E.A. (Eds.). 1995. Plant Resources of South East Asia No.7 Bamboos. Backhuys Publishers, 

Leiden: 189 p. 

Tewari, D. N. A Monograph on Bamboo. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun: 107-109. 

232


SCHIZOSTACHYUM NEES 

Arborescent or shrubby bamboos, usually erect. Culms 

slender, thin-walled, usually drooping at tip. Branches many short and equal in length at each node from the mid culm 

upwards. Young branches at each node burst almost simultaneously from the culm-sheath. Young shoots and culm 

sheaths are covered with appressed golden brown, light or pale brown or white hairs. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of 

spicate branches, bearing heads of spikelets often reduced to a spike are sometimes very few; rachis slender. Spikelets 

slender, fasciculate in heads, glumes 0-4, persistent, lemmas acute to pungent; uppermost palea rounded or sulcate, 

convolute, exceeding lemma. Lodicules 0-3, rarely 10. Stamens 4- 6, usually free but sometimes united. Ovary appendage 

with free central stand; stigmas 2-3. Caryopsis oblong to ovoid with thin crustaceous pericarp separable from seed. 

✤ 

✱ 

✤ 

■❖✱ 

✬✥❍ 

➡ 

➡ 

■❖✱ 

✤✜❑ 

▲❍ 

➡ 

❑ ➡ 

■❖✱✤ 

✜❑❂❍ 

➡ 

▼■✱✬ 

✥❑▲❍✾ 

➡ 

➡ 

➡ 

➡ 

■❑❍ 

■✬❑ 

❂❍ 

✬◆✥❑ 

▲❂❍ 

This is a large genus comprising 45 species 

distributed in Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, 

Singapore, Thailand, Africa and India. In India, 

17 species and one variety are seen, of which 

S. brachycladum is introduced from Malaya; 

12 species occur in North Eastern part, 3 in 

Andaman Islands and 2 in Southern India. In this 

compendium, 17 species and one variety of 

Schizostachyum are described. 

✤ 

✪✱✿✬ 

✥❑❍ 

✤❂ 

▼ 

▼ 

▼ 

❖✿◆➡ 

▼S. arunachalensis 

● S. beddomei 

✪ S. brachycladum 

■ S. capitatum var. capitatum 

❖ S. capitatum var. decompositum 

✱ S. dullooa 

✿ S. flavescens 

✬ S. fuchsianum 

✤ S. griffithii 

✜ S. helferi 

◆ S. kurzii 

✥ S. latifolium 

❑ S. mannii 

▲S. pallidum 

❂ S. pergracile 

❍ S. polymorphum 

✷ S. rogersii 

✾ S. seshagirianum 


➤ 

Distribution map of Schizostachyum 

233


Schizostachyum arunachalensis 

Schizostachyum arunachalensis Naithani, Indian For. 118:230. 1992; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 130.1992. 

(Fig. 77). 

DESCRIPTION 

A semi-scandent bamboo. Culms 

ca.10-15 m tall, at first erect, and 

then pendulous; nodes swollen with 

thick 1 cm broad ring of brown hairs; 

internodes at base 20 cm long and 

up to 1 m long above, 10-12 cm in 

girth, smooth, dark green when 

young, turning yellow on maturity, 

wall 5-10 mm thick; branch bud 

rounded at apex, keeled. Culmsheaths 


broad, thick, crustaceous, covered 

with yellow brown hairs on upper 

surface, glabrous on undersurface, 

oblique at the apex, margin with 

yellow brown cilia on upper half; 

imperfect blade 10-25 cm long and 

9-11 cm broad, triangular, striate with 

transverse veins, base rounded, one 

side larger than the other, inflated 

with reticulate veins, margins with 

bristles on lower half; ligule narrow, 

entire. Leaves 30-48 cm long and 

7.5-18 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, 

base oblique, ending into a 1.5 cm 

➤ 

line 77 

Fig. 77. S. arunachalensis. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; C - node with 

branches. 

long thick petiole, apex acuminate into a twisted point, glabrous on both surfaces, margins minutely scabrous, midrib 

prominent; secondary veins 12-18 pairs; intermediate 6-8, sheaths glabrous or pubescent, ending in a smooth callus and 

prominent long setaceous, reticulate auricles; ligule oblique, narrow, entire. Inflorescence not known. 

Allied to S. seshagirianum Majumdar, but differs in having swollen nodes with thick ring of brown hairs; imperfect 

blade of culm-sheath with reticulate veins; leaves 7.5-18 cm broad with 12-18 pairs of secondary veins; leaf-sheaths with 

prominent reticulate auricle. 


The species is distributed in Arunachal Pradesh and it occurs in wet mountain slopes at an altitude of 300-700 m. 

234


Schizostachyum beddomei 

Schizostachyum beddomei (Fischer) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. India Enum. Monocot 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Teinostachyum beddomei Fischer in Gamble Fl. Pres. Madras. 3(10): 1860. 1934; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. 

Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; T. wightii Beddome, Fl. Sylv. Pl. 323. 1873; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 99, 

Pl. 87. 1896, and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 410. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 163. 1913. 

DESCRIPTION 

Tall, semi-scandent bamboo. 

Culms 3-6 m high, 2.5-3.7 

cm diameter, at first erect, 

branches pendulous, bright 

green, nodes marked by a 

ring, internodes 35-45 cm 

long, rough above with a 

white band below the node, 

walls thin, 4 mm in thickness. 

Culm-sheaths thin, papery, 

25-30 cm long and 7.5-10 cm 

broad, sides parallel below, 

gradually narrowing above to 

a truncate tip, not auricled, 

thickly clothed on the back 

with brown black appressed 

hairs, imperfect blade 

subulate, acuminate, reflexed, 

slightly decurrent on the 

sheath 12.5-17.5 cm long and 

2.5-3 cm broad, striate, hairy; 

ligule 2.5 mm, entire. Leaves 

oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, 

12-38 cm long and 2.5-5 cm 

broad, unequal at the base, 

rounded or attenuated into a 

7-10 mm long petiole, ending 

above in a twisted point, 

glabrous above, sparingly 

hairy and whitish beneath, 

scabrous on one margin, 

➤ 

line 78 

Fig. 78. S. beddomei. A - leafy branch; B - leaf-sheath; C - node with bud; D - culmsheath; 

E - spikelet; F - flowering glume; G - palea; H - lodicule; I - stamen; J - pistil; 

K - flowering branch. 

235

80 

236


➤ 

S. brachycladum - New culm 

midrib broad, secondary veins 8-10 pairs, intermediate 6-7, transverse veinlets scanty, not prominent, formed by glands; 

sheath glabrous, striate, truncate at the top; ligule narrow, faintly toothed. Inflorescence large terminal drooping 

panicle of spiciform branchlets. The spikes supported by bracts at the joints of the rachis and bearing mainly fertile 

spikelets. Spikelets 1.2-2.5 cm long bearing 2-3 fertile flowers and one terminal incomplete flower, empty glume ovate 

mucronate, 5 mm long, faintly hirsute on the back, 5-7-nerved, flowering glumes 1 or 2, similar but longer, mucronate 

and transversely veined. Palea shorter than the flowering glumes, 2-keeled, blunt or emarginate, ciliate on the keels. 

Lodicules small, 2.5 mm long ovate, ciliate above concave below, 3-5-nerved, persistent. Stamens exserted; filaments 

slender; anthers obtuse. Ovary depressed, globose, smooth, stipitate; style included in the long beak of perigynium and 

ending in 2 short plumose stigmas. Caryopsis glabrous, ovoid on a thick stalk and surmounted by a beak. 

FLOWERING 

The species is reported to flower at long intervals and die after flowering. 

DISTRIBUTION 

It is found distributed in the slopes of Western Ghats from North Kanara down to Cape Comarin at an altitude of 900- 

1500 m. 

USES 

The culms of this species are used for making mats, baskets and for fencing. 

Schizostachyum brachycladum 

Schizostachyum brachycladum (Kurz) Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 39(2): 89. Pl. 6, f. 2. 1870; Camus, Les Bambusees 

179. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980: Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo, 131.1992. 

Melocanna brachyclada Kurz, Cat. Hort. Bogor 20. 1866; M. zollingeri var. brachyclada (Kurz) Munro, Trans. Linn. 

Soc. London 26. 134. 1868. 

DESCRIPTION 

Densely tufted, sympodial bamboo. Culms close, erect, tips drooping culms upto 10-13 m high, 8 cm diameter, green or 

yellow with a few narrow green longitudinal streakes; nodes not swollen, without root primordia. Branches arising from 

the midculm nodes upward, at each node with a tuft of 25-30 slender subequal branches. Culm-sheaths long persistent 

to ca.18 cm long, rigid, densely covered with appressed fine red brown hairs, blade erect, slightly convex, triangular with 

stiff acuminate apex, usually glabrous, many-nerved; ligule 3 mm long, entire; auricles small 2.5 mm, bearing 4-5 mm 

long crisped bristles. Leaves 26-32 cm long and 3.5-6 cm broad, lower surfaces softly hairy, ligule short entire; auricles 

very small with long bristles. Inflorescence 16-30 cm long with dense tufts of pseudo spikelets at the nodes on the rigid 

distal part of a leafy branchlet; spikelet 15-25 mm long 1 or 2-flowered, lodicules 3, translucent, or purplish, anthers 

purple, 6 mm long, stigma white. 

237



The species is widespread in South-East Asia occurring in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, 

Sulawesi, Moluccas, Boli and Luzon. In India, it is grown in Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta. Generally found in 

disturbed or secondary forests in South East Asia up to 600 m altitude. It grows well in a well drained sandy clay or 

sandy loam soil. 


Vegetative propagation by branch and culm cuttings is not very promising (Othman and Nor, 1993). Culm cuttings are 

planted in the beginning of the monsoon, they are planted horizontally with fresh buds sideways, about 20-30 cm deep 

at an espacement of 3 x 3m. Attempts to propagate by tissue culture methods from various explants like node, shoot, 

leaves, culm-sheath and root obtained different results (Zamora, 1994). 

USES 

It is used for roofing, water containers, handicrafts and banana props. Young shoots are edible. 

Schizostachyum capitatum var. capitatum 

Schizostachyum capitatum (Munro) Majumdar var. capitatum (Gamble) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al. Fl. 

India Enum., Monocot 281. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 131. 1992. (Fig. 79). 

Cephalostachyum capitatum Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 139. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 104, Pl. 91. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 412. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees. 165 Pl. 93, A. 1913; Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. 


Nepal - Gope bans; Lepcha-payong. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby, sub-arborescent, semi-scandent bamboo. Culms 4-10 m long, green or yellow, pendulous; nodes not prominent, 

internodes often 1 m long 2.5-3 cm diameter, wall 5-8 mm thick. Culm-sheaths 15-30 cm long and 5-7.5 cm broad, 

somewhat thin, papyraceous towards the top on young culms, covered on back with an appressed pale brown pubescence, 

truncate at the top of long sheaths, on the shorter lower ones rounded with concave sinus; imperfect blade long, erect 

or recurved, covered with white hairs, rounded at the base and decurrent into two small auricles, sometimes fringed; 

ligule narrow, serrate. Leaves 10-20 cm long and 2.5-5 cm broad, pale green, whitish beneath; petiole prolonged at the 

tip into a twisted, scabrous, setaceous tip, glabrous on both surfaces, margins scabrid; sheaths glabrous, shining, fimbriate 

in the throat with long caducous hairs; ligule short. Inflorescence a dense, globular, terminal or axillary, brownish 

head, 2-3.8 cm diameter. Sterile spikelets numerous, hidden by shining scarious scales often keeled on the back. 

238


line 79 

➤ 

Fig. 79. S. capitatum var. 

capitatum. 

A & B - leaves with 

flowering branch; 


D - spikelet; E - empty 

glume; F - flowering 

glume; G - palea; 

H - lodicule; I - stamens 

around pistil. 

Fertile spikelets 1.5-2 cm 

long, few, with 1-3 sterile 

florets at the base. Glumes 

2, ovate, glabrous at the 

top or slightly pubescent, 

with anastomosing nerves, 

tip ending in a scabrous awn; lemmas of the fertile floret similar in shape but with a shorter awn; palea as long as the 

lemma, convolute, thin, conspicuously nerved, both longitudinally and transversely, 2-keeled, the keels close together 

and hairy between, shortly hairy and mucronate at the tip. Lodicules 3, oblong-lanceolate, nerved, obtuse, attenuate 

and ciliate at the tip. Stamens 6, exserted, filaments long, anthers emarginate at the top. Ovary ovoid, furrowed, 

glabrous, attenuate into a twisted style; stigmas 2, hairy. Caryopsis chest-nut-brown, smooth, shining, depressed, 

surmounted by the remains of the style. 

Chromosome number 2n=60 (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

This species seems to flower at very frequent intervals. Gamble recorded its flowering during 1848, 1866, 1869, 1874, 

1878 and 1892 in Sikkim and during 1830, 1835, 1850, 1871 and 1872 in Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, North-Eastern India 

and in Sikkim and Bhutan. 

USES 

Culms of the species are used for construction works and for making bows and arrows; leaves are used as fodder. 

239


Schizostachyum capitatum var. decompositum 

Schizostachyum capitatum (Gamble) Majumdar var. decompositum (Gamble) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et 

al., Fl. India Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 132.1992. 

Cephalostachyum capitatum Munro var. decompositum Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7:105. 1896; Camus, 

Les Bambusees 165. 1913. 

DESCRIPTION 

This variety differs from S. capitatum var. capitatum in spicate arrangement of spikelet in almost paniculate clusters 

with many fertile spikelets. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found distributed in Sikkim and Meghalaya. 

Schizostachyum dullooa 

Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Teinostachyum dullooa Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7. 101, Pl. 89. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 411. 

1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 164. Pl. 92. 1913; Neohouzeana dullooa (Gamble) Camus, Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. 100. 

1922; Gamble, Kew Bull. No.2. 89. 1923; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 21. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 

(n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 


Assam - Dullooa; Lepcha - Puksalu; Meghalaya - Wadroo. 

DESCRIPTION 

Moderate sized to large tufted bamboo, sometimes scandent. Culms variable in size, 6-9 m tall and 2.5-7.5 cm diameter, 

dark green with a few white hairs. Whitish below the nodes, glossy when dry; nodes slightly prominent; internodes 40- 

75 cm, sometimes up to 1 m long, with thin walls. Culm-sheaths variable, 12-30 cm long and 10-25 cm broad, striate 

with white appressed hairs, rounded at the tip somewhat concavely truncate and loosely fringed with bristles; imperfect 

blade narrow, subulate, recurved, hairy within, edges convolute, 7.5-15 cm long and 0.8-1.8 cm broad; ligule prominent, 

long, fimbriate. Leaves variable, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, rounded unequally at the base into a 5-10 mm long 

240


petiole, subulately acuminate above, the tip scabrous, twisted, rough on the upper surface, almost glabrous beneath, 

edges scabrous, midrib not very prominent, secondary veins 6-10 pairs, intermediate ca.7, transverse veinlets absent but 

with a few pellucid dots; sheath striate, ciliate on the edges, callus ciliate or glabrous with a few long deciduous bristles, 

ligule broad, long, fimbriate. Inflorescence a panicle of spiciform branches with verticils of few spikelets, subtended by 

long, truncate bracts. Spikelets usually in pairs, slender, bracteate at the base, empty glumes 2-4, small, mucronate, 

flowering glume oblong-lanceolate, mucronate, strigosely hirsute. Palea convolute, glabrous except near the apex. Stamens 

6, monadelphous; anthers 9 mm long, obtuse at the apex, exserted. Ovary elongate, glabrous; stigmas 3, short, red. 

This species can be recognised by its thin walls, silvery pubescence on the culm and subulate blade, concavely depressed 

sheath apex. 

Chromosome number 2n=56, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from 

Singla in 1951, 1957 and 1968. 

(Gupta, 1972, 1982). Sporadic 

flowering has been reported from 

Cachar in 1961 and gregarious 

flowering in 1971. 


ECOLOGY 

line 80 

The species is distributed in North 

Bengal, Sikkim, Khasi and Jaintia 

Hills. It is cultivated in Calcutta 

and Dehra Dun (Qureshi et al., 

1969). Architectural design was 

found to be adopted to capitalise 

on the high light regime of the 

early successional environment. 

S. dullooa is capable of growing on 

the coarse textured soil provided 

there is moisture and seen on soils 

originating from sand stone. (Rao 

and Ramakrishnan 1987, 1988). 

This grows in the lower elevations 

up to an altitude of 1200 m in the 

North-Eastern region of India. 

CHEMISTRY 

➤ 

Fig. 80. S. dullooa. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; C - flowering branch; 

D - spikelets. 

Proximate chemical analysis 

showed percentages of ash 1.78, 

cold water solubles 4.99, hot- 

241


water solubles 0.61, alcohol solubles 3.24, ether solubles1.78, caustic soda solubles 20.40, pentosans 18.10, lignins 

23.82 and cellulose 64.64. 


Architecture, growth pattern and population dynamics of this species have shown that regeneration period is about 

15 years and is less than the fallow age (Rao and Ramakrishnan, 1987, 1988). 

Vegetative propagation using one-year-old two-noded culm cuttings have been reported (Nath et al., 1986). Felling on 

a selection basis at an interval of three years is recommended (Prasad, 1948). 


Fusarium leaf spot caused by Fusarium pallidoroseum has been reported (Deka et al., 1990). This disease was first 

observed in Assam in 1986. 

USES 

Used by the people of Garo Hills for carrying water and for making umbrellas. Generally used for making baskets, mats 

and small boxes. 

Schizostachyum flavescens 

Schizostachyum flavescens (Kurz) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Cephalostachyum flavescens Kurz, J. Asiat Soc. Bengal 42: 252. 1873; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 109, 

Pl. 96. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 413. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 168. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen tufted, semi-arborescent bamboo. Culms 3-6 m high, dull green, turning yellow, smooth; nodes not 

prominent; internodes long, 2.5-3.8 cm diameter. Culm-sheaths 10-35 cm long and 12-27 cm broad, smooth or curved 

with appressed white hairs or pale brown bristly hairs; imperfect blade 2.5-9 cm long and broad, erect, triangular or 

ovate, margins usually long, ciliate, decurrent into a wavy fringes bordering the top of the sheath and ending on either 

side in a long pointed auricle; auricles margined with stiff curved bristles; ligule entire or slightly toothed. Leaves 7-19 cm 

long and 1-2 cm broad, linear, contracted at the base into a very short petiole, acuminate at apex in a long slightly 

scabrous point, glabrous except for a few long hairs on under surface, margins scabrous, sheaths glabrous, auricles 

furnished with a few short deciduous cilia, ligule narrow, inconspicuous. Inflorescence a leafy branched panicle of few 

verticillate branchlets, bearing heads of spikelets supported by a glabrous bract, rachis slender, spikelets mostly fertile, 

linear acuminate, hairy, ca.1 cm long, with few empty bract-like glumes or sterile spikelets between, glumes ovatelanceolate, 

mucronate, white hairy, 7-9-nerved; lemmas similar to glumes. Palea as long as the lemma, 2-keeled, keels 

242


close together, white-pilose on the 

margins, the apex deeply bifid. 

Lodicules ca.5 mm long, oblong, 

obtuse, ciliate at apex, concave at 

base 3-5-nerved. Stamens at first 

greenish, then turning yellow; 

anthers obtuse or acute. Ovary 

ovoid-acuminate, rounded, stipitate, 

smooth, style long, stigmas 3, slightly 

white hairy. Caryopsis not known. 


ECOLOGY 

line 81 

This species is distributed in the 

Andaman Islands and Myanmar and 

also cultivated at the Indian Botanic 

Gardens, Calcutta. 

➤ Fig. 81. S. flavescens. A & B - leafy 

branch; C - flowering branch; 

D - young shoot; E - culm-sheath; 

F - spikelet; G - empty glume; 

H - flowering glume; I - palea; 

J - pistil; K - stamen. 

Schizostachyum fuchsianum 

Schizostachyum fuchsianum (Gamble) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; 

Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 135.1992. (Fig. 82). 

Cephalostachyum fuchsianum Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 107, Pl. 107. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. 

India 7: 423. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 166. Pl. 93, Fig. B. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur. Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 

6(1): 2. 1980. 


Lepcha - Palom. 

DESCRIPTION 

A medium sized, arborescent, semi scandent bamboo, Culms 5 m tall, green or pale, soft, thin-walled, nodes prominent, 

verticillately branched, internodes grayish near the nodes, 80 cm-1 m long. Culm-sheaths 30 cm long and 10 cm broad, 

243


➤Fig. 82. S. fuchsianum. 



C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; 



G - palea; H - lodicule; 

I - stamen; J - pistil. 

line 82 

thin, striate, reticulately veined 

on the edges, sides nearly 

parallel, rounded at the tip on 

each side into a deep concave, 

long-bristly fringed sinus, 

clothed on the back, with 

appressed light brown 

pubescence; imperfect blade 

15-20 cm long and 1.7-2 cm 

broad, inserted at the base of 

sinus, reflexed, subulate, 

pubescent below; ligule small. 

Leaves 14-35 cm long and 5- 

10 cm broad, ovate lanceolate, 

angled or rounded at the base with a long (12-15 mm) petiole, cuspidately acuminate ending in a scabrous twisted point, 

glabrous on both surfaces, margins scabrous; mid vein prominent, shining, secondary veins 7-10 pairs, intermediate 8- 

10, pellucid glands giving the appearance of transverse veinlets; sheaths soft, dark green, striate, long, ciliate on the 

edges ending in a round callus and produced at the top into an elongated auricle, thickly clothed with stiff white bristles, 

ligule moderately long, ciliate. Inflorescence a dense, globular terminal head, 3.25 cm diameter, densely packed, terminal, 

congested spike of superposed heads, with many fertile spikelets, aristate bracts. Spikelets elongated, 2-2.5 cm long, 

glabrous. Glumes 1.5-1.7 cm, ovate at the base, long-scabrous, aristate above, glabrous, striate, 17-19-nerved; lemma 

similar but more elongate and more shortly aristate, palea longer than lemma, thin, ovate-lanceolate, bifid at apex, 

mucronate at tip, pubescent, 2-keeled. Lodicules linear-lanceolate or spathulate, blunt, 3-5-nerved, minutely ciliate 

above and papillose on the sides. Stamens long, exserted, pendulous; anthers sharply apiculate or forked at the tip. 

Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, style thick; stigmas 2, short. Caryopsis 6 x 2.5 mm, chestnut brown, shining, broadly ovoid, 

rounded at the tip. 

FLOWERING 

Blatter (1929) recorded its flowering in 1875, 1877, 1880 and 1892 from Paphla Hills, Arunachal Pradesh. Bor (1940) 

stated that it flowered in Naga Hills in 1935 and produced seeds in large quantity. 

244


DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim 

USES 

Culms are used for basket-making. Seeds are edible. 

Schizostachyum griffithii 

Schizostachyum griffithii (Munro) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Teinostachyum griffithii Munro, Trans. 

Linn. Soc. London 26: 143 t. 3. 1868; 

Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 98, Pl. 86. 1896. and in Hook. f., 

Fl. Brit. India 7: 410. 1897; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 162, Pl. 92. Fig. B. 1913; 

Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. 

Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; 

Cephalostachyum griffithii (Munro) 

Kurz, For. Fl. Burma 2: 566. 1877. 

line 83 

➤ Fig. 83. S. griffithii. A - leaf and 

flowering branches; B - culm-sheath; 

C & D - spikelets; E - flowering glume; 

F - palea; G - lodicule; H - stamen; 

I - pistil. 

245


DESCRIPTION 

Straggling or sub-erect bamboo. Culms erect at first, afterwards drooping, 7.5-15 m long, verticillately branched from 

the nodes; internodes 45-65 cm long, 1.5-2 cm diameter, scabrous above, walls 5 mm thick. Culm-sheaths 15 cm long 

or more, 4 cm broad, glabrous and shining below, covered with white appressed hairs above, edges ciliate, margins 

convolute. Imperfect blade 7.5-10 cm long, reflexed, ovate-acuminate, rounded at the base with a large rounded auricle 

on either side, auricles and base of blade bristly; ligule short, pubescent. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 15-25 cm long and 

1.7-4 cm broad, glaucous, rounded at the base into a thick wrinkled 5 mm long petiole, cuspidate above with a scabrous 

point, scabrous on both edges, glabrous on both sides except for clusters of long hairs at the base, mid-rib, conspicuous, 

secondary veins 8-10 pairs, intermediate 7, no transverse veinlets, but occasionally pellucid glands present; sheath 

striate, keeled, glabrous or appressed, ending in a narrow callus with 2 falcate auricles, fringed with ciliae, 5-10 mm 

long, ligule short, fringed. Inflorescence a leafy panicle. Spikelets very narrow, 5 mm broad, often pedicelled, minutely 

pubescent with 3-5 fertile flowers and usually one or more sterile; rachilla smooth, jointed below the flowers; empty 

glumes 1 or 2, the second bearing a sterile flower, 7-10 mm long, narrow, striate, ovate mucronate; flowering glume 

1.2 cm long, ovate acute, mucronate, 9-11-nerved, pubescent; palea longer than flowering glume, 2-keeled, ciliate near 

the tip, 4-nerved on either side, faintly purple, mucronate. Lodicules ovate-lanceolate, concave, equal, glabrous, 7-9- 

nerved; stamens exserted, filaments narrow. Anthers yellow, blunt or emarginate. Ovary stalked, glabrous, ovate, narrowing 

into a long triquetrous beak forming the style; stigmas 2-3, white or purplish. Caryopsis obliquely ovoid, glossy, tapering 

at both ends, beaked. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found in North-Eastern India in Khasi Hills (Meghalaya), Sibsagar and Dibrugarh (Assam) and Arunachal 

Pradesh 

USES 

The culms are used for making baskets and pipes. 

Schizostachyum helferi 

Schizostachyum helferi (Munro) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Bambusa helferi Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 114. 1868; Pseudostachyum helferi (Munro) Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. 

Bengal 42: 253. 1872; Teinostachyum helferi (Munro) Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 102. Pl, 90. 1896 and 

in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 411. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 164. 1913; Neohouzeana helferi (Munro) Gamble, Kew 

Bull. No.2: 91. 1923; Blatter, Indian For. 55(11): 600. 1929; Bor in Kanjilal Fl. Assam 5: 21. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980. 


Meghalaya - Wali; Garo Hills-Tumoh. 

246


➤Fig. 84. S. helferi. A - leafy 


C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet. 

line 84 

DESCRIPTION 

Evergreen tufted bamboo, 

forming large impenetrable 

thickets, sometimes scandent. 

Culms 6-12 m high and 2.5- 

3.6 cm diameter, spreading in 

all directions, grayish green to 

green when young, much 

arched so as to bend completely 

and touch the ground; nodes 

somewhat inflated and whitish; internodes 0.5-1.25 m long or even more, velvety pubescent in the upper part when 

young with white band on maturity, walls thin. Culm-sheaths 20-25 cm long, persistent, thick, brittle when young 

with a few appressed white bristles, sheath-scar persistent, rough towards the base, truncate at the top; imperfect blade 

nearly as long as sheath, recurved, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous or shortly hispid, rounded at the base and decurrent 

as a very narrow long fringed band on the top of the sheath; ligule narrow conspicuously fringed with white stiff hairs, 

5-8 mm long. Leaves variable in size, oblong-lanceolate, 15-45 cm long and 2.5-7.5 cm broad, unequal at the base and 

then contracted into 7-10 mm long twisted scabrous point; sheath glabrous, smooth, seriate, ending in a smooth callus 

and a short very deciduous, long fringed auricle; ligule narrow and fringed. Inflorescence long terminal whip like 

spikes, bearing distant heads of spikelets, often upto 5 cm diameter at the base; empty glumes usually 2, small, 5-8 mm 

long, mucronate, margins slightly strigosely hirsute; flowering glume ovate, lanceolate, long, mucronate, strigosely 

hirsute, 1.2-2.5 cm long, many-nerved; palea convolute, glabrous except at the tip, 3.2-4.0 cm long, biseriate at the 

base, sometimes with a free terminal rachilla. Stamens 6, monadelphous; anthers 1.2-1.8 cm long, obtuse at the apex, 

exserted. Ovary oblong, elongate, glabrous; stigmas 3, short, red. Caryopsis with leathery pericarp, oblong, including 

the beak over 5 cm long. 

247


FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported in 1888 from Jaintia Hills and in 1940 from Garo Hills of Assam. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Meghalaya and Assam of North- Eastern India. 

USES 

The culms are used for basket-making. 

Schizostachyum kurzii 

Schizostachyum kurzii (Munro) Majumdar, in Karthikeyan et al. Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Melocanna kurzii Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 134. 1868; Teinostachyum schizostachyoides Kurz, J. Asiat. 

Soc. Bengal 39: 89. 1870; Bambusa schizostachyoides (Kurz) Kurz ex Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 48 Pl. 

44. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 393. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 126, Pl. 71, Fig. B. 1913; Parkinson, For. Fl. 

Andaman Island 271. 1923; Varmah and Bahadur 

Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Bambusa 

kurzii (Munro) Balakr., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 22:176. 

1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

An arborescent, evergreen, tufted bamboo. Culms 

5-8 m high, 8-10 cm diameter, green, glossy; nodes 

not thickened; internodes 45- 60 cm long, walls 

very thin; branches 1-4 in each node. Culm-sheaths 

line 85 

➤Fig. 85. S. latifolium. A - leafy branch; 

B & C - flowering branches; D - spikelet; E - empty 

glume; F - flowering glume; G - palea; H - lodicules; 


248


not known. Leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 10-15 cm long and 1-3.5 cm broad, rounded or attenuate below into 

2 mm long petiole, scabrous above along marginal veins and hairy near the base, otherwise smooth, pale and glabrous 

beneath, scabrous on the margins, midvein shining, conspicuous, sheaths striate, hispid at first then glabrous, furnished 

with 6-10 long, white, twisted, stiff bristles on a long falcate auricle, ciliate on the margins; ligule long. Inflorescence a 

spicate terminal panicle, bearing bracteate heads of few spikelets, narrow, smooth, truncate, acuminate; rachis truncate, 

pubescent, joints 2.5 cm long. Spikelets 1-1.5 cm long, smooth, cylindric with 1-2 glumes, 2-3 fertile flowers, terminating 

with one imperfect flower; rachilla short, glabrous; glumes ovate, mucronate, many-nerved; lemma similar, but longer, 

1 cm long, rough above; palea narrow, acuminate, membranous, 12 mm long, 3-nerved on the back, ciliate on the keels. 

Lodicules 0 or 3, when present lanceolate, blunt, 3-5-nerved, shortly ciliate, one much longer than others. Stamens 

scarcely exserted; anther purple, 5-7 mm long, roughly apiculate; ovary stalked, hairy, style long, stigmas 3, hairy. 

Caryopsis obliquely oblong, ca. 7.5 mm long, smooth, ending in a long stiff beak. 

Chromosome number 2n = 54 and 108, aneuploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Andaman Islands, Manipur and Myanmar. 

Schizostachyum latifolium 

Schizostachyum latifolium (Munro) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 281. 1989; Tewari, 


Cephalostachyum latifolium Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 140. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 106, Pl. 93. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 412. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 166. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. 

Assam 5: 17. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.). Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby, scrambling bamboo. Culms 2-3 m tall, dark green, whitish below the nodes. Culm-sheaths thin, papyraceous, 

15-22 cm long and 5-7.5 cm broad, straw coloured, not attenuate but rounded at the top into a concave sinus furnished 

with two small, triangular, erect auricles; imperfect blade 10-12.5 mm long and 8-12 mm broad, acuminate-subulate, 

somewhat attenuate at the base, ligule broad. Leaves 25-40 cm long and 2.5-10 cm broad, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 

oblique at the base or rounded abruptly, narrowed into a short petiole, lateral veins up to 18 pairs, conspicuous, 

intermediate 7-10, without regular transverse veinlets, but distant pellucid dots appear as transverse veinlets on the 

undersurface; sheaths striate, ciliate, ending in an emarginate callus, rounded at the top; ligule long. Inflorescence 

composed of groups of spikelets in globular heads, 5 cm diameter at the tips of leafy branches, some spikelets sterile, 

some fertile, seated in the axis of broad keeled bracts. Spikelets 1-flowered, acuminate, 12-20 mm long, aristate. Glume 

14 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, long aristate, glabrous except on the keel, striate; lemmas lanceolate-acuminate, with a 

short arista and anastomosing nerves; palea membranous tesellately nerved, rounded at the summit, convolute. Lodicules 

ovate-lanceolate or spathulate, ciliate, 3-nerved, pubescent. Stamens exserted; filaments long; anthers mucronate at 

249


➤ 

Fig. 86. S. latifolium. 

A - leafy branch; B - a portion 

of flowering branch; 

C - culm-sheath; D - spikelets; 

E - empty glume; F - flowering 

glume; G - palea; H - lodicule; 


line 86 

apex. Ovary ovoid, attenuate 

in to a long, flattened style; 

stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis 

blackish brown, shining, 

broadly ovoid, grooved. 

FLOWERING 

Blatter (1929) recorded its 

flowering during 1835 and 

1879 in Bhutan and during 

1882 in Manipur. Dransfield 

(1995) reported that it flowers 

every year. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, North Bengal, Sikkim, Manipur and Bhutan. It grows upto an altitude 

of 1000 m. 

USES 

Culms are used for making baskets, tobacco containers and blow pipes. 

Schizostachyum mannii 

Schizostachyum mannii Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., F1. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 282. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 144. 1992. 

Bambusa khasiana Sensu Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 39, Pl. 37. 1896. non Munro, 1868. 

250


DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby bamboo; branches tufted. Culm-sheaths triangular, deciduous, fragile; blade inflated at the base. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found distributed in the North-Eastern India. 

Schizostachyum pallidum 

Schizostachyum pallidum (Munro) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monoct. 282. 1989; Tewari, 


Cephalostachyum pallidum Munro, Trans. Linn. 

Soc. London 26: 139. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 105, Pl. 92. 1896, and in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 412. 1897; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 166. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 

5: 17. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 

(n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby or small arborescent bamboo. Culms 

not more than 2 m tall. Culm-sheaths not known. 

Leaves pale green 2.5-12.5 cm long and 1.25- 

2.5 cm broad, ovate- lanceolate, unequally 

rounded at the base into a 5 mm long petiole, often 

wrinkled, suddenly narrowed above into scabrous, 

subulate point ending in long hair like tip, glabrous 

on both surfaces, minutely pubescent below, 

margins rough and somewhat cartilaginous; mid 

vein pale, secondary veins 4-6 pairs, intermediate 

7, without transverse veinlets. Sheaths striate, 

ciliate on the margins, ending in a short rounded 

auricle furnished with a few, very early deciduous 

cilia; ligule long, sometimes ciliate. Inflorescence 

a pale terminal head about 2.5 cm diameter, 

supported by a leafy and broad, rounded, glabrous 

sheath like bracts and consisting of many, long, 

aristate, empty glumes or sterile spikelets, with a 

➤ 

line 87 

Fig. 87. S. pallidum. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - spikelet; D - empty glume; E - flowering glume; G - lodicule; 

H - stamen; I - pistil; J - caryopsis. 

251


few exserted fertile spikelets. Spikelets 17.5-20 mm long. Glumes empty, sessile or with a few empty bracts at the base, 

12.5-15 mm long, ovate, concave, ending in a 5 mm long awn, many-nerved, sometimes pubescent on the back below 

the awn; lemma similar but with a shorter awn; palea as long as lemma, thin, many-nerved, tessellate, closely 2-keeled, 

bifid-mucronate at the apex, hairy below the keels and the tip, rachilla protruded, short. Lodicules lanceolate or spathulate 

3-5-nerved, minutely papillose, pubescent, ciliate at the tip. Stamens exserted; filaments long; anthers long apiculate; 

ovary ovoid, lanceolate; style conical; stigmas 2, hairy, Caryopsis chestnut brown, glabrous, ovoid-globose. 


Gamble (1896) recorded its flowering during 1835, 1872, 1878 1885 and 1886. Fruit is a glans, ovoid, 14.6 mm long and 

10.9 mm wide; pericarp hard and glossy, separated from seed coat; no navel and ventral suture; a fruit stalk at base; a 

melon stalk-like rostrum at apex with a mucronate head. Starch grain ovate with an average diameter of 41 µm, several 

times larger than the common bamboo fruits, containing 3-19 small grains, small starch grains polyhedral or orbiculate 

with a diameter of 7.5-22.5 µm (Wen and He, 1991). 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya. 

Schizostachyum pergracile 

Schizostachyum pergracile (Munro) Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 282. 1989; Tewari, 


Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 141. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 

7: 108, Pl. 95. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 413. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 167. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. 

Assam 19. 1940; Bahadur and Naithani, Indian. For. 102: 596, Fig. A.H. 1976; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 

(n.s). Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. 


Madhya Pradesh - Bhalan bans; Assam - Madang; Manipur - Wootang; Nagaland - Latang; Orissa - Dangi. 

DESCRIPTION 

A deciduous, arborescent, tufted bamboo. Culms 10-30 m tall, erect, glaucous green, somewhat whitish, puberulous 

below the nodes; nodes scarcely thickened; internodes 30-45 cm long and 5-7.5 cm broad, wall very thin. Culmsheaths 

chestnut brown, broader than long, 10-15 cm long and 15-20 cm broad, covered with black, stiff deciduous 

hairs, imperfect blade 5 cm long, ovate, cordate, cuspidate, densely hairy within, decurrent into a wavy fringe bordering 

the top of the sheath and ending on either side in a rounded auricle; both fringes and auricle edges with long, stiff, 

curved white bristles; ligule very narrow, entire. Leaves variable, 15-35 cm long and 2.5-3.25 cm broad linear- lanceolate, 

252


➤ 

Fig. 88. S. pergracile. A - leafy branch; 

B - culm-sheath; C - flowering branch; 

D - spikelet cluster; E - spikelet; F - open 

spikelet with sterile flower; G - palea; 

H - stamens and lodicules; I - lodicule; 

J - stamen; K - young shoot; L - a portion 

of culm. 

line 88 

thin, rounded or cuneate at the base into a 

short petiole, terminating above in short, 

subulate, scabrous, acuminate tip, 

glaucescent beneath, rough on both surfaces and margins, midrib conspicuous, secondary veins 7-13 pairs, intermediate 

usually 5, sheaths glabrous, faintly striate, ending in a small, ciliate callus, auricles at the mouth with a few, early 

caducous cilia; ligule very narrow, entire. Inflorescence a large panicle with verticils of long, drooping, filiform spikes 

bearing distant broad heads of spikelets, supported by small, chaffy, sheathing bracts, rachis very slender. Spikelets in 

bracteate clusters, 1.25-1.75 cm long, without glumes, but bearing 1-2 sterile florets, followed by a fertile floret, ending 

in a terminal sterile floret; lemma 1.25-1.75 cm long, ovate-lanceolate, many-nerved, densely pale, hairy, long-mucronate, 

palea as long as lemma; lodicules 2, narrow, lanceolate, obtuse and ciliate at the tip, 3-5-nerved persistent. Stamens 

with narrow filaments; anthers purple, obtuse. Ovary smooth, sub-globular; style 1. Stigmas 2-3, stout, recurved. 

Caryopsis 1.25 cm long. 

Chromosome number 2n = 72, 48, 54 and 60. Hexaploid (Ghorai and Sharma, 1980; Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 

FLOWERING 

This species often flowers sporadically and occasionally flowers gregariously over extensive areas. Troup (1921) recorded 

its gregarious flowering from Tharrawaddy in Myanmar during 1865, 1875, 1887-1888, 1894-1895 and during 1913- 

1914; in Pyinmana during 1899-1900 and 1906-1908; in Upper Chidwin, Myettha and Katha during 1900-1907 and 

253

81 

➤ 

S. pergracile - A part of the clump 

1913-1914. In India, it flowered in Dibrugarh (Assam) in 1936. Bahadur and Naithani (1976) have recorded its gregarious 

flowering in Dehra Dun in 1972. 


In India, it is found in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. It prefers 

moderately moist soil and profuse watering in summer and responds readily to fertilizers. (Bahadur and Naithani, 

1976). 


Long cells of the culm epidermis rhomboidal with straight to sinuous walls, papillae in small groups. Stomata overarched 

by papillae, diverging microhairs. Cortex homogeneous, thin-walled, peripheral vascular bundles reduced, in transitional 

vascular bundles both the caps and sheaths fused, central vascular bundles all with the four fibre groups, lining of the 

cavity sclerenchymatous in patches (Pattanath and Rao, 1969). 

The fibre length of the culm is variable in this species within a culm is as follows in mm. Bottom 2.1, one-fourth height 

1.9, middle height 1.9, three-fourth height 2.0. Fibre length 2.48 mm, fibre diameter. 16.46 µm, lumen diameter 6.48 

µm, wall thickness 4.57 µm parenchyma 17.7per cent (Singh and Bhola, 1978). Study on fine structure of fibres showed 

254


polylamellate nature. Narrow lamellae alternate with broader ones. The microfibrillar orientation in broad and narrow 

lamellae is criss-cross. Narrow lamellae possess high lignin and xylan (Parameswaran and Liese, 1976). 

CHEMISTRY 

Beating characteristics of the species have shown presence of caustic soda 20 per cent. kappa no.28.2, lignin in bamboo 

24.9 per cent, lignin in pulp 4.3 per cent, pentosans in bamboo 18.4 per cent, pentosans in pulp 15.9 per cent, pulp 

yield- unscreened 54.5 per cent, screened 52.8 per cent. (Singh and Bhola, 1978). 


Observations on flowered areas in Katha Division showed abundant natural regeneration (Blanford, 1918). This can be 

propagated by seed, rhizome and culm cuttings. A spacing of 8 x 8 m is recommended for plantations. Application of 

fertilizer promotes clump and culm production. 


This species is found susceptible to hispine beetle (Estigmene chinensis), leaf roller (Pyrausta bambusivora) and defoliator 

(Pyrausta coclesalis). 

USES 

The culms of this species are beautiful and are largely used for building, mat and basket making. In Myanmar culm with 

a node is used as a container for making rice mould which can conveniently be carried while traveling. It is good for 

paper pulp; split culms are used as fishing rods. It is a commendable species for landscaping and the best species of 

lacquerware. 

Schizostachyum polymorphum 

Schizostachyum polymorphum (Munro) Majumdar in Karthi-keyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot. 282. 1989; 


Pseudostachyum polymorphum Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 142, t.4. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 96. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 409. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 161. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. 

Assam. 5: 13. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 


Assam - Bajal, Nal, Tolli; Garo Hills - Wachall; Lepcha - Purphiok, Paphak. 

DESCRIPTION 

Bamboo with single culm from a long creeping, jointed rhizome Culms 15-20 m tall, thick walled, 3-3.5 cm diameter; 

internodes 20-23 cm long, glaucous in the beginning, afterwards dark green. Culm-sheaths smaller than the internodes, 

255


➤ 

Fig. 89. S. polymorphum. A - leafy 

branch; B - flowering branch; C - culmsheath; 

D - a portion of flowering branch; 

E - spikelet; F - empty glume; 

G - flowering glume; H - palea; I - pistil; 

J - pistil and lodicules; K - stamen. 

line 89 

triangular, truncate, auricled with a tuft 

of short bristles; imperfect blade long 

acuminate on the young culms, striate and 

furnished with purplish transverse nerves; 

ligule short, narrowly dentate. Leaves 10- 

20 cm long and 2.5-6 cm broad, oblonglanceolate, 

unequally rounded at the base 

into a short petiole, attenuate at the top into a long twisted point, smooth on both surfaces, scabrid on one margin; 

sheaths faintly white, pubescent, glabrescent; ligule short. Inflorescence a very large leafy panicle, compound branches 

fascicled at the nodes, pendulous or curved. Spikelets 5 mm long, with 1 fertile floret. Glume one, broad mucronate, 7- 

nerved; lemma similar to the glume, ciliate above; palea thin convolute, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels. Lodicules 3-5, 

usually 4, truncate at the apex, persistent; stamens 6, free; filaments short with apiculate anthers. Ovary linear-oblong, 

ending in a rigid style with 2 hairy stigmas. Caryopsis globose-depressed, surmounted by the base of the style; pericarp 

crustaceous. 

Chromosome number 2n = 48, tetraploid (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993). 


This species flowers frequently and has been reported from Sikkim during the year 1857. Mohan Ram and Hari Gopal 

(1981) reported its sporadic flowering in the state of Mizoram during 1978-79. They believed that the non-availability 

or insufficiency of pollen for cross pollination resulted in poor seed production in this species. The flowers were found 

very often diseased. Flowering was reported from Namsai-Chouken area of Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh during 

1991 but no fruiting could be seen (Haridasan, 1991). Flowering of the bamboo results in the death of the entire clump. 

Embryological studies show that the embryo is ovate, embryo sac and endosperm development is similar to that of 

Dendrocalamus and Bambusa. Fruit development beyond the stage of globular embryo showed that integument and 

nucellus had already degenerated leaving behind a thick mat of disintegrated cells around the embryo and endosperm. 

The cells of the outer epidermis and two or three layers below this zone are large and have abundant starch. 

256


The amount of starch is less in the adjacent four to six layers, but is abundant in the innermost two to four layers and 

the inner epidermis. All the cell layers on the hilum side have abundant starch grains. During maturation of the 

embryo, those cell layers that have low amount of starch collapse and leave behind their remnants. Consequently the 

thickness of the fruit wall decreases. Embryo tegmium is not clear (Hari Gopal and Mohan Ram, 1987). 


This species is found distributed in North Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur 

and Meghalaya upto 1000 m in India. It is also found in Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. It occurs predominantly near 

water sheds and valleys where the climate is cool, moist and shady. 

USES 

In Sikkim and Assam, it is used largely for basket and mat making. The culms can be easily split and are flexible. It is 

used as a monsoon belt below 2000 m in Sikkim Himalayas. 

Schizostachyum rogersii 

Schizostachyum rogersii Brandis, Indian Trees 679. 1911; Camus, Les Bambusees 178. 1913; Parkinson, For. Fl. 

Andaman Island 272. 1923; Blatter, Indian For. 55: 603. 1929; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 

4. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 147. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Culms tufted, weak, up to 9 m high and 1.9 cm diameter, overarching or supported by trees, walls thin. Culm-sheaths 

much shorter than the internodes, thin, 7.6-10 cm long, hairs very fugaceous, base 5-6.3 cm broad, tapering to 2 cm, 

with 2 small auricles at the apex; blade narrow, reflexed, as long as the sheath. Leaves 18-23 cm long and 2.5-3.8 cm 

broad, long fine hairs on the underside, transverse veins prominent, oblique and bent. Inflorescence a long spike 

terminating leafy branchlets with distant half whorls of spikelets supported by bracts which are often furnished with a 

blade. Spikelets 1-flowered, glabrous, the fertile 1.2 cm long, the sterile shorter. Empty glumes 2-4; palea convolute, 

minutely 2-dentate, keels distinct. Lodicules 3, unequal. Anthers yellow, obtuse, 4 mm long. Ovary glabrous; style 

thick, cylindric, hollow, terminated by 3 long plumose stigmas. Caryopsis ellipsoid-cylindric, crowned by the long 

persistent style. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is known to be endemic to Andamans. 

USES 

The culms are used for making arrows and blowpipes. 

257


Schizostachyum seshagirianum 

Schizostachyum seshagirianum Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot 282. 1989; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 148. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Scandent, shrubby bamboo with tufted branches. Culms-sheaths tubular, crustaceous; blade long, inflated at base, 

thick, leathery. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found distributed in Arunachal Pradesh. 

REFERENCES 

Bahadur, K. N. and Naithani, H. B. 1976. Range extension of the Bamboo - Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro. 


Blanford, H. R. 1918. Note on operation in bamboo flowered areas in Katha Division. Indian Forester, 44: 550-561. 

Blatter, E. 1929. The flowering of bamboos. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 33: 899-921. 

Bor, N. L. 1940. Gramineae. In Flora of Assam. Government of Assam, 5: 480p. 

CSIR, India. 1950. Cephalostachyum (Gramineae). In Wealth of India: Raw Materials, Vol. 2. Publication and Information 

Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi: p.121. 

Deka, P. C.; Barua, G. and Mala Devi. 1990. A preliminary investigation of diseases of bamboo in east-region of India. 


Dransfield, S. 1995. Schizostachyum brachycladum Kurz. In S. Dransfield and E. A. Widjaja (Eds.). Plant Resources of 

South-East Asia, 7: Bamboos. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 132-133. 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. 7: Bengal Secretariat 

Press, Calcutta: 96-97. 

Ghorai, A. and Sharma, A. 1980. Bambuseae - A review. Feddes Repertorium, 91: 281-299. 

Gupta, K. K. 1972. Flowering in different species of bamboos in Cachar District of Assam in recent times. Indian 

Forester, 98: 83-85 

Gupta, K. K. 1982. Notes on bamboo flowering in North-East India. Indian Forester, 108: p 596. 

Haridasan, K. 1991. Flowering of Pseudostachyum polymorphum. BIC-India Bulletin, 7(2): p 14. 

Hari Gopal, B. and Mohan Ram, H. Y. 1987. Fruit development and structure in some Indian Bamboos. Annals of 

Botany, 60: 477-483. 

Holttum, R. E. 1958. The Bamboos of the Malay Peninsula. Garden’s Bulletin, Singapore, 16: 45-46. 

258


Mohan Ram, H. Y. and Hari Gopal, B. 1981. Some observations on the flowering of bamboos in Mizoram. Current 

Science, 50: 708-710. 

Naithani, H. B. 1992. A new species of bamboo, Schizostachyum Nees from Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Forester, 

118: p230. 

Nath, M.; Phukan, U.; Barua, G.; Devi, M.; Barua, B. and Deka, P.C. 1986. Propagation of certain bamboo species from 

chemically treated culm cuttings. Indian Journal Forestry, 9: 151-156. 

Othman, A. R. and Nor, H. M. 1993. Vegetative propagation by branch and culm cuttings of selected bamboos of 

Malaysia. BIC- India Bulletin, 3(2): 24-28. 


231-246. 

Pattanath, P. G. 1972. Trend of variation in fibre length in Bamboos. Indian Forester, 98: 241-243. 


classification of Bamboo. In Recent Advances in the Anatomy of Tropical Seed Plants, Vol.7. Hindustan Publishing 

Corporation, New Delhi: 179-196. 


Qureshi, I. M.; Yadav, J. S. P. and Prakash, J. 1969. Physico-chemical study of soils in some bamboo forests of Assam. 


Rao, K. S. and Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1987. Comparative analysis of the population dynamics of two bamboo species, 

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Neohouzeana dullooa, in a successional environment. Forest Ecology and Management, 

21(3-4): 177-189. 

Rao, K. S. and Ramakrishnan, P. S. 1988. Architectural plasticity of two bamboo species (Neohouzeana dullooa and 

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii) in successional environment in North-East India. Procedings of the Indian Academy of 

Science (Plant Sciences), 98: 121-133. 




3: 16-21. 


Troup, R. S. 1921. The Silviculture of Indian Trees. Oxford, Vol. 3: 977-1013. 

Wen, T. H. and He, X. L. 1991. Fruit morphology and starches in bamboo fruits and their systematic position. In A. N. 

Rao; P. X. Zhang and S. L. Zhu, (Eds.). Selected Papers on Recent Bamboo Research in China. Bamboo Information 

Centre-China and Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing: 47-59. 

Zamora, A. B. 1994. Review of Micropropagation Research on Bamboos. In Constraints to Production of Bamboos and 

Rattans. INBAR Technical Report No.5: International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, New Delhi: 45-100. 

259

260


SINARUNDINARIA NAKAI 

Culms arising from sympodial rhizomes or long or short 

necks, the absence of a dominant branch, 3 to many branch complements, culm-sheath persistent or late deciduous; 

inflorescence a panicle or a raceme supported by small sheaths, spikelets stalked. 

Chao and Renvoize (1989) proposed that the genus Chimonocalamus Hsuch and Yi should be treated as a section of 

Sinarundinaria Nakai due to the similarities in the inflorescence type, the structure of spikelet, floret and rhizome type. 

It differs only in the culm nodes, which have root thorns. Munro (1868) divided the genus Arundinaria into the section 

designated I & II, but did not name them. Gamble (1896) also adopted Munro’s section in the monograph but did not 

name them either. Keng (1983) erected a new genus 

Drepanostachyum recognizing Munro’s Section II. 

After examining a large number of specimens, Chao 

and Renvoize (1989) could not justify recognition 

❖ 

▼❖ 

❑▲✜❍ 

◆✤✦✷ 

➡ 

➡ 

✿❑▲ 

✜❍✤ 

✿▲✜ 

✥◆ 

➡ 

▼■✿❑ 

▲✜✥✢ 

✤✦✷ 

➡ 

✥ 

➡ 

➡ 

✿✬ 

■✿❑ 

✥✢✦ 

of a separate genus or section and merged the 

genus Drepanostachyum under Sinarundinaria. 

Based on their studies, the Indian species of 

the genera, Arundinaria, Chimonobambusa, 

Drepanostachyum, Indocalamus, Semiarundinaria 

and Sinobambusa are all included under 

Sinarundinaria. Chao and Renvoize (1989) 

suggested approximately 50 species in the world, 

2 in Central America, 3 in Africa and Madagascar, 

the rest in Asia. In this compendium, 21 species 

of this genus have been described. Among these, 

2 new combinations have been proposed. 

✪❖❋ ➡ 

❂❋ 

▼ S. anceps 

● S. arunachalensis 

✪ S. densifolia 

■ S. elegans 

❖ S. falcata 

✱ S. floribunda 

✿ S. griffithiana 

❑ S. hirsuta 

▲S. hookeriana 

✜ S. intermedia 

❍ S. jainiana 

✥ S. kurzii 

✬ S. longispiculata 

◆ S. microphylla 

✢ S. nagalandiana 

✤ S. pantlingii 

✦ S. polystachya 

✾ S. rolloana 

✷ S. suberecta 

❂ S. walkeriana 

❋ S. wightiana 

➤ 

Distribution map of Sinarundinaria 

261


Sinarundinaria anceps 

Sinarundinaria anceps (Mitf.) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 359. 1989. (Fig. 90). 

Arundinaria anceps Freeman Mitford, Bamboo Garden 181. 1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 33. 1913; Blatter, Indian For. 

55: 548. 1929, Arundinaria jaunsarensis Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 23. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. 

India 7: 384. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 50. 1913; Chimonobambusa jaunsarensis (Gamble) Bahadur and Naithani, 

Indian J. For. 1: 40. 1978; Bahadur and Jain, Indian J. For. 4: 283. 1981; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 56. 1992. Yushania 

jaunsarensis (Gamble) Yi, J. Bamboo Res. 5(1): 8. 1986. 


Jaunsar - Ningal, Ringal: Garhwal - Jumra, Gyons, Sarura, Sarurha. 

DESCRIPTION 

Reed-like plants, non clump-forming, with single culm at intervals; rhizome long and creeping, 0.7 cm diameter. Culms 

ca. 4.5 m high, bright glaucous green when young, greenish brown when old; internode ca. 28 cm long, glabrous, 

striate; node marked by a narrow ring; branchlets usually 3, semiverticillate. Culm-sheaths ca. 15 cm long and 5 cm 

broad, striate, straw-coloured, papery, ciliate on the edges, narrowed to a truncate apex; auricles narrow, falcate, with 

long hairy bristles; imperfect blade 2.5-6 cm long, narrow, subulate, recurved; ligule short, pubescent. Leaves ca. 15 cm 

long and 1.8 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, thin, unequally attenuate at the base into a very short petiole, acuminate at 

the tip, rough beneath, margin serrate; mid-rib hardly prominent; secondary veins 3-5 pairs; intermediate 7-8; transverse 

veinlets prominent, numerous; leaf-sheath smooth, striate, keeled, loose, glabrous, ending in a falcate auricle with few 

stiff long bristles; ligule white, short, truncate, pubescent. Inflorescence in axillary recemose panicles; rachis smooth, 

long, green; spikelet ca. 4.5 cm long, 6-10-flowered, the upper floret imperfect; rachilla ca. 5 mm long, clavate, yellowish 

hairy; empty glumes ovate, acute, thin, tessellate, yellow, tip ciliate, outer glume ca. 4 mm long and 1.7 mm broad and 

3-nerved, inner glume ca. 6 mm long and 2 mm broad and 5-nerved; lemma ca. 8 mm long and 3.5 mm broad ovate, 

acute, thin, tessellate, ciliate at the tip and upper margins; palea ca. 8 mm long, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, 2-nerved 

on either side of the keels, tip bifid and ciliate; lodicules 3, ovate, acute, fimbriate, 5-9-nerved, yellow, one is narrower 

and longer than the other two. Stamens 3; anther ca. 2.5 mm long, apiculate, basifixed; filament ca. 5 mm long. Ovary 

ca. 2 mm long, linear-oblong, glabrous, reddish-yellow; styles with long plumose stigma. Caryopsis ca. 4 mm, linear, 

trigonous, reddish-brown with persistent base of styles. 

Chromosome number 2n = 48 (Janaki Ammal, 1959). 

FLOWERING 

Flowering of this species has been reported during 1861-1865. Later during 1978, it was also found in flower from 

Chamoli District of Uttar Pradesh. The species is known to have a flowering cycle of 45-55 years. 


Distributed in North-West and Central Himalaya from Jaunsar, near Chakrata through Chamoli in Garhwal to the 

source of Pindar River in Kumaon between 1800-3300 m. Cultivated in United Kingdom and Ireland. There are two 

262


➤ 

Fig. 90. S. anceps. A - leafy branch; 

B - culm with branches; C - culmsheath; 

D - young shoot; E - flowering 

branch; F - spikelet; G - empty glumes; 

H - lemma; I - palea; J - lodicules; 


line 90 

clones: one growing to a height of 4 m and the other to 10 m. The dwarf clones grow in south-facing slopes of Himalaya 

at a lower altitude and the large one in north-facing slopes at a higher altitude. The top canopy and understory tree 

species associated with this species are Quercus dilatata, Abies pindrow, Aesculas indica and Symplocos ramocissima. 

The underground shrubs were Strobilanthes atropurpurens, Phoebe sp., Ilex dipyrena, Rosa macrophylla and Vitis 

himalayana (Prasad et al., 1989). 

SILVICULTURE 

The average densities of culm population per ha was found to be 1330. The ratio of ‘new culms’ to ‘old culms’ defined 

as growth index varied from 0.20 to 0.95 with a mean of 0.37. A well-managed plantation of smaller clone will yield 

about 2 tons/ha/yr. and bigger clone about 6 tons/ha/yr. (Prasad, et al., 1989). 

USES 

The split culms are used for making mats and baskets. This species is a potential raw material for pulp and paper. 

263


Sinarundinaria arunachalensis 

Sinarundinaria arunachalensis Naithani, Indian For. 117: 78. 1991. 

Chimonocalamus longispiculatus Majumdar in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. Ind. Enum. Monocot.276. 1989. 

DESCRIPTION 

Plants unarmed. Leaves with setaceous apices. Spikelets green, many-flowered in terminal panicles. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species has been reported from Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh. 

Sinarundinaria densifolia 

Sinarundinaria densifolia (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 354. 1989. (Fig. 91). 

Arundinaria densifolia Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 32. 1868. Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 8. 

1896 and Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 379. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 31. 1913; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 

900. 1930. Chimonobambusa densifolia (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 1925; Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 240. 1979; 

Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 6(1): 2. 1980; Varmah and Pant, Indian For. 107: 672. 1982. Bahadur and Jain, 

Indian J. For. 4: 283. 1981; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo, 55. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby plants; rhizome thick, covered with imbricating scales. Culms ca. 0.9 m high, smooth; internodes ca. 7.5 cm 

long, walls thick; nodes prominent, with 2 or 3 branches. Culm-sheaths ca. 2.5 cm, striate, hirsute, with small pointed 

auricles; imperfect blade short, ovate, rounded at base. Leaves ca. 3.7 cm long and 0.5 cm broad, subsessile, lanceolate, 

rounded at the base, tapering upwards and acuminate, edges spinulose-serrate; midrib prominent, shining; secondary 

veins 2 pairs, inconspicuous; intermediate 4-5; transverse veinlets many forming horizontal narrow rectangles; leafsheath 

striate with whitish stiff hairs, edges ciliate; ligule short, rounded, hairy. Inflorescence a dense raceme in leafy 

branchlets; raceme with 5-6 spikelets; rachis angled, strigosely hairy; spikelet ca. 1 cm long, with 2 empty glumes and 1 

fertile and another imperfect flower; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate, hairy; lemma ca. 9 mm long and 3 mm broad, 

ovate, 7-nerved, tip long mucronate and ciliate, margin scabrous; palea ca. 9 mm with keels which are ciliate, 1-nerved 

on either side of the keel, tip ciliate and bimucronate; lodicules 3, ovate-obtuse, fimbriate, 3-5-nerved, two ca. 3 mm 

long and one shorter and narrower than the other two. Stamens 3; anther long, basifixed, tip bifid; filament short. 

Ovary elliptic, glabrous; style divided to the base with each branch having one plumose stigma. 

264


➤Fig. 91. S. densifolia. A - culm with 

branches; B & C - leafy branches; 

D - leaf with sheath; E - raceme; 

F - spikelet; G & H - empty glumes; 

I - flowering glume; J - palea and 

imperfect terminal flower; 

K - lodicules; L - stamen; M - pistil. 

line 91 

DISTRIBUTION 

Restricted in distribution to South India (Anamudi Hills); occasionally found in patches. 

ANATOMY 

Leaf blade in transverse section V-shaped; asymmetry not evident, margins differ markedly in outline; midrib comprises 

a single median bundle only; embedded in stereome tissue. Vascular bundle elliptical in shape; phloem tissue adjoins 

the inner bundle sheath, inner bundle sheath entire, single-layered, cells with uniformly thickened secondary walls. 

Sclerenchymatous girders associated with all bundles. Chlorenchyma non-radiate, of arm and fusoid cells. Arm cells 

with prominent invaginations; adaxial cells without conspicuous vertical orientation of the invaginations. Colourless 

cells absent. Intercostal long cells of abaxial epidermis elongated, with parallel side-walls and vertical end walls; walls 

thin, slightly sinuous; bulliform cells absent. Stomata shape indistinguishable due to overlapping papillae; two files on 

either side of the costal zones; stomata alternate with short silica cells along stomatal files. Papillae large, with thick 

cuticle, present on long cells; four papillae overlap the subsidiary cells. Prickles and hooks absent. Microhairs common 

265


in central intercostal files. Macrohairs absent. Silica bodies large, saddle-shaped along the costal zones; cross-shaped 

silica body present between the intercostal long cells. 

Intercostal long cells of the adaxial epidermis elongated, rectangular with slightly sinuous, slightly thick walls, separated 

by long and narrow silica cells. Stomata absent. Intercostal short cells long with narrow silica cells. Papillae absent on all 

cells except the outer tangential walls of the bulliform cells. Prickles, hooks micro and macro hairs absent. silica bodies 

vertically elongated, saddle-shaped. Intercostal bodies very narrow and long. Costal cells of the costal zones consist of a 

single row of cells; alternating silica cells and rectangular long cells (Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). 

USES 

Not much use has been reported for this species except for fodder. 

Sinarundinaria elegans 

Sinarundinaria elegans (Kurz.) Chao & Renv., Kew Bull. 44:359. 1989. (Fig. 92). 

Arundinaria elegans Kurz, J. Asiat.Soc. Bengal 42: 248. 1873; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7:6. 1896 and in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 378. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 29. 1913; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 900. 1930; 

Burmabambusa elegans (Kurz) Keng, J. Bamboo Res. 1(2): 40. 1982. Sinobambusa elegans (Kurz) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 

6: 152. 1925; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo. 149.1992. 


Naga Hills - Jilli. 

DESCRIPTION 

An evergreen shrubby slender, tufted bamboo. Culms ca.6 m. high, ca. 0.7 cm diameter, flattened on one side in 

alternate joints, blackish; internode ca. 22.5 cm long, smooth; nodes prominent, somewhat raised, branchlets 3. Culmsheaths 

ca.10 cm long and 2.5 cm broad, papery, striate deciduous, covered with stiff hairs on the outer surface, ciliate 

on the edges, narrowed at the tip into a 0.3 cm broad mouth; auricles bristly on both sides; imperfect blade ca.2 cm 

long, striate, narrow, subulate edges ciliate; ligule rather broad, finely ciliate. Leaves ca.15 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, 

linear-lanceolate, attenuate at the base into a short petiole, ending above in an acuminate tip, glaucescent beneath with 

white hairs, margin scabrous; midrib conspicuous; yellow, shining beneath; secondary veins 4 pairs; intermediate 8, 

transverse veinlets many, raised beneath; leaf sheath striate, glabrous, ending into a minutely ciliate callus; auricles 

short with few long bristles; ligule very short. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or raceme of few pedicellate spikelets on 

leafy branches, ca.5 cm long; rachis ca.2 cm long, wiry, curved, pubescent; spikelet ca.1.5 cm long, flattened, 6-flowered, 

the uppermost floret is empty, rachilla ca. 4 mm long, hairy, clavate, yellow; empty glume 2, ovate, acuminate, outer 

glume ca.2.5 mm long and 3-nerved, inner glume ca.5 mm long and 5-nerved, lemma ca.10 mm long, ovate, long 

266


➤ 

Fig. 92. S. elegans. A - leafy branch; 

B - culm with culm-sheath; C - culm sheath; 

D - flowering branches; E - spikelets; 

F & G - empty glumes; H - flowering glume; 

I - palea; J - lodicule; K - stamen; L - pistil. 

line 92 

acuminate, 7-nerved, palea shorter than lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, 2-nerved on either side of keel, tip ciliate 

with 2 clefts; lodicules 3, ca. 1.5 mm long, ovate, fimbriate, 3-nerved, one is narrower than the other two and obtuse, 

others ovate and acute. Stamens 3, hardly exserted; anther ca.5 mm long, purple, basifixed, tip rounded. Ovary ca.1.5 

mm long, oblong, glabrous, yellow, style divided at the base and each having one plumose stigma. 

FLOWERING 

The only report of flowering is from Naga Hills in 1937. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is found distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland of North-Eastern India. Also known to occur in 

China and Myanmar and considered rare and highly threatened (Bahadur and Jain, 1981). 

USES 

Culms are used for strengthening the mud walls of native huts. In Naga hills, the young shoots are used for making 

pickles. Shoots are also used as vegetables and food. 

267


Sinarundinaria falcata 

Sinarundinaria falcata (Nees) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 357. 1989. (Fig. 93). 

Arundinaria falcata Nees, Linnaea 9: 478. 1834; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 26. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 12-13. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 381. 1897; Bean, Kew Bull. No.6: 229-230. 1907; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 37. 1913; 

Gamble, Kew Bull. No.8: 302-306, 

1921; Arundinaria falcata var. 

glomerata Gamble in Ann. Roy. Bot. 

Gard. Calcutta 7.13, Pl.12. 1896. 

Arundinaria utilis Cleghorn, J. Agri. 

Soc. India 13: 368. 1865; 

Arundinaria interupta Trin., Mem. 

Acad. Petersb. 6(3): 620. 1835; 

Chimonobambusa falcata (Nees) 

Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 148. 1925; 

Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 

line 93 

900. 1930. Varmah and Bahadur, 

Indian For. Rec. 6(1): 2. 1980; 

Varmah and Pant, Indian For. 107: 

671. 1981. Drepanostachyum 

falcatum (Nees) Keng. f. J. Bamboo 

Res. 2(1): 17. 1983. Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 83.1992. Drepanostachyum 

khasianum (Munro) Keng. f. J. 

Bamboo Res. 18. 1983. Ludolfia 

falcata Nees ex Munro, Trans. Linn. 

Soc. 26:26. 1868. 

DESCRIPTION 

➤ 

Fig. 93. S. falcata. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; C - flowering branch; 

D & E - spikelets; F & G - empty glumes; H - flowering glume; I - palea; 

J - rudimentary flower on terminal rachilla; K - lodicule; L - stamen; M - pistil. 

Shrubby bamboo. Culms ca.4.5 m 

high, ca.1 cm diameter, smooth, 

cylindrical, green with white scurf 

when young; internode ca. 15 cm 

long, thin, scabrous; node swollen, 

hairs present below the cup-like 

structure formed by the base of the 

fallen sheath; culm branches 

numerous, densely fasciculate. 

268


Culm-sheaths 17-30 cm long and 3-7 cm broad, papery, striate, straw-coloured, glabrous on the outer surface, hairy on 

inner surface in the upper half only, ciliate on the upper edges, narrowed towards the apex into a 0.3 cm broad ciliate 

mouth; imperfect blade ca. 4 cm long (1 cm long in young culms), narrow, striate, acute subulate, recurved; ligule ca. 

1.2 cm long, elongate, dentate. Leaves ca.8 cm long and 0.5 cm broad (much longer and broader in young shoots), 

linear-lanceolate, attenuate at the base into a ca.2 mm long petiole, tapering above into an acuminate tip with setaceous 

point, margin serrate, ventral surface with few white hairs towards the petiole, glabrous on the edges; midrib prominent; 

secondary vein 4 pairs; intermediate 6, transverse veinlets inconspicuous; leaf-sheath long, striate, yellow, usually 

glabrous, ending into a ciliate callus, edges ciliate; ligule long, dentate, membranous. Inflorescence usually on separate 

leafless branches; spikelets ca. 1.5 cm long, 2(1)-flowered with a terminal rudimentary flower, yellow or sometimes 

purple; rachilla ca.5 mm long, clavate, ciliate; empty glumes 2, chartaceous, ovate, tip acute, ciliate, outer glume 

ca.7 mm long and 2 mm broad and 3-nerved; inner glume ca.9-nerved, tip mucronate, ciliate; palea as long as the 

lemma, 2-keeled, glabrous on keels, tip bimucronate, ciliate; lodicule 3, ovate, fimbriate, one ca.1.5 mm long and 

3-veined, the other two ca. 2 mm long and 5-veined. Stamens 3; anther ca. 5 mm long, bilocular, obtuse, basifixed; 

filament ca. 2 mm long. Ovary linear-oblong, glabrous; style divided upto base, each having one plumose stigma. 

Caryopsis ca. 5.5 mm long, linear, slightly trigonous, furrowed, brown coloured having persistent base of styles. 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to have both gregarious and sporadic flowering. Flowering has been reported from Simla during 

1858, 1916; Mussoori 1916; Jaunsar in 1868, 1916 and Tehri Garhwal in 1916. This species appears to have a flowering 

cycle of 48-58 years. 


S. falcata is distributed in North-West Himachal Pradesh (Simla); Uttar Pradesh (Kumaon and Garhwal Hills) at an 

altitudinal range from 1200 m to 2550 m. The top canopy and understory tree species associated with S. falcatum 

(A. falcata) were found to be Quercus leucotrichophora, Q. glauea, Daphniphyllum himalayense, Rhododendron 

arboreum, Alnus nepalensis, Hyonia ovalifolia, Machilus odoratissima, Litsea umbrosa and Eurya acuminata. Shrub 

layer consisted of saplings of the above species and Daphic cannabina, Reinwardtia sp. Hedychium spicatum, ferns such 

as Polystychium acuminatum and Pteris sp. (Prasad et al., 1989). 

FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS 

Maceration studies have shown that the species has a fibre length of 1.01 mm, diameter11 µm. 

CHEMISTRY 

Proximate chemical analysis showed ash 3.6 per cent, solubility in cold water 4.55 per cent, in hot water 5.9 per cent, 

in alcohol benzene 4.43 per cent, in 1 per cent NaOH 21.5 per cent. Cellulose 51.6 per cent, lignin 27.85 per cent and 

pentosan 21.5 per cent (Guha et al., 1966). 

USES 

Culms are used for basket-making, hookah pipes and fishing rods. 

269


Sinarundinaria floribunda 

Sinarundinaria floribunda (Thwaites) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 356.1989. (Fig. 94). 

Arundinaria floribunda Thwaites, Enum Pl. Zeyl. 475. 1864; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26:20. 1868; Gamble, 

Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7:5. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 377. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 28. 1913; 

Ram Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore 446. 1914. Indocalamus floribundus (Thwaites) Nakai J. Arn. Arb. 6: 148. 1925; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 101.1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect, shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 1.5 cm high; internode ca. 9 cm long, covered with hairs, nodes swollen. Leaves ca. 

20 cm long and 1.8 cm broad lanceolate, narrowed towards the base into a glandular short petiole, ending above into 

long acuminate tip, serrated on the edges; leaf sheath striate, covered with hairs ending into a callus; auricles short and 

furnished with bristles on the margin; ligule short, fimbriate. Inflorescence large, terminal in leafy branches. Spikelet 

ca. 2.5 cm long, minutely silky pubescent, 8-flowered and the uppermost sterile; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate hairy; 

empty glumes 2, ovate acute, ciliate at the apex and on the edges, outer ca.4 mm long and 1.5 mm broad, and 3-nerved; 

inner ca. 5 mm long and 2 mm broad and 5-nerved; lemma ca. 8 mm long and 3 mm broad, ovate acuminate, ciliate at 

the apex, 7-nerved. Palea as long as lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, bicuspidate; lodicules 3, two broad and long, 

third one small and narrow, ovate obtuse, 

fimbriate; stamens 3, long, basifixed, 

brown, blunt, filament short. Ovary ovoid, 

glabrous, style divided with 2 stigmas. 

Caryopsis 0.5 cm long, red, linear, 

crowned with the base of the bifid style. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is reported from Sri Lanka and 

is also found distributed in the Western 

Ghats region of Kerala (Rao, 1914). 

line 94 

➤Fig. 94. S. floribunda. A & B - leafy 

branch with young flowering panicle; 

C - spikelets; D & E - empty glumes; 


H - lodicules; I - stamen; J - pistil. 

270


Sinarundinaria floribunda 

Sinarundinaria floribunda (Thwaites) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 356.1989. (Fig. 94). 

Arundinaria floribunda Thwaites, Enum Pl. Zeyl. 475. 1864; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26:20. 1868; Gamble, 

Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7:5. 1896 and in Hook f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 377. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 28. 1913; 

Ram Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore 446. 1914. Indocalamus floribundus (Thwaites) Nakai J. Arn. Arb. 6: 148. 1925; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 101.1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

Erect, shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 1.5 cm high; internode ca. 9 cm long, covered with hairs, nodes swollen. Leaves ca. 

20 cm long and 1.8 cm broad lanceolate, narrowed towards the base into a glandular short petiole, ending above into 

long acuminate tip, serrated on the edges; leaf sheath striate, covered with hairs ending into a callus; auricles short and 

furnished with bristles on the margin; ligule short, fimbriate. Inflorescence large, terminal in leafy branches. Spikelet 

ca. 2.5 cm long, minutely silky pubescent, 8-flowered and the uppermost sterile; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate hairy; 

empty glumes 2, ovate acute, ciliate at the apex and on the edges, outer ca.4 mm long and 1.5 mm broad, and 3-nerved; 

inner ca. 5 mm long and 2 mm broad and 5-nerved; lemma ca. 8 mm long and 3 mm broad, ovate acuminate, ciliate at 

the apex, 7-nerved. Palea as long as lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, bicuspidate; lodicules 3, two broad and long, 

third one small and narrow, ovate obtuse, 

fimbriate; stamens 3, long, basifixed, 

brown, blunt, filament short. Ovary ovoid, 

glabrous, style divided with 2 stigmas. 

Caryopsis 0.5 cm long, red, linear, 

crowned with the base of the bifid style. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is reported from Sri Lanka and 

is also found distributed in the Western 

Ghats region of Kerala (Rao, 1914). 

line 94 

➤Fig. 94. S. floribunda. A & B - leafy 

branch with young flowering panicle; 

C - spikelets; D & E - empty glumes; 


H - lodicules; I - stamen; J - pistil. 

270


ANATOMY 

Leaf blade outline expanded, asymmetrical, ribs and furrows very shallow, furrows present above all bulliform cell 

groups; slight ribs present on one side of midrib and near margin on same side. Midrib abaxially projecting, broadly ‘S’ 

shaped, asymmetrical structure, all vascular bundles embedded in sclerenchyma fibres. Intercostal long cells of abaxial 

epidermis elongated, rectangular, side walls parallel, unthickened and sinuous; cell shape differs across intercostal zone. 

No bulliform cells. Short cell pairs, stomata, microhairs or prickles separate successive long cells. Stomata low domeshaped, 

flange-like papillate outgrowths from the subsidiary cells conceal guard cells, three rows of stomata on either 

side of each costal zone. Short cells paired in central files; silica cell tall and narrow and cork cell square to tall and 

narrow, present between all long cells in the central files except where hooks or microhairs emerge. Small hooks present. 

Microhairs elongated, finger-like, present on the central intercostal files and immediately adjacent to the costal files. 

Macrohairs absent. In adaxial epidermis, intercostal long cells elongate, rectangular with very slightly sinuous walls; 

separated by short cell, central four files of each zone consist of shorter, angular bulliform cells arranged in an interlocking 

manner; stomata, papillae, prickles and microhairs absent (Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). 

USES 

The culms of the species are used for making roofs, fencing and agricultural implements. 

Sinarundinaria griffithiana 

Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 353. 1989. (Fig. 95). 

Arundinaria griffithiana Munro Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 20. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 10. 

1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 379. 1897; Gamble, Kew Bull. 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 36. 1913; 

Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33. 901. 1930. Chimonobambusa griffithiana (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 

1925; Bor. in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 45. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. 6(1): 2. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 55. 1992. 


Khasi and Jaintia - Khnap, Uspar, Knap, Ukhnap, Usknap. 

DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby, erect plants. Culms ca. 8 m high, 3 cm diameter, olive green; internodes ca. 14.5 cm, striate, furrowed; nodes 

prominent, woolly, bearing a circle of conical stout short spines. Culm-sheaths 18-30 cm long and 10-12 cm broad, 

papery, striate, straw-coloured, covered with scattered stiff bulbous-based hairs, ciliate on the edges, convexly attenuate 

upwards to a 1 cm broad apex with rounded auricles; imperfect blade ca. 2.5 cm long, triangular, acute, hairy; ligule 

short, hairy. Leaves ca. 12.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, smooth, apex acuminate with a setaceous 

point, base attenuate into a 5 mm long petiole; midrib conspicuous, shining, secondary veins 4-5 pairs, intermediate 5, 

271


transverse veinlets many; leaf-sheath striate, glabrous, with few stiff curved bristles; ligule broad, hairy. Inflorescence 

a terminal panicle with sheathing bracts; rachis hairy, flattened on one side; spikelets ca. 3 cm long, narrow, in verticillate 

clusters on thin wavy scabrous hairy pedicels; 4-6-flowered, uppermost floret empty; rachilla ca. 5 mm long, flattened, 

hairy, clavate at the top; empty glumes 2, ovate lanceolate, mucronate, scabrous, lemma 5-7, 2-keeled, ciliate on the 

keels, tip bimucronate; lodicules 3, obovate, faintly nerved, long ciliate, 1 rather shorter than the other two. Stamens 3, 

anther tip with few white hairs. Ovary linear-oblong, glabrous; style divided to the base with each branch having one 

plumose stigma. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported 

from Assam in 1833, Meghalaya 

in 1894 and Mizoram in 1953. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in 

Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, 

Mizoram, Nagaland and West 

Bengal at an elevation of 2400- 

3000 m. 

USES 

The culms are used for thatching 

houses. 

line 95 

➤ Fig. 95. S. griffithiana. 

A - leafy branch; B - leaf; 

C - culm-sheath; D - flowering 

branch; E - spikelets; 

F & G - empty glumes; 

H - flowering glume; I - palea; 

J - lodicules; K - stamen; 

L - pistil. 

272


Sinarundinaria hirsuta 

Sinarundinaria hirsuta (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 355. 1989. (Fig. 96). 

Arundinaria hirsuta Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 30. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 22. 

1896, in Hook. f., F1, Brit. India 7: 384. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 50. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 40. 1940; 

Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 1. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo, 23.1992. 


Khasi Hills - Ustoh, Uskong, Daitsisal. 

DESCRIPTION 

Tufted, shrubby bamboo with single stem from the rhizome. 

Culms ca. 2 m high, grayish green; internode ca. 15 cm long, 

striate, strigosely hirsute, young culms scabrous, node not 

much swollen, with 1-2 thick branches and a ring of scars of 

the fallen sheath. Culm-sheaths 10-15 cm long and 2.5 cm 

broad, papery, striate, covered with long brown hairs on the 

dorsal surface, rounded at the tip and ending in large, 

recurved, long ciliate auricles; imperfect blade subulate, 

acuminate, recurved; ligule narrow, pubescent. Leaves lamina 

with a short petiole 2.4 cm long oblong-lanceolate, 7-12 cm 

long, 1.2 to 1.6 cm broad, base rounded, tip subulate, twisted, 

smooth above, pale and strigosely white hairy beneath; 

margins scabrous-serrate, midrib narrow, shining, secondary 

veins 4-6 pairs, intermediate 7, transverse veinlets numerous, 

straight, regular and strong; leaf sheaths striate, covered with 

long shift bristles, ending in rounded, reflexed auricle bearing 

long, stiff, almost spinescent bristles; ligule elongate, hairy, 

often dark coloured. Inflorescence a panicle, inner glume 

ca. 9 mm long, 5-nerved; lemma ca. 12 mm long and 4 mm 

broad, ovate, setaceous, acuminate, striate, 9-nerved, ciliate 

at the tip; palea ca. 8 mm long, with 2 ciliate keels, 1-nerved 

on either side of keel, apex bifid; lodicules 3, ca. 2 mm long, 

ciliate on the margin, 2 are ovate-acute and 5-nerved, third 

one is ovate-obtuse and 1-nerved. Stamens 3, free; anther 

basifixed, tip bifid, blunt; filament very short, delicate, 

twisted. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm long, oblong ovoid, hairy at the 

base; Style undivided. Stigma 3, Plumose. Caryopsis ca. 3 

mm long, oblong, dorsally furrowed with persistent base of 

style. 

➤ 

line 96 

Fig. 96. S. hirsuta. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath. 

273


FLOWERING 

Flowering is recorded from Sikkim in 1837, 1899, 1927 and 1956; from Darjeeling in 1904, 1950-51, and 1960. The 

flowering cycle appears to vary from 28 to 48 years. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is widely distributed in Naga Hills and Khasi Hills at an elevation of 1600-3000 m. Also reported from 

Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. 

USES 

The maling bamboo mats are extensively used as roofing material, temporary partition walls, doors and nursery sheds 

in Darjeeling and Sikkim. The culms are used for fencing and garden supports. Young leaves are good fodder for cattle 

and pony. Emerging young shoots are edible. 

Sinarundinaria hookeriana 

Sinarundinaria hookeriana (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 358-359.1989. (Fig. 97). 

Arundinaria hookeriana Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 29. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 16. 

1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 382. 1897 and in Kew Bull. No.3: 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 39. 1913; 

Chimonobambusa hookeriana (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 1925; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 901. 

1930. Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. Drepanostachyum hookerianum (Munro) Keng. 

f. J. Bamboo. Res. 2(1): 17. 1983; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 84.1992. 


Lepcha - Praong, Prong, Praing, Preng, Pareng, Prem; Nepal- Singhane, Singhani, Suighani. 

DESCRIPTION 

A caespitose bamboo. Culms ca. 6 m high, striate, slender, glaucous green with white scurf; internode ca. 25 cm long, 

3 cm diameter, fistular with a bluish ring at the top; node not much swollen but prominently ringed with the persistent 

base of the fallen sheath; branchlets numerous, chiefly from the upper nodes. Culm-sheaths 20-50 cm long and 

5-16 cm broad, papery, striate, tessellate, straw-coloured, smooth, tapering in the upper half to a truncate point; imperfect 

blade ca. 8 cm long and 0.5 cm broad, linear, striate; ligule ca.3 mm long, dentate, curved upwards. Leaves ca. 23 cm 

long and 2 cm broad, linear-oblong, lanceolate, glaucous green when young, glabrous beneath except for few white 

hairs along the midrib at the base, margin scabrous, apex acuminate into a setaceous point, base attenuate into 

ca. 3 mm long petiole; midrib prominent beneath, shining; secondary veins 4-8 pairs; intermediate veins 5, transverse 

veinlets inconspicuous; leaf-sheath striate, glabrous, ending into a broad callus, edges ciliate; ligule long. Inflorescence 

a racemose panicle, usually on separate leafless branches or sometimes fascicled at the node, spikelet ca. 1.2 cm long, 

274


➤Fig. 97. S. hookeriana. A - leafy branch; 

B - culm-sheath; C - a portion of culm; 

D - flowering branch; E & F - spikelets; 

G & H - empty glumes; I - flowering 

glume; J - palea; K - stamen; L - pistil. 

line 97 

pedicellate, 2-flowered, 1 fertile and other 

imperfect; rachilla scabrous; empty glumes 

2, oblong-mucronate, thin, membranous, 

tip and edges ciliate, midrib prominent; outer glume ca.5 mm long and 1.5 mm broad and 3-nerved, inner glume ca. 6 

mm long and 2 mm broad and 5-nerved; lemma ca. 10 mm long and 4 mm broad, broadly ovate, hard with thickened 

edges, shortly mucronate, ciliate at the tip, 7-nerved; palea equal to lemma or slightly longer, 2-keeled, ciliate on the 

keels and bifid tip; lodicules 3, thickened at the base, ovate with acute tip, fimbriate, 3-5-nerved, one is narrow and 

shorter than the other two. Stamens 3; anther sub-acute, basifixed; filament short. Ovary ovoid-oblong, glabrous; style 

divided and each branch having one short plumose stigma. Caryopsis ca.8 mm long, oblong, dark-coloured, smooth, 

with persistent base of styles. 

Chromosome number n=24 (Mehra and Sharma, 1975). 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Sikkim in 1848 and 1885, from West Bengal in 1901, 1902, 1932 and 1963. The 

flowering cycle is about 30-35 years. 


The species is distributed in the North-East India; Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and West Bengal. Distributed 

mostly in warm temperate to subtropical zone at an elevation of 650-1600 m. It grows on hill sides often in evergreen 

Oak forests. Cultivated in various botanical gardens and by farmers in West Bengal. 

275


ANATOMY 

Leaf epidermis has short cells in rows of three to five cells in both surfaces. Shape of silica bodies generally Oryza type, 

but intermediate shapes between cross and dumbbell seen in the adaxial (costal) region. Bulliform cells, arm cells, micro 

hairs, macrohairs and prickles are present. Microhairs panicoid type (Sharma et al., 1986). 

USES 

In Sikkim, this species is used for fencing, panels, thatching, mats, flag poles, and water pipes. Leaves are used as fodder. 

Young shoots are edible. The seeds of this species are cooked like rice or used for the preparation of beer (Holstrom, 

1993). 

Sinarundinaria intermedia 

Sinarundinaria intermedia (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 357.1989. (Fig. 98). 

Arundinaria intermedia Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 30. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 15. 

1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 381. 1897, Kew Bull. No.3: 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 39. 1913; Blatter, J. 

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 902. 1930. Chimonobambusa intermedia (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 1925; Varmah 

and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980. Drepanostachyum intermedium (Munro) Keng, J. Bamboo Res. 

2(1): 18. 1983; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 87.1992. 


Lepcha - Purmiok, Purmiak, Purmak, Permyok, Parmiok, Prongnok, Purmia; Nepal - Tite, Titi, Titay, Ningalo, Nigalai, 

Lushai-Lik. 

DESCRIPTION 

A thin caespitose shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 4 m high, ca. 1.2 cm diameter, smooth, grayish green; internode ca. 25 cm 

long; node swollen with a prominent ring and a whitish line below; branchlets many from the node, fasciculate. 

Culm-sheaths ca. 21 cm long and 4 cm broad, glabrous, papery, strongly striate, broader at the base, tapering to a 

truncate tip; imperfect blade ca.4 cm long, narrow, subulate, recurved; ligule ca. 5 mm long, blunt. Leaves ca. 15 cm 

long and 1.5 cm broad, linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, scabrous, attenuate at the base into ca. 5 mm long 

petiole, acuminate above in a setaceous point; midrib prominent; secondary veins 4 pairs; intermediate veins 6; transverse 

veinlets inconspicuous; leaf sheath striate, yellowish, hairy; callus ciliolate; auricles with long brownish-yellow bristles; 

ligule obtuse or triangular. Inflorescence a racemose panicle on leafless branches; spikelets ca. 2.5 cm long, yellowish, 

3-5-flowered, upper flower imperfect; rachilla clavate, hairy; empty glumes 2, ovate, membranous, ciliate at the tip, 

outer glume ca. 4 mm long and 1.5 mm broad and 5-nerved, inner glume ca. 7 mm long and 2 mm broad, 7-nerved; 

lemma 9 mm long and 3 mm broad, ovate, mucronate, scabrous, 9-nerved; palea 2-keeled, lodicule 3, ovate, 3-7 nerved, 

margin fimbriate. Stamens 3; anthers ca. 3 mm long, basifixed; filaments short. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm long, oblong; style 

276


➤ 

Fig. 98. S. intermedia. 


B - culm with flowering 

branch; C - culmsheath; 

D - spikelet; 


G - flowering glume; 

H - palea; I - lodicule; 


line 98 

divided and each having one plumose stigma. Caryopsis short, oblong, swollen in the middle and furrowed in front, 

tipped with persistent base of style. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been recorded from Sikkim in 1848, 1868, 1879, 1899 and 1968. The flowering cycle is about 20 years. 


The species is distributed in North-East India; Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and in West Bengal. 

Distributed mostly in warm temperate to subtropical zone. Grows gregariously as forest undergrowth often in Oak and 

Rhododendron forest. Also cultivated at different places in West Bengal. Found at an elevation of 650-2200 m. 

USES 

Culms are used for making fishing rods and arrows. Leaves are used for thatching, roofing and basket making. It is an 

excellent hedge plant. Young shoots are edible. 

277


Sinarundinaria jainiana 

Sinarundinaria jainiana (Das and Pal) Naithani Indian For. 116 (12): 990. 1990. (Fig. 99). 

Ampelocalamus patellaris (Gamble) Stapleton. Chimonobambusa jainiana Das and Pal, J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 4: 1023. 

1983. Drepanostachyum jainianum Majumdar, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 25: 235. 1983; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 88. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

An elegant caespitose bamboo. Culms ca. 6 m high, ca. 2 cm diameter, striate, light brown; internode striate, hairy; 

nodes having a peltate hairy disc; branches many, fasciculate. Leaves ca. 8 cm long and 4 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, 

attenuate at the base into a short petiole, apex acuminate, hairy on the lower surface along the midrib, glabrous on the 

edges; midvein prominent, secondary and intermediate veins are indistinguishable, transverse veinlets inconspicuous; 

leaf-sheath striate, hairy on the edges with bristles on both side of the callus, yellow; ligule ca. 6 mm long. Inflorescence 

a loose drooping panicle, terminating at the leafy branches; spikelet ca. 2.5 cm long, usually 5-flowered, uppermost 

floret imperfect; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate, ciliate; empty glumes 2, membranous; lemma ca. 12 mm long and 4 mm 

broad, with long hairs towards the edges on the 

back, 11-nerved, tip acute; palea ca. 11 mm long, 

2-keeled, glabrous on the keels, tip ciliate and 

bimucronate; lodicule 3. Ovary ca. 1.5 mm long, 

ovoid-oblong, glabrous; style divided and each 

having one plumose stigma. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Sikkim in 1905, 

1908 and from Darjeeling in 1979. 

line 99 


This species is distributed in Sikkim and West 

Bengal (Darjeeling). Distributed mostly in 

subtropical zone; apparently very rare; prefers very 

humid and cooler habitats. 

USES 

The culms are ideal for weaving since it is flexible 

and has long internodes. Leaves are used as fodder. 

➤ 

Fig. 99. S. jainiana. A - part of the culm with a nodal ring; B - part 

of inflorescence; C - a floret with rachilla; D - terminal sterile floret; 

E - pistil with withered stamens; F - stamen; G - lodicules. 

278


Sinarundinaria kurzii 

Sinarundinaria kurzii (Gamble) Muktesh 

kumar Comb. nov. (Fig. 100). 

Arundinaria kurzii Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 25. 1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 

385. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 50. 1913; Biswas, 

Indian For. 114: 526. 1988. Drepanostachyum kurzii 

Majumdar, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 25:236. 1983; 

Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 90. 1992. 

DESCRIPTION 

A low level bushy bamboo. Culms ca.1.2 cm 

diameter, thin, smooth; internode ca.18 cm long, 

striate, yellow; nodes prominent, having a thick ringlike 

scar formed by the base of the fallen culmsheath; 

branchlets many, fascicled, with swollen 

joints. Leaves ca. 8 cm long and 0.5 cm broad, linearlanceolate, 

very thin, attenuate at the base into a 

short petiole, tip mucronate, glabrous on dorsal 

surface, with scattered long white hairs on the 

ventral surface, edges smooth; midrib prominent, 

secondary veins 3 pairs, intermediate 6, transverse 

veinlets inconspicuous; leaf-sheath striate, slender, 

glabrous, ending into a callus with few bristles; ligule 

short, ciliate. Inflorescence unknown. 

➤ 

line 100 

Fig. 100. S. kurzii. A - leafy branches with part of culm. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is distributed in North-East India; Meghalaya (Khasi Hills), Manipur and Nagaland. This is a rare bamboo. 

Sinarundinaria longispiculata 

Sinarundinaria longispiculata (Bor) Chao and Renv. Kew Bull. 43:411. 1988; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 149.1992. 

(Fig. 101). 

Arundinaria longispiculata Bor, mss. 

279


DESCRIPTION 

A reed-like bamboo. Culms erect; internodes glabrous; nodes yellowish-velvety. Leaves 7-15 cm long and 0.8-1.5 cm 

broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, tapering at the apex, cuneate at the base, tessellate with 3-4 secondary veins on 

each side; sheaths glabrous with small auricles and erect oral setae; ligules conspicuous. Inflorescence loosely paniculate, 

leafy, up to 15 cm long. Spikelets 4-8 cm long, numerous, pedicels up to 2 cm long, pubescent, slightly flexuous, floret 5- 

10; rachilla 0.8-1 cm long, tomentose; empty glumes 2, first glume 6 mm long, second 7-8 mm long, lemma 1.2-1.5 cm 

long, glabrous except at the apex, 5-7-nerved, long acuminate or subulate at the apex; palea 1-1.5 cm long, 2-keeled; 

lodicules 3, more or less ovate, ciliate at the margin. Stamens 3, 5-6.5 mm long. Caryopsis not known. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Lushai 

Hills, Mizoram in 1953. 

DISTRIBUTION 

The species is distributed in Mizoram 

(Lushai Hills) at an elevation of 1300 m. 

The species appears to be endemic to 

Mizoram. 

line 101 

➤Fig. 101. S. longispiculata. A - a portion 

of flowering branch; B - node; C - spike; 

D - lower glume; E - upper glume; 

F - floret; G - lodicules; H - pistil; 

I - caryopsis. 

Sinarundinaria microphylla 

Sinarundinaria microphylla (Munro) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 354. 1989. 

Arundinaria microphylla Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 32. 1868; Gamble, Indian For. 14: 314. 1888, Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 22. 1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 383. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 667. 1906; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 51. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.)Bot. 6(1): 1. 1980; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 25. 1992. 

280


DESCRIPTION 

Smallest bamboo; caespitose, shrubby. Culms ca. 1.2 m high; internode ca. 7 cm long, glabrous; node prominent, with 

many semi-verticillate branches. Leaves ca. 3 cm long and 0.3 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, acute; secondary veins 2 

pairs, inconspicuous, transverse veinlets many, forming squares and rectangles; leaf sheath striate, dark, scabrous, 

fimbriate at the top; ligule scarcely visible. Inflorescence not known. 


Found in North-East India; Sikkim (Bahadur, 1979) and Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. Distributed mostly in cool temperate 

to sub-alpine zone. Commonly found in large patches in wet places. 

USES 

This can be planted in water-logged areas since the long and hollow rhizome neck will help in drainage and aeration. 

The leaves can be used as a fodder. 

Sinarundinaria nagalandiana 

Sinarundinaria nagalandiana Naithani, Indian For. 

120:1120. 1994. (Fig. 102). 

DESCRIPTION 

An erect thorny bamboo. Culms caespitose, 3-7 m high, olivegreen; 

branches greenish black; nodes prominent, bearing a circle 

of conical, stout short spines; internodes up to 15 cm long, 2.5 

cm diameter, at base bear a belt of soft brown hairs. Culm-sheaths 

ca. 22 cm long and 9.5 cm broad, papery, striate, trasversely 

veined, covered on the back with scattered, stiff, bulbous 

hyphen based brown hairs, margins ciliate, broader at base, 

tapering upwards to a 1.2 cm broad, non convexly, sometimes 

obliquely truncate apex with very small auricles fringed with 

deciduous bristles. Ligule absent; imperfect blade 1.5 x 0.5 cm, 

triangular, transversely veined, brown ciliate near the margin, 

line 102 

➤ Fig. 102. S. nagalandiana. A - leafy branch; B - culm-sheath; 

C - a portion of culm. 

281


Leaves 7-26 cm long and 1.7-2.8 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, alternate at the base into 2 mm long petiole ending in a 

scabrous acuminate point. Sometimes slightly pubescent above, faintly scabrous-serrate on the margin, mid-rib prominent, 

shining glabrous; secondary veins 5-7 pairs; transverse veinlets conspicuous, raised; sheaths striate, glabrous, ciliate on 

the margins, ending in a short ciliate callus, furnished with few, long, deciduous bristles; ligules short, glabrous, entire. 


This species is allied to Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro) Chao & Renv. but differs by culm-sheath without ligule 

and having broad nonconvexly truncate apex; leaves broader. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is reported from Nagaland as a new taxa collected during 1986 (Naithani, 1994). 

Sinarundinaria pantlingii 

Sinarundinaria pantlingii (Gamble) 

Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 359. 1989. 

(Fig. 103). 

line 103 

Arundinaria pantlingii Gamble, Ann. 

Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 129. 1896 and 

in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 380. 1897; 


J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 902. 1930; 

Butania pantlingii (Gamble) Keng, J. 

Bamboo Res. 1(2): 42. 1982. 

Semiarundinaria pantlingii (Gamble) 

Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 121. 1928; Tewari, 

Monogr. Bamboo 148. 1992. 

➤ 

Fig. 103. S. pantlingii. A - leafy 

branch; B - flowering branch; C - culmsheath; 

D & E - empty glumes; 


H - lodicules; I - stamen; J - pistil; 

K - a portion of flowering branch. 

282


DESCRIPTION 

An erect caespitose, shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 6 m long, ca. 1.5 cm diameter, smooth, internode ca. 14 cm long, thinwalled; 

nodes prominent bears a soft hairy ring formed by the base of the fallen sheath. Culm-sheaths 16-22 cm long 

and 3.5-9 cm broad, coriaceous, striate, straw-coloured, covered with stiff hairs on the outer surface, tessellate in inner 

surface, attenuate towards the apex into a very long ciliate tip, with 0.8 cm broad mouth; auricles rounded, hairy with 

few long bristles; imperfect blade ca. 9 cm long, erect, subulate, striate, ciliate on the edges; ligule ca. 2 mm broad, 

faintly ciliate, dentate. Leaves ca. 11 cm long and 1 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, glabrous, attenuate at the base into a 

very short petiole. Leaf sheath ca. 5 cm long, striate glabrous, ciliate on the edges, ending into a callus with long twisted 

bristles on both sides; ligule long, glabrous, white. Inflorescence on axillary or terminal panicle, supported by ca. 6 cm 

long sheathing bracts, on separate leafless branches, spikelet ca. 3.5 cm long, 8-flowered, uppermost 2 flowers empty, 

pedicels long, wavy, glabrous, capillary with glandular bases, rachilla ca. 6 mm long, clavate, scabrous, with a tuft of 

white hairs below the flowers, empty glumes 2, ovate-lanceolate, ciliate on the edges, outer glume ca. 7 mm long and 

2 mm broad and 3-nerved, inner glume ca. 10 mm long and 3 mm broad and 5-nerved, lemma ca. 13 mm long and 3 

mm broad, ovate-lanceolate, ciliate on the edges, tip long, acuminate, ciliate; palea ca.10 mm long, 2-keeled lodicules 3, 

ovate, acute, faintly nerved, ciliate on the edges, one is narrower than the other two. Stamens 3; anther bilobed, ca. 3 

cm long, linear, acute, basifixed, filament ca. 1 mm long. Ovary oblong, ovoid, glabrous, style undivided, short, curved 

with 3 plumose stigmas. Caryopsis oblong, grooved, dark-brown, surmounted by the persistent bases of style. 

Chromosome number n = 24. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering is rare in this species. Flowering has been reported from Sikkim in 1895, 1897 and 1932. Flowering has also 

been reported from West Bengal in 1968. Flowering cycle appears to be about 35 years. 


The species is found distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal. It is distributed mostly in subalpine zone. 

It grows in mountain slopes, rocky area and as undergrowth in Abies, Betula and Rhododendron forests. It often forms 

almost pure stands. Found at an elevation of 2400-3000 m. 

Sinarundinaria polystachya 

Sinarundinaria polystachya (Gamble) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 359. 1989. (Fig. 104). 

Arundinaria polystachya Kurz ex Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 7. 1896 in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 378. 

1897, Kew Bull. No.3: 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 30. 1913; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 902. 1930; 

Chimonobambusa polystachya (Kurz ex Gamble) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 151. 1925; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian. For. 

Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 2. 1980; Drepanostachyum polystachyum (Kurz ex Gamble) Majumdar, in Karthikeyan et al., Fl. 

Ind. Enum. Monocots. 278. 1989; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 90. 1992. 

283


➤ 

Fig. 104. S. polystachya. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; 

C - spikelet; D - flowering glume; E - palea; F - lodicules; G - stamen; 

H - pistil. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby bamboo. Culms ca. 4 m high, soft; 

branchlets many, fasciculate. Leaves ca.20 cm 

long and 3.5 cm broad, rounded and attenuate 

at the base into a very short petiole, ending 

above into a twisted setaceous point, rough 

above, smooth beneath, scabrous on one edge; 

midrib prominent, broad; secondary veins 5 

pairs, conspicuous, intermediate 5, transverse 

veinlets inconspicuous; leaf-sheath striate, 

glabrous, ending into a broad bifid callus with 

deciduous oral setae, greenish-yellow; ligule 

long, striate, blunt, fimbriate. Inflorescence 

an axillary panicle on leafy branches; spikelet 

ca. 1.8 cm long, pedicellate, 5-flowered, upper 

flower empty; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate, 

white bearded; empty glumes 2, membranous, 

ovate, acuminate, tip hairy, outer glume ca. 

6 mm long and 1.5 mm broad 5-nerved; 

inner glume ca. 7 mm long and 2 mm broad, 

7-nerved; lemma ca. 8 mm long and 3.0 mm 

broad, ovate-acuminate, ciliate at the tip and 

on the upper margin, 9-nerved; palea slightly 

longer than lemma, 2-keeled, ciliate on the 

keels, tip bifid and mucronate, 1-nerved 

between and 1-nerved on either side of the keel; lodicules 3, ca. 3 mm long, 2 ovate-obtuse, 1 ovate-acute and narrower 

than the other two, fimbriate. Stamens 3; anther long, basifixed, brown, tip shortly apiculate; filament short, flexuose. 

Ovary oblong-ovoid, glabrous; style divided with 2 plumose stigmas. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been recorded from Sikkim in 1868, 1897, 1898 and from Khasi Hills in 1876 and the flowering cycle is 

about 30 years. 


This species is distributed in North-East India; Meghalaya (Khasi Hills) and Sikkim. Distributed mostly in warm 

temperate to subtropical zone. It usually grows on dry hills, ridges or rocky slopes and occasionally near the streams. 

Distributed at an elevation of 900-1600 m. 

ANATOMY 

line 104 

Leaf epidermis has short cells in rows of 3-5 on costal and solitary in the intercostal region. Shape of silica bodies Oryza 

type. Bulliform cells, arm cells, macrohairs, microhairs and prickles present. Microhairs present on both surfaces of 

epidermis (Sharma et al., 1986). 

284


Sinarundinaria rolloana 

Sinarundinaria rolloana (Gamble) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 355. 1989. (Fig. 105). 

Arundinaria rolloana Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 24. 1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 384. 1897; 

Camus, Les Bambusees 57. 1913; Bahadur and Jain, Indian J. For. 4: 282. 1981; Biswas, Indian For. 114: 526. 1988; 

Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 27. 1992. Yushania rolloana (Gamble) T.P.Yi in J. Bamboo Res. 2(1): 39, 1983. 


Naga Hills - Jipvo. 

DESCRIPTION 

Shrubs, culms arising at distance; 

rhizome creeping, covered with scales, 

imbricate. Culms ca. 3 m high, 1 cm 

diameter, greenish yellow, flattened on 

one side; internode ca. 20 cm long, walls 

thin; node somewhat swollen, with 1-3 

branchlets. Culm-sheaths ca. 10 cm long 

and 4 cm broad, narrowed into a broad 

truncate mouth, thin, striate, covered 

with brown stiff hairs on the dorsal 

surface, ciliate on the edges, auricles 

rounded with long bristles; ligule long, 

fimbriate, narrow; imperfect blade ca. 5 

cm long, subulate, recurved. Leaves ca. 

20 cm long and 3.5 cm broad, oblong, 

lanceolate, tip acute, base rounded, 

glabrous above, scabrous on the ventral 

surface; midrib conspicuous, shining 

beneath; secondary veins 6 pairs; 

intermediate 7; transverse veinlets 

numerous, ruminant beneath, straight 

and regular; petiole short, flat; leafsheath 

striate, hairy, with long rounded 

ciliate auricles; ligule long, membranous. 


DISTRIBUTION 

The species is found in Naga Hills and 

is rare and restricted in distribution. It 

➤ 

line 105 

Fig. 105. S. rolloana. A - leafy branch; B - culm with culm-sheath; 


285


is known only by two collections during 1889 by Rollo and Banerjee. The species is remarkable for its very long rhizome 

and broad leaves. 

USES 

Local children make whistles from the culms. 

Sinarundinaria suberecta 

Sinarundinaria suberecta (Munro) Muktesh kumar Comb. nov. (Fig. 106). 

Arundinaria suberecta Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 32. 1868; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 25. 

1896, in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 385. 1897, Kew Bull. No.3: 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 52. 1913; Varmah and 

Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) 6(1): 1. 1980. Drepanostachyum suberectum Majumdar, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 25: 236. 

1985; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 91. 1992. 


Khasi Hills - Ukadai namlang, Lambnang, 

Namlang. 

DESCRIPTION 

A graceful shrubby bamboo, wiry, erect, thick 

clumps. Culms ca. 4 m high, 0.7 cm diameter, 

yellowish-brown, smooth; internode ca. 20 cm 

long, cavity very small; nodes swollen; branchlets 

in fascicle. Culm-sheaths ca.10 cm long and 1.5 cm 

broad, papery, glabrous on the inner surface and 

scabrous on the outer surface towards the tip, 

attenuate upwards into a 0.3 cm broad mouth; 

imperfect blade ca. 3 cm long, striate, leafy, 

recurved; ligule long, fimbriate at the tip. Leaves 

ca. 10 cm long and 0.7 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, 

attenuate at the base into a very short petiole, 

acuminate tip with setaceous point, glabrous above, 

pale beneath, edges scabrous and serrate; midrib 

not conspicuous, secondary veins 4 pairs, 

intermediate 6, transverse veinlets inconspicuous, 

➤ 

line 106 

Fig. 106. S. suberecta. A - leafy branch; B - a portion of culm; 


pellucid glands many; leaf-sheath striate, straw- coloured, loose, glabrous, slightly hairy when young, ending into a 

callus with bristles on both sides; ligule long, pubescent. Inflorescence not reported. 

286



This species is distributed in North-East India; Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya (Khasi and Jaintia Hills) and Sikkim. 

Distributed mostly in warm temperate to subtropical zone. Common in the hill forests and profuse along the banks of 

rivers and streams. 


Leaf rust caused by Puccinia phyllostachydis has been reported from India, China and Japan. 

USES 

Culms are used in building of native huts. 

Sinarundinaria walkeriana 

Sinarundinaria walkeriana (Munro) 

Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 354. 1989. 

(Fig. 107). 

line 107 

Arundinaria walkeriana Munro, Trans. 

Lin. Soc. London 26: 21. 1868; Gamble, 

Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 3. 1896 

and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 377. 1897; 


Indian For. 55: 542. 1929 and J. Bombay 

Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 903. 1930. Indocalamus 

walkerianus (Munro) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 

6: 148. 1925; Bahadur and Jain Indian J. 

For. 4: 280- 286. 1981; Tewari, Monogr. 

Bamboo 101. 1992. 

➤ 

Fig. 107. S. walkeriana. A - leafy branch; 

B - flowering branch; C - spikelets; 

D & E - empty glumes; F - flowering 

glume; G - palea; H - lodicules; 


287


DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby bamboo of densely placed culms from sympodial, pachymorph rhizome. Culms 2m high, ca. 3 cm diameter, 

hollow, upper part thickly covered with sheaths of fallen leaves, internodes rough, striate. Culm-sheaths deciduous, 

sheath light green, strongly ribbed, ciliate along the overlapping margin on the back, glabrous above, sparsely papillose 

below and at the base densely hirsute. Leaves ca. 16 cm long and 3.5 cm broad, ovate-oblong, apex acuminate, rounded 

at the base with ca. 5 mm long petiole, glabrous margin cartilaginous; midrib prominent; secondary vein 6-7 pairs, 

intermediate 7, transverse veinlets many. Leaf sheath striate glabrous, ending in to a ciliate mouth with bristly auricles 

on both sides of callus, ligule short. Inflorescence terminal, purple on leafy branches, 20-30 cm long, the pedicels up to 

17 mm long, each bearing a many-flowered spikelet. Spikelet ca. 2.5 cm long, glabrous 3-4 flowered and the upper one 

empty, each separated by a narrow rachilla, segment flat and glabrous below, empty glumes 2, nearly equal, ciliate on 

the margin, 3-5 nerved; palea as long as the flowering glume, ciliate, 2-keeled, apex acute, lodicules 3, obtuse, fimbriate, 

3-nerved. One is smaller than the other two. Stamens 3; anthers obtuse, filament short. Ovary glabrous, undivided 

with 2 feathery stigmas. Caryopsis 5 mm long with a short beak, embryo basal, one-fifth the length of the fruit, the 

hilum linear, extending the entire length of caryopsis in a furrow on the convex side (Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to flower frequently. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Distributed in Southern India, particularly in Palni Hills. Reported to be endemic to Sri Lanka. 

ANATOMY 

The transverse section of the leaf shows intercostal long, cells of the abaxial epidermis rectangular, no bulliform cells. 

Stomata shape not distinct, three files appear to be present on either side of costal zone; one interstomatal cell present 

between successive stomata in a file. Intercostal short cells single with crenate outlines. Papillae conspicuous, darkly 

staining, present on all long cells, overlapping stomata and adjacent long cells. Prickles and hooks identical, costal and 

intercostal prickles dominate the surface; bases elliptical, associated with short cells. Microhairs narrow and rod-shaped, 

common. Silica bodies tall, saddle-shaped, few present on costal zone, apparently absent intercostal zone. Adaxial 

epidermis intercostal long cells elongated, rectangular with slightly sinuous walls separated by single or paired short 

cells; costal and lateral intercostal files of identical cells, but costal zones recognisable due to underlying fibres, central 

files consist of bulliform cells. Stomata absent. Intercostal short cells single or paired, cork and silica cells tall and 

narrow but silica cell much smaller than cork cell. Papillae, prickles and microhairs absent. Silica bodies small, tall and 

narrow to crescent-shaped, irregular in occurrence in the intercostal zones, present between all costal long cells 

(Soderstrom and Ellis, 1988). In root, the epidermal cells radially elongated, walls are thick, larger in size than adjacent 

cells. Exodermis thin-walled and iso-diametric, occasionally ruptured. In cortex small intercellular spaces occur between 

cells. Endodermis conspicuous due to incomplete ‘U’ shaped thickening. Pericycle consists of one layer. Phloem strands 

occur scattered among metaxylem vessels as well as alternating between xylem poles. Protoxylem difficult to distinguish 

from pericycle. The ground tissue of stele consists of large thin-walled cells in the centre surrounded by thick- walled 

cells in the outer pith (Raechal and Curtis, 1990). 

USES 

The culms are used for fencing and roofing. 

288


Sinarundinaria wightiana 

Sinarundinaria wightiana (Nees) Chao & Renv. Kew Bull. 44: 356. 1989. (Fig. 108). 

Arundinaria wightiana Nees Linnaea 9: 182. 1834; Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 19. 1868; Gamble. Ann. Roy. 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 4. 1896 and in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India 7: 377. 1897; Camus, Les Bambusees 28. 1913; Blatter, 

Indian For. 55: 542. 1929 and J. 

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 903. 

1930 and 34: 135. 1931; 

Arundinaria hispida Steud. Syn. 

Pl. Glum.1: 335. 1854. A. 

wightiana var. hispida (Steud.) 

Gamble. Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. 

Calcutta 7: 5. 1896 and in Hook.f. 

Fl. Brit. India 7: 377. 1897. 

Indocalamus wightianus (Nees) 

Nakai in J. Arn. Arb. 6: 148. 1925; 

Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 240. 

1979., Varmah and Pant, Indian 

line 108 

➤Fig. 108. S. wightiana. 

A & B - leafy branches; 

C - a portion of culm; D - culmsheath; 


F - spikelet; G & H - empty 

glumes; I - flowering glumes; 

J - palea; K - lodicules; L - pistil; 

M - stamen. 

289


For. 107: 471. 1981; Indocalamus wightianus var. hispidus (Steud.) Nakai, J. Arn. Arb. 6: 149. 1925; Bahadur. Indian J. 

For. 2: 240. 1979; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 103. 1992. 


Southern India - Chewari; Common name: Nilgiri bamboo. 

DESCRIPTION 

An erect, gregarious shrub with slender culm arising from short rhizome. Culms 2 to 3 m or more high, slender, dark 

green, on maturity yellowish brown. Culm-sheaths 10 to 20 cm long, 2.5 to 7.5 cm broad, narrowed slightly upwards, 

straw coloured, thickly clothed with stiff, golden, tubercle-based hairs imperfect blade ca. 3.8 cm long, 0.5 cm broad, 

wavy, scabrous, ligule short, fimbriate. Leaves 13.5 cm long and 2 cm broad, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous except at the 

scabrous margins, short, swollen petiole, leaf sheath keeled, striate, ciliate at the edges, mouth with long bristles, ligule 

short, blunt. Inflorescence purplish, terminal or axillary. Spikelet ca. 1 cm long, 2-flowered the upper most floret 

usually sterile and glabrous, empty glumes 2 ovate-acute, membranous, tip ciliate; palea equal to lemma, 2-keeled, 

ciliate on the keels. Lodicules 3, ciliate, 3-7-nerved; stamens 3, anther brown, acute, basifixed, filament short. Ovary 

ovoid-oblong, glabrous, style divided with 3 plumose stigmas. Caryopsis ca.5 mm, elliptic, acute, deeply furrowed on 

one side. 

Chromosome number n = 12, 2n = 48. 

FLOWERING 

This species is reported to flower annually. The plant does not die after seeding. Flowering was observed in Nilgiri 

District during 1872, 1878, 1882, 1883-1889 (Tewari, 1992). 


S. wightiana is distributed in the hills of Southern India and Sri Lanka. Common in Nilgiri where it covers the upper 

slopes of the hills above 1800 m; chiefly as an undergrowth in evergreen sholas; gregarious in moist areas. In Kerala this 

species is located at Palghat and Munnar forests. 

USES 

This species is used for making baskets, mats, sheds, roofs and fencing. 

REFERENCES 

Bahadur, K. N. 1979. Taxonomy of bamboos. Indian Journal of Forestry, 2: 222-241. 

Bahadur, K. N. and Jain, S.S. 1981. Rare bamboos of India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 4: 280-286. 

Chao Chi-son and Renvoize, S.A. 1989. Revision of species described under Arundinaria (Graminea) in South East 

Asia and Africa. Kew Bulletin., 44: 349-367. 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, 7: 22-24. 

Guha, S. R. D.; Sharma, Y. K.; Jain, R. C. and Jadhav, A. G. 1966. Chemical pulps for writing and printing papers from 

Ringal (Arundinaria spp.). Indian Forester, 92: 634-636. 

290



Janaki Ammal, E. K. 1959. A cyto-systematic survey of bambuseae. Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India, 1: 78-84. 

Keng, P. C. 1983. A revision of the genera of bamboos form the World -IV. Journal of Bamboo Research, 2(2): 1-18. 

Mehra, P. N. and Sharma, M. L. 1975. Cytological studies in some Central and Eastern Himalayan grasses - V. 

The bambusae. Cytologia, 40: 463-467. 

Munro, W. 1868. A Monograph of the Bambusaceae. Transactions of the Linnaean Society of London, 26: 1-157. 

Naithani, H. B. 1994. A new species of Sinarundinaria (Bambusae) from Nagaland, India. Indian Forester, 120: 

1120-1121. 

Prasad, S. N.; Kumar, S.; Rawat, G. S. and Johnsigh, A. J. T. 1989. The conservation of montane bamboo in Western 

Himalayas, India. International Symposium on Conservation Phytoecology, 4-8 September 1989. Institute of Botany, 

Beijing, China: 12 p. 

Raechal, L. J. and Curtis, J. D. 1990. Root anatomy of Bambusoideae (Poaceae). American Journal of Botany, 77: 

475-482. 

Rao, R. 1914. Flowering Plants of Travancore. Travancore, Government Printing Press: p446. 

Sharma, M. L.; Jain Monicca and Raj Kumar, 1986. Leaf epidermal studies in bamboos (Gramineae). Journal of Tree 

Sciences, 5: 102-109. 

Soderstrom, T. R. and Ellis, R. P. 1988. The woody bamboos (Poaceae: Bambuseae) of Sri Lanka: A Morphologicalanatomical 

study. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No.72: 14-28. 

Stapleton, C. M. A. 1994. The Bamboos of Nepal and Bhutan Part III. Drepanostachyum, Himalayacalamus, 

Ampelocalamus, Neomicrocalamus and Chimonobambusa (Gramineae: Poaceae, Bambusoideae). Edinburgh Journal 

of Botany, 51 (3): 301-330. 


291

292


THAMNOCALAMUS MUNRO 

A shrubby bamboo. Rhizome sympodial, without 

elongated neck, forming culms in single caespitose clumps; culms erect; nodes marked by a ring; branchlets 3, mainly 

from the upper node; leaf blades tessellate; inflorescence racemose, usually on the leafless branches; spikelets few, 2-5 

together, each with 4-8 florets, enclosed by a broad spathe; rachilla with remote segments, the latter clavate-shaped and 

hairy at the tip; lemmas ovate, long acuminate at apex; lodicules 3, stamens 3; styles slender, with plumose stigma. 

There are different generic concepts with regard to this group. Several related genera have been merged with this genus 

by various taxonomists. Chao and Renvoize (1989) consider 6 species of the genus in the world, 2 species in China, 1 in 

Africa and 3 in India. The genera earlier known as Himalaya calamus has been merged with the genus Thamnocalamus. 

In the present compendium, three species of this 

genus have been included. 

✪ 

▼● 

➡ 

▼ 

●✪ 

▼● 

▼ T. aristatus 

● T. falconeri 

✪ T. spathiflorus 

➤ 

Distribution map of Thamnocalamus 

293

Thamnocalamus 

Thamnocalamus aristatus 

Thamnocalamus aristatus (Gamble) Camus, Les Bambusees 54. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal, Fl. Assam 5: 52. 1940; 

Champion and Seth, Rev. Surv. Forest Types India 316. 1968; Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 237. 1979; Varmah and Pant, 

Indian For. 107: 672. 1981; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 150.1992. (Fig. 109). 

Arundinaria aristata Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 18. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 382. 1897 

and Kew Bull. No.3:135. 1912; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 900. 1930. 


Sikkim - Babain, Babam; Darjeeling - Rato, Nigalo; Sikkim/Nepal border - Rato - Nigala, Pat - hioo. 

DESCRIPTION 

A shrubby erect, caespitose bamboo. Culm ca. 4 m high, 

ca. 1.5 cm diameter, glaucous green with white-scurf when 

young becoming yellow at maturity; internode ca. 10 cm 

long, striate, pubescent, walls hard. Culm-sheaths ca. 15 cm 

long and 6 cm broad, coriaceous, striate, attenuate upwards 

into a 7 mm broad mouth, surface with white bulbous based 

hairs; imperfect blade ca. 3.5 cm long and 0.5 cm broad, 

striate, subulate; ligule short, minutely pubescent. Leaves 

clustered in group of 2-3, ca. 15 cm long and 1.2 cm broad, 

oblong - lanceolate, attenuate at the base; petiole; ca. 5 mm 

long; leaf sheath ca. 3.5 cm long, loose striate, keeled, 

ending into a callus with long stiff purple bristles on both 

sides; ligule long, acute. Inflorescence a panicle of 3 racemes 

with large spathe-like bracts, usually on separate leafless 

branches; rachis smooth, slender, jointed with papery 

bracts at the joints; bracts ca. 5.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad, 

striate, golden yellow, ending into a callus with bristles 

on both sides and foliaceous; imperfect blade encloses 3-5 

pedicellate spikelets. Spikelet ca. 3 cm long,6-flowered, the 

upper one is imperfect; rachilla ca. 4 mm long, clavate, 

ciliate on the margin and tip. Empty glumes 2, oblong 

lanceolate, keeled, membranous, tip ciliate and long 

mucronate, outer glume ca. 10 mm long, 3-nerved, inner 

glume ca. 15 mm long and 5-nerved; lemma ca. 20 mm long 

and 4 mm broad, ovate, tessellate, scabrous on the edges, 

dark coloured, 7-nerved, tip ciliate, aristate; palea ca. 10 mm 

long, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, tip bimucronate, 

ciliate; lodicule 3, ca. 2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 

➤ 

line 109 

Fig. 109. T. aristatus. A - leafy branch; B - flowering 

branch; C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet; E - spikelet spread 

out; F - palea; G - lodicules; H - stamen; I - pistil. 

294


3-nerved, ciliate, one narrower than the other 2; stamens 3; anther ca. 6 mm long, purple, basifixed, tip bifid and blunt, 

filament short. Ovary ovoid, glabrous, 2-4 mm long, style short, divided into 3 feathery stigmas. Caryopsis linearoblong, 

glabrous, furrowed in the back, dark brown, with persistent bases of 3 long plumose stigmas. 

Chromosome number n = 24 (Mehra and Sharma, 1975). 

FLOWERING 

Usually, it flowers gregariously. Flowering has been recorded during 1868, 1869, 1890 and 1895 from Sikkim, from 

Darjeeling 1949-50. Naithani and Biswas (1990) reported its gregarious flowering in Sikkim Himalayas during 1989-90. 

The reports on flowering from Sikkim indicate a flowering cycle of 20 years. 


This species is found distributed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and in West Bengal. It grows in the moist mountain 

slopes and ravines, mostly under broken forest cover at an elevation of 3000-3600 m. 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis, stomata are common, arranged in two bands along the veins in one to two alternate rows, 

subsidiary cells not clear due to over-arching papillae. Interstomatal cells same as long cells, but smaller with deep 

concave ends. Long cells long and narrow, rectangular, walls sinuous, ends straight, papillae small to large, scattered 

(Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1995). Short cells in rows of 3-5 cells on both surfaces, shape of silica bodies costal 

intermediate between cross and dumbbell shaped, intercostal tall and narrow approaching oryza type; bulliform cells 

and prickles present on both sides. Arm cells, macrohairs and microhairs absent (Sharma et al., 1986). In the culm 

epidermis, stomata infrequent, widely distributed, slightly sunken, subsidiary cells clear, parallel to low-domed, surrounding 

papillae absent. Long cells medium long and narrow, not uniform in width, walls slightly wavy to dentate, ends straight, 

papillae absent. Cork cells and silica cells not differentiated, solitary or up to four cells, almost rectangular in shape, few 

filled with vitreous silica. Silica bodies, prickles, microhairs and macrohairs absent (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 

1995). 

USES 

The culms are strong and used for pipes. Young shoots are edible. 

Thamnocalamus falconeri 

Thamnocalamus falconeri Hook. f. ex Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 34. 1868; Stapf, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 

60: 7947. 1904; Rao, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 2: 91. 1960 and 6: 56. 1964; Bahadur. Indian J. For. 2: 238. 1979; Tewari, 


Arundinaria falconeri (Hook. f. ex Munro) Benth. in Benth. and Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 3. 1208. 1883; Gamble, Ann. Roy. 

295

Thamnocalamus 

Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 20-21. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 383.1897; Rogers, Indian For. 27: 185. 1901; Bean, 

Kew Bull. No.6: 230. 1907; Gamble, Kew Bull. No. 3: 135. 1912; Camus, Les Bambusees 53. 1913; Osmatson, For. Fl. 

Kumaon. 555. 1927; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 901.1930; Fargesia gyirongenis Yi, J. Bamboo Res. 2(2): 37. 

1983., F. collaris Yi, J. Bamboo Res. 2(2): 21. 1983. Himalayacalamus falconeri (Hook. f. ex Munro) Keng, J. Bamboo 

Res. 2(2): 24. 1983 


Garhwal-Deo-ringal, Dev-ringal, Ningal; Darjeeling-Singhane, Maling; West Bengal-Phurse, Dueorenigalo; Sikkim- 

Pao-muarg, Purnoon. 

DESCRIPTION 

Shrubby, slender, clump-forming thornless bamboo. Culms ca. 6 m high and 2 cm diameter, smooth when young and 

covered with white scurf when old, fistular; internode ca. 20 cm long. Walls thick, striate, nodes raised at the joint with 

the persistent base of fallen sheath, branchlets many, rigid, filiform and fascicles at the node. Culm-sheaths ca. 25 cm 

long and 7.5 cm broad oblong, straw 

coloured, striate coriaceous, ciliate on the 

margin narrowed towards tip to a truncate 

mouth; Leaves 10 cm long and 1.2 cm broad, 

oblong-lanceolate, thin, base alternate into a 

short petiole, apex acuminate, scabrous on 

the edges, smooth on both surfaces, leaf 

sheath long glabrous, striate, callus minute, 

ligule elongate, hairy. Inflorescence a panicle 

on leafy or separate leafless branches; bracts 

line 110 

ca. 2 cm long. Spikelets 5-7 in each raceme, 

glabrous, 2-flowered, one fertile and other 

imperfect. Stamens 3, ca. 5 mm long anther 

bilobed shortly apiculate, basifixed, 

reddish brown filament, ca. 2 mm long. 

Ovary ca. 2 mm long, ovoid, glabrous, style 

undivided, thick with 3 long plumose 

stigmas. Caryopsis ca. 4.5 mm long, elliptic, 

trigonous, furrowed on one side, blackishbrown 

with persistent base. 

➤ 

Fig. 110. T. falconeri. A - leafy branch; B - flowering branch; C - bracts 

and spikelets; D - spikelet; E & F - empty glumes; G - flowering glume; 

H - palea; I - lodicules; J - stamen; K - pistil. 

FLOWERING 

It flowers gregariously and the flowering cycle 

is 30 years. Flowering has been recorded from 

Sikkim during 1846; from Garhwal and 

Kumaon Hills during 1876, 1924, 1954 and 

from Simla during 1897-1900, 1914-1915, 1972 

and 1983. 

296



The species is distributed in North-West India, Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal and Kumaon Hills), North-East India (Sikkim) 

and West Bengal. This is found mostly in temperate zones at an elevation of 1800-2400 m. It grows on steep mountain 

slopes, especially on limestone rocky areas. Also found in moist ravines. It forms dense undergrowth in moist temperate 

forests. 

ANATOMY 

Leaf epidermal stomata common, arranged in two bands along the veins in 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells appear 

high-domed, inconspicuous due to over-arching papillae. Interstomatal cells same as long cells but smaller with concave 

ends. Long cells long and narrow, walls sinuous, ends almost straight; papillae conspicuous, arranged in row in the 

middle of the cell, solitary or paired. Short cells common, solitary or paired. Cork cells costal inconspicuous to absent, 

intercostal distinct, larger than the silica cell; silica cells infrequent, not always with cork cells. Silica bodies costal 

saddle-shaped to cross shaped but horizontally elongated, intercostal rectangular to rod-shaped. Prickles costal and 

intercostal, frequent, more towards the margins of the leaf, base round with short pointed apex, on the costal zone 

arranged in rows. Microhairs intercostal, common, bi-celled, small, basal and distal cell equal in length, base filled with 

vitreous silica. Macrohairs infrequent to rare, costal, present towards the leaf margin, short to medium in length, base 

slightly raised. In the culm epidermis stomata infrequent to frequent rather widely distributed, slightly sunken, subsidiary 

cells parallel to high-domed, not surrounded by papillae. Long cells long and narrow, rectangular, walls straight to wavy, 

ends straight; papillae inconspicuous or absent. Short cells common, solitary or paired; cork cells rectangular conspicuous, 

numerous; silica cells infrequent, not found always with silica cells, rectangular in shape. Silica bodies distinct, round to 

oblong. Prickles, microhairs and macrohairs absent (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1995.) 

USES 

The culms of this bamboo is used for making mats. This is also used as fodder. It is cultivated in Europe as an ornamental 

plant. The shoots are edible. 

Thamnocalamus spathiflorus 

Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 34. 1868; Camus, Les Bambusees 55. 

1913; Rao, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 1: 120. 1959 and 6: 56. 1964; Champion and Seth, Rev. Surv. Forest Types India, 335. 

1968; Bahadur, Indian J. For. 2: 238. 1979; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; Varmah and 

Pant, Indian For. 107: 671. 1981; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 151.1992. (Fig. 111). 

Arundinaria spathiflora Trin. Mem. Acad. Petersb. Ser. 6: 617. 1835; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 17. 

1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 382. 1897; Blatter, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33: 903. 1930; A. procera Wallich 

ex Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26: 34. 1868. 

297

Thamnocalamus 

➤Fig. 111. T. spathiflorus. 

A - leafy branch; B - flowering 

branch; C - culm; D - culmsheath; 

E - spikelet; F - empty 

glume; G - flowering glume; 

H - palea; I - lodicules; 


line 111 

DESCRIPTION 

A densely tufted, shrubby erect 

bamboo. Culms ca. 6 m high 

and 2 cm diameter, fistular, 

smooth, glaucous green when 

young, shining yellow at 

maturity internode ca. 25 cm 

long, striate; nodes much raised, 

dark coloured, marked by a ring 

formed by the scars of fallen sheath, branchlets chiefly from the upper nodes. Culm-sheaths ca. 13 cm long and 5 cm 

broad, loose, striate, coriaceous, glabrous, ciliate on the edges, light yellow coloured, shining inside, slightly narrowed at 

the apex with ca. 1 cm broad mouth with few stiff bristles on both sides. Imperfect blade ca. 5.5 cm long, striate, erect, 

decurrent on the sheath; ligule short, fimbriate. Leaves clustered in groups of 2-4 at the ends of short branchlets, ca. 10 cm 

long and 1 cm broad, linear-lanceolate, attenuate at the base into ca. 5 mm long petiole, ending above in an acute 

hairy point, glabrous, scabrous on the margins, midrib not prominent from dorsal surface, shining and conspicuous 

from ventral surface; sheath ca. 6 cm long, loose striate, yellow or black, ciliate on the edges, truncate at the top into a 

ciliate callus with short auricles having purple bristles; ligule long, dark coloured. Inflorescence a drooping panicle, 

usually on separate leafless branches; panicle 7-9 cm long with 3-6 spikelets; rachis slender bracts 5.5 cm long 0.6 cm 

broad ending into a callus having bristles and leafy imperfect blade which encloses 3 pedicellate spikelets. Spikelet ca. 

298


5.5 cm long, 5-7-flowered, the upper floret imperfect; rachilla ca. 5 cm long, clavate, hairy at the tip; empty glumes 2, 

linear lanceolate, ciliate at the tip and edges, thin and membranous, outer glume ca. 13 mm long and 2 mm broad and 

6-nerved, inner glume ca. 18 mm long and 2.5 mm broad and 9-nerved; lemma ca. 20 mm long and 3.5 mm broad 

ovate, lanceolate, long acuminate with ciliate tip, 11-nerved; palea ca. 10 mm long, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, 

2-nerved on either side of the keel, tip bifid and ciliate; lodicules 3, ca. 2.5 mm long, ovate acute, fimbriate, 3-nerved, 

one is narrower than the other two. Stamens 3; anthers ca. 8 mm long, basifixed, tip blunt. Ovary ca. 2.5 mm long, 

oblong, ovoid, glabrous, style short, undivided with 3 long plumose stigmas. Caryopsis ca. 4.5 mm, elliptic, trigonous, 

furrowed, dark brown with persistent base of style and stigmas. 

FLOWERING 

In this species the flowering cycle is reported to be 16-17 years. Recorded flowering years are 1818-21 by Wallich from 

North-Western Himalayas, 1863-66 by Gamble, 1881-82 by Brandis from Jaunsar, 1892-93 by Gamble from Jaunsar, 

1902 by Collett from Himachal Pradesh and in 1942 by Raizada from Chakrata forests. 


This species is found distributed in North-West India, Kumaon and Garhwal Hills (Utter Pradesh) and Simla (Himachal 

Pradesh). It grows gregariously as a common undergrowth of evergreen coniferous forests, also found in a variety of 

forest types, growing in the understory of evergreen forests, less frequent in deciduous forest; generally in moist shady 

localities at an altitude between 2,400 and 3,100 m. 

ANATOMY 

In the leaf epidermis, stomata common, intercostal arranged in two bands along the veins in one to two alternate rows, 

subsidiary cells appear to be high-domed surrounded by large papillae. Long cells long and narrow, walls sinuous, ends 

straight, papillae inconspicuous to distinct, scattered. Interstomatal cells same as long cells, but smaller in length with 

concave ends. Short cells costal and intercostal, solitary or paired, cork cells costal inconspicuous, infrequent, intercostal 

conspicuous, larger than the silica cell. Silica cells costal, distinct, intercostal inconspicuous to distinct, frequent. Silica 

bodies costal, saddle to cross shaped or dumb-bell shaped, horizontally elongated, intercostal rectangular, tall and 

narrow to crenate-shaped. Prickles costal and intercostal, confined towards the leaf margins, infrequent to frequent in 

occurrence, with round base and short pointed apex. Microhairs intercostal, frequent to common, bicelled, basal cell 

slightly shorter than the distal cell. Macrohairs not seen. Stomata infrequent in culm epidermis, widely distributed, 

subsidiary cells clear, parallel-sided, not surrounded by papillae. Long cells long and narrow, almost rectangular, walls 

straight to slightly wavy, thin, ends straight; papillae absent, cells sometimes filled with vitreous silica. Short cells 

solitary or paired or up to four, cork cells and silica cells not differentiated, almost rectangular in shape, sometimes filled 

with vitreous silica. Silica bodies, microhairs and macrohairs absent (Agrawal and Luxmi Chauhan, 1995). 


Leaf rust caused by Puccinia melanocephala is reported at the nursery level. 

USES 

Culms are strong and used for a variety of purposes. It is used for making mats, baskets, pipes, hookah tubes, fishing 

rods etc. Considered as an elegant ornamental plant. 

299

Thamnocalamus 

REFERENCES 

Agrawal, S. P. and Luxmi Chauhan, 1995. Culm and leaf epidermis of Indian bamboos VIII - Thamnocalamus Munro. 


Chao Chi-Son and Renvoize, S.A. 1989. A Revision of the species described under Arundinaria (Gramineae) in South 

East Asia and Africa. Kew Bulletin, 44: 349-367. 

Mehra, P. N. and Sharma, M. L. 1975. Cytological studies in some Central and Eastern Himalayan grasses - V. The 

bambusae. Cytologia, 40: 463-467. 

Naithani, H. B. and Biswas, S. 1990. Gregarious flowering of Thamnocalamus aristatus in Sikkim. Indian Forester, 

116: 928. 

Sharma, M. L.; Jain Monicca and Raj Kumar, 1986. Leaf epidermal studies in bamboos (Gramineae). Journal of Tree 

Science, 5:102-109. 


300


THYRSOSTACHYS GAMBLE 

Arborescent bamboo. Culms straight, erect, branching 

above, often covered with long persistent sheaths. Culm-sheaths elongate, thin; imperfect blade long, narrow. Leaves 

small to moderate sized. Inflorescence a large compound panicle. Spikelets sessile or stalked in the axils of prominent 

bracts, 2-3-flowered with a terminal lower flower deeply 2-cleft, 2-keeled; keels ciliate, that of upper flower not keeled 

or cleft and elongate; rachilla hairy. Lodicules very thin, 1-3, long acuminate. Stamens 6, long exserted; anther mucronate. 

Ovary depressed, stalked. Style long; stigmas 3, feathery. Caryopsis cylindrical, smooth, glabrous, grooved on one side, 

long-beaked. 

This genus is native of Myanmar, cultivated in several parts of India. Two species have been described in this compendium. 

▼● 

▼ 

▼● 

▼ 

▼ 

▼ T. oliveri 

● T. regia 


➤ 

Distribution map of Thyrsostachys 

301

Thyrsostachys 

Thyrsostachys oliveri 

Thyrsostachys oliveri Gamble, Indian For. 20:1. 1894 and in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 58. 1896; and in 

Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 397. 1897; Brandis, Indian Trees 671. 1906; Camus, Les Bambusees 137. 1913; Bor, Indian 

For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 2(2): 222. 1941; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980; Bennet and Gaur, 

Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India 83.1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 152.1992. (Fig. 112). 

DESCRIPTION 

A large tufted elegant 

bamboo. Culms straight 

15-25 m high, ca. 5 cm 

diameter, bright green with 

whitish silky surface when 

young, dull green or 

yellowish on maturity; nodes 

hardly thickened; internodes 

40-60 cm long, thin walled; 

branches fascicled at the 

nodes, lower ones ascending 

and upper ones horizontal. 

Culm-sheaths fibrous, 

imbricating at the base, 

green when young, turning 

orange and finally brown, 

line 112 

➤Fig. 112. T. oliveri. 

A - leafy branch; B - leafy 

sheath; C - culm with 

branches; D - culm-sheath; 

E - young shoot; 

F -spikelet; G & H - empty 

glumes; I - flowering glume; 

J - palea; K - stamen; 

L - lodicules; M - pistil. 

302


persistent, clothed on the back with thick, white, stiff, pubescence, rounded at the top margins thin and ciliate; ligule 

ca. 4 mm high, dentate; auricles 2, very small, triangular blade upto 23 cm long, 2-3 cm broad, recurved, awl-shaped, 

hairy on both surfaces. Young shoots cone shaped, orange mixed with light green colour, covered with white hairs blade 

narrow erect. Leaves 15-20 cm long and 1.2-1.5 cm broad, light green, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, base rounded into 

a short petiole, both surfaces rough, hairy beneath, scabrous on the margins. Inflorescence a large compound curved, 

thyrsoid panicle, with usually one long and two shorter flower- bearing spikelets and one or more sterile ones; rachis 

flexuose, hairy, swollen at the top; bracts straw coloured, blunt; sheath 1.2-2.4 cm or more long, sometimes with a 

deciduous, green imperfect blade. Spikelets 1.5-2.5 cm, longer ones with long jointed rachis, shorter ones with very 

short joints; rachis hairy, flexouse; fertile flowers 2-3, with an uppermost rudimentary flower on a slender terminal 

rachilla; empty glumes 2, ovate-acute, ca. 1.3 cm, striate, many-nerved with conspicuous transverse veinlets, sparsely 

hairy outside; flowering glume similar, 2-5-nerved and hairy between the keels, divided often one-fourth of the way 

down into long hairy cleft, glabrous except the acute tip, many-nerved; rachilla hairy; lodicules 2, lanceolate, acuminate, 

ciliate, very thin. Stamens long exserted, drooping; filaments purple; anthers yellow, the connective protruded into a 

blunt point. Ovary yellow, depressed-turbinate, stalked, surmounted by a long style, bearing three broad feathery 

stigmas. Caryopsis about 1 cm long, glabrous, cylindrical, with a somewhat broader top, spongy below, ending in a long 

beak formed by the persistent base of the style; pericarp crustaceous, shining above. 

FLOWERING 

Flowering cycle is reported to be 48-50 years. This species gregariously flowered in Myanmar in 1891. The plants raised 

at Dehra Dun flowered in November 1938 and seed ripened in January 1939. It flowered in 1962-63 at Haldwani (U.P.) 

and during 1986 and 1987 at Dehra Dun (Rawat, 1987). Flowers are protrandrous, three florets are hermaphrodite, 

only the uppermost floret produces a seed. At the time of flowering all the foliar leaves turn yellow and fall away and the 

whole clump is gradually transferred into a gigantic inflorescence. Majority of the floriferous shoots are apical elongations 

of ordinary branches, some are special lateral shoots from an ordinary branch. 

DISTRIBUTION 

This species is a native of Myanmar. Planted in Indian Botanic Gardens Calcutta, FRI, Dehra Dun, Haldwani in Uttar 

Pradesh and Chessa in Arunachal Pradesh. T. oliveri is also found in many other places as the seeds from Haldwani has 

been distributed to many forest divisions in Uttar Pradesh and in some other states (Rawat, 1987). Plantation trials 

were conducted in 1940 in Palghat, Nilambur and Wynad (Kerala) and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) and it has established 

very well. 


In the culm epidermis, long cells rhomboidal with straight walls, papillae in single large groups, guard cells of stomata 

dumbbell shaped, subsidiary cells absent, spicules present. Internodal structure shows heterogeneous cortex with 

hypodermis, complete peripheral vascular bundles, scattered fibres also present, in transitional vascular bundles only 

phloem cap distinct, central vascular bundles all with six fibre groups, lining of the cavity parenchymatous (Pattanath 

and Rao, 1969). 

Fibre characteristics showed a fibre length of 2.50 mm, fibre diameter 15.47 µm, lumen diameter 5.41 µm, wall thickness 

5.52 µm, parenchyma 20.2 per cent. Fibre length varies in different parts of the same culm. The fibre length of 

different part of this species in mm is as follows: 2.0, 1.9, 1.89, 1.88, at bottom, one-fourth, middle and three-fourth 

height of the culm respectively (Pattanath, 1972). The fine structure of thick walled bamboo fibres is polylamellate. Its 

303

82 

304


➤ 

T. oliveri - A clump 

➤T. oliveri - A new shoot 

➤ 

T. oliveri - Close-up of a new shoots 

83 

84 

composition is such that narrow lamella regularly alternate with the 

broader ones, whereby the width of the broad lamella varies. The 

microfibrillar angle varies from 80-90 o to the cell axis, while in the 

broad ones the fibrils are almost parallel to the axis (Parameswaran 

and Liese, 1976). 

CHEMISTRY 

Elemental analysis of lignin in this species showed carbon 60.27 per 

cent, hydrogen 6.37 per cent, oxygen 32.36 per cent methoxyl 

9.78 per cent molecular weight 2718, empirical formula C 9 

H 11.51 

O 3.69 

(OCH 3 

) 0.57 

, number of C 9 

units 14. Beating characteristics have 

shown caustic soda 22 per cent, kappa no.27.2, lignin in bamboo 

20.9 per cent, in pulp 3.0 per cent, pentosan in bamboo 18.5 per 

cent, in pulp 17 per cent, pulp yield unscreened 48.9 per cent, 

screened 37 per cent (Singh and Bhola, 1978). 

305

Thyrsostachys 


When seeds are sown soon after collection, hundred percent germination has been recorded (Rawat, 1987). Preliminary 

investigations on rooting of 1-3 year old culm cuttings indicated the possibility of rooting (Dabral,1956). Recent 

observations showed that 80 per cent rooting can be obtained in cuttings taken from basal one-third of the culms and 

treated with a solution of NAA 250 ppm, by dip method (Seethalakshmi, 1995). 

Work carried out on tissue culture showed the possibility of multiple shoot induction and rooting. Various explants 

used were nodes, shoots and leaves (Zamora, 1994). 

Growth data from bambusetum established in Bangladesh during 1986 have shown that the culm height varied from 

1-7 m, average height being 4 m, girth varied from 2-7 cm, average being 4.5 cm and total number of culms per/clump 

being 11. Observations on growth of clumps from 1983-1986 from a plantation established in 1963 have shown that the 

removal of older culms enhances new culm production (Chaturvedi, 1986). 


Culm rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum, culm necrosis caused by Curvularia lunata sp., leaf rust caused by Puccinia 

and Helminthosporium sps., rhizome and root rot caused by Merulius eurocephalus have been reported. 


Strength properties of this bamboo showed moisture content of 53 per cent in green and 7.8 per cent in air-dry. 

Similarly, specefic gravity in green is 0.733 and in air-dry 0.758. Fibre stress at elastic limit is 33.3 in green and 

50.6 N/mm 2 in air-dry condition. Modulus of rupture is 61.9 in green and 90.0 N/mm 2 in air-dry. Modulus of elasticity 

is 9.7 and 12.2 kN/mm 2 in green and air-dry respectively. Compression strength parallel to grain is 46.9 N/mm 2 in green 

and 58.0 N/mm 2 in air-dry. 

USES 

Culms are in great demand for construction purposes in Myanmar; reinforcement for concrete slabs, poles, basketing 

and handicrafts (Ramyarangsi, 1990). Young shoot is commonly used in Thailand for edible purposes. This species is 

used for canning in Thailand for the production of steamed bamboo shoots for export (Thammincha, 1990). 

Thyrsostachys regia 

Thyrsostachys regia (Munro) Bennet, Indian For. 114: 711. 1988; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing 

in India 85. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 155.1992. (Fig. 113). 

Bambusa regia Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 85: 116. 1868, non B. regia Thomson nom. invalid; Thyrsostachys 

siamensis Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 59. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 397. 1897; Camus, Les 

Bambusees 137. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980. 

306


➤ 

Fig. 113. T. regia. 

A - leafy branch; B - leaf; 

C - flowering branch; D - culmsheath; 


G & H - paleas of lower flower; 

I & J - paleas of upper flower; 

K - stamen; L - pistil; 

M - a portion of culm; 

N - new shoot. 

line 113 

DESCRIPTION 

A very graceful, tufted bamboo. 

Culms 8-10 m high and 4-5 cm 

diameter, straight, thick-walled, 

usually covered with the 

persistent culm-sheaths; 

internodes 20-30 cm long, 

green. Culm-sheaths 20-25 cm 

long, 10-20 cm broad, covered 

with fine white pubescence on 

the back, attenuate into a 3.5-4 

cm broad, truncate top; ligule 2 

mm high, narrow, slightly or 

irregularly toothed, finely ciliate; 

auricles short, triangular; blade 

10-13 cm long, erect, narrowly 

triangular, edges incurved. In young shoots, blades tapering at the base, linear-lanceolate, sheath long with brown hairy 

margin. Leaves 8-15 cm long and 0.8-1.2 cm broad, narrow, linear, glabrous, short-stalked. Inflorescence a large graceful 

panicle, with many thin branchlets, bearing bracteate clusters of few fertile spikelets which are pedicellate and intermixed 

with sterile ones, the bract boat-shaped, glabrous, truncate at tip; rachis smooth, very fine wiry, curved, clavate. Spikelet 

nearly white, 3-flowered; empty glumes 2, 7.5-10 mm long, ovate-acute, covered at the base with long, white pubescence, 

about 4-nerved on either side; palea of lower flowers narrow, 2-keeled, ciliate on the keels, cleft half-way down into 

narrow ciliate tails, that of the uppermost flower not keeled but bi-mucronate, concave, striate, glabrous, gradually 

attenuate into a long beak, longer than the flowering glume; lodicules none. Stamens exserted; filaments free; anthers 

pale yellow, narrow, connective produced into a conical purple mucro. Ovary at first oval, afterwards depressed, flattened, 

attenuated,curved stigmas. Caryopsis ca.5 x 2.5 mm, cylindric, surmounted by an yellowish, glabrous soft apex which 

is produced into a long beak, sulcate on one side. 

307

Thyrsostachys 

FLOWERING 

Flowering has been reported from Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta in 1892; from FRI, Dehra Dun in 1941 and 1989 

(Naithani, 1990). At Penang, it flowered in 1948 and in Singapore in 1949 (Holttum, 1958). In its native country, 

Thailand. this species is reported to flower every year (Anantachote, 1987). In India, it flowers only at intervals of more 

than 40 years. 


This species is mainly distributed in Thailand and Myanmar. Cultivated in Malaysia, India and China. It was introduced 

in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta before 1892 and FRI, Dehra Dun before 1941. Mostly occurs in dry and poor soil. 

Chaomao (1987) mentions it as an intolerant bamboo and grows on south ridge of mountains in Thailand and Myanmar. 

CHEMISTRY 

The chemical composition of culms is approximately holocellulose 68 per cent, lignin 24 per cent, pentosans 17 per cent, 

ash 2 per cent, solibility in hot water 5.7 per cent and in alcohol-benzene 6.1 per cent. 


Weight of seeds collected from different provenances of Thailand showed a variation of 14.5 to 82 g per 40 seeds. The 

germination percentage varied from 1 to 86 per cent (Anantachote, 1987). Seed viability can be extended by proper 

storage with control of moisture content and temperature (Ramyarangsi, 1990). In vitro callus induction has also been 

observed. 


The seed-borne fungi recorded from Thailand include Alternaria tenuis, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitectum and 

Myrothecium sp. (Anantachote, 1987). 

USES 

In Thailand, tender shoots are considered as delicacies, consumed fresh or made into pickles. It is used as vegetables 

and in dried forms. T. regia is grown as ornamental in China and Malaysia. 

REFERENCES 

Anantachote, A. 1987. Flowering and seed characteristics of bamboos in Thailand. In A. N. Rao, G. Dhanarajan and 

C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Recent Research on Bamboos. Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Hanzhou, 

October 6-14, 1985. Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 

136-145. 

Chaomao, H. 1987. A preliminary study on the natural bamboo forest in Xishuangbanna. Journal of Bamboo Research, 

6: 16-23. 

Chaturvedi, A. N. 1986. Bamboo for farming. U. P. Forest Bulletin, 52: 36 p. 

Dabral, S. N. 1956. A Preliminary note on propagation of bamboos from culm segments. Indian Forester, 76: 313-314. 

308


Holttum, R. E. 1958. The Bamboos of Malay Peninsula. Garden’s Bulletin, Singapore, 16: 80-81. 

Naithani, H. B. 1990. Note on the flowering of Thyrsostachys regia. Indian Forester, 116: 327-329. 


231-246. 

Pattanath, P. G. 1972. Trend of variation in fibre lengths in bamboos. Indian Forester, 98: 241-243. 


classification of bamboo. In Recent Advances in the Anatomy of Tropical Seed Plants Vol.7, Hindustan Publishing 


Ramyarangsi, S. 1990. Techniques for seed storage of Thyrsostachys siamensis. In I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and 

C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Bamboos: Current Research. Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Cochin, November 

14-18, 1988. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 

133-135. 

Rawat, B. S. 1987. Flowering of bamboos. Indian Forester, 113: 760-761. 

Seethalakshmi, K. K. 1995. Propagation of Thyrsostachys oliveri by culm cuttings. Journal of Environmental Resources, 

3: 43-45. 




Thammincha, S. 1988. Some aspects of bamboo production and marketing. In I. V. R. Rao, R. Gnanaharan and 

C. B. Sastry (Eds.) Bamboos: Current Research. Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Cochin, November 

14-18, 1988. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi and International Development Research Centre, Canada: 

320-326. 

Zamora, A. B. 1994. Review of Micropropagation Research on Bamboos. In Constraints to Production of Bamboos and 

Rattans. INBAR Technical Report No.5. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, New Delhi: 45-100. 

309

GLOSSARY 

A 

abaxial : the side facing away from the axis of the plant syn. dorsal, opp. ventral 

abjoint : to separate at a joint 

abrupt : terminating suddenly as though cut off 

acantha : a spine, prickle, or thorn 

acanthocephalous : having a hooked beak 

accrescent : increase in size with age 

accumbent : lying against and face to face; lying in contact; reclining 

acerate, acerose : having the shape of a needle; needle-like 

acicular : needle-shaped, having needle like projections 

aculeate : prickly, thorny, armed with spines 

acuminate : having a long, slender, sharp point with concave sides, margins straight to convex 

acute : sharp-pointed, margins straight to convex 

adaxial, adaxial surface : the sides towards the axis; the surface of a leaf that faces the stem during development, eg. 

the upper side of the leaf. syn. ventral 

adelphous : stamens united by their filaments 

adherent : a condition where two dissimilar organs touch each other but are not fused together 

adnate, adnation : organically united or fused with another dissimilar part 

adpressed (appressed) : lying flat for the whole length of the organ 

adventitious : plant organs produced in an unusual or irregular position as in adventitious buds, roots or 

shoots 

adventitious embryo, : an embryo found without fertilization, which develops directly from the outer tissue of 

the embryony parental sporophyte, usually from the integument of the nucellus 

affinis : closely related to another 

affinity : similarity between entities in regard to morphological traits 

310


aggregate : clustered together to form a dense mass or head, usually applied to an inflorescence 

albino : a plant having colourless chromatophores due to lack of chlorophyll 

alluvial soil : a type of azonal soil which is highly variable and is classified by texture from fine clay/silt 

soils through gravel and boulder deposits 

alluvium : soil, usually rich in minerals, deposited by water, as in a flood plain 

alternate : arrangement of leaves or plant part which are not opposite or whorled out are placed 

singly on the axis or stem at different heights 

amplexicaul : clasping the stem, as the base of certain leaves 

ancipital : two-edged; flowered or compressed axis stems of certain grasses 

anemophilous, : referring to flowers which are wind-pollinated 

anemophily 

aneuploid, aneuploidy : an organism whose somatic chromosome number is not an exact or even multiple of the 

basic haploid number 

aniso : a prefix meaning unequal 

anisolateral : with unequal sides 

anisomerous : with unequal number 

antrorse : bent or directed upwards or forward. opp. retrorse 

aperturate : with aperture, an opening 

apex, apices : the tip, the terminal end 

apical : at, near, or belonging to the apex or point of the tip 

apiculate : a short, abrupt or acute point 

apomixis : reproduction, including vegetative propagation, which does not involve sexual processes; 

the ability of plants to produce seeds without fertilization 

appendage : an attached subsidiary or secondary part, as a projecting or hanging organ 

applanate : flattened horizontally; without vertical curves or buds 

appressed : closely and flatly pressed against the entire length of an organ or part 

approximate : close to each other but not united 

arborescent : of tree like habit; resembling a tree in growth or appearance 

arboretum : a place where trees, shrubs, and other plants are grown for scientific and/or educational 

purposes 

arcuate : moderately curved or arched, like a bow 

arista : a bristle-like appendage as on the glumes of many grasses; a bristly awn 

aristate : bearing a stiff bristle-like awn or seta; tapering to a narrow elongated apex 

aristulate : bearing a small awn 

articulate : jointed 

asymmetrical : lacking symmetry; irregular in shape or outline 

311

Glossary 

attenuate : with a long, slender taper, more gradual than acuminate; applied to base or apices of 

parts; gradually tapering 

atypical : not typical, departing from the type form 

auricle : an ear-like lobe 

auriculate : bearing auricles 

auriculiform : usually obovate in outline with two small rounded basal lobe 

awl-shaped : narrow and gradually tapering to a sharp point; sharp-pointed from a broader base 

awn : a bristle like appendage or part of, as in the back or at the tip of glumes and lemmas of 

many grasses 

axial : of or pertaining to an axis, especially main axis 

axil : the angle between the stem axis and a leaf petiole, branch or other appendage 

attached to it 

axile : of, belonging to, or located in the axis; central in position 

axillary : in an axil 

axis, pl. axes : the main stem of a plant; the main or central line of development of any plant or organ 

B 

bacca : fruit with thick fleshy pericarp separated from seed coat 

baccate : like a berry, pulpy or fleshy 

bacciferous : producing berries 

bacciform : shaped like a berry 

BAP : benzyl amino purine 

barbate : bearded with long stiff hairs (trichomes), usually in a tuft, line or zone 

barbed : bristles or awn that have short-terminal or lateral spine like hooks that are bent sharply 

backward 

barbellate : with short, usually stiff hairs 

barbellulate : finely barbed 

basicaulous : near the base of the stem 

basifixed : a structure attached or fixed by its base to a support 

beak : a firm, slender projection on certain fruits seeds and carpels 

beaked : ending in a beak 

beard : a cluster of bristle-like hairs or awns 

bearded : bearing 1ong or stiff hairs 

berry : a fruit developed from an ovary containing one to several carpels in which the ovary wall 

and the inner structures of the ovary become enlarged and juicy, seeds within have their 

own hard seed coat 

312


BHC : benzene hexachloride 

bifid : forked; two-cleft; divided into two parts or lobes 

bifurcate : divided into two forks or branches 

bilobed : having two divisions, often rounded 

bilocular : two-celled or with two locules 

biotic : pertaining to life 

bipartite : divided into two parts almost to the base 

bisected : completely divided into two parts 

biseriate : in two whorls or cycles; in two rows or series 

biserrate : margin type with smaller sharply cut teeth on the margins of larger sharply cut teeth; 

doubly-serrate 

blight : a plant disease where there is a sudden wilting or death of plant parts. 

bract : a modified, often much reduced leaf subtending a flower or inflorescence; morphologically 

a foliar organ 

bracteate : possessing or bearing bracts 

bracteolate, bracteole : possessing small bracts; a secondary bract, often very small 

bracteose : having many bracts 

bractlet : a small secondary bract-borne on a pedicel as petiole, instead of subtending it 

bristle : a stiff strong trichome (hairs) 

bud : an undeveloped shoot containing the embryonic meristems which develop into flowers, 

stem, or leaves, and are enclosed in protective specialized leaves termed bud scales 

bud scales : specialised protective leaves which cover the shoot apex and embryonic leaves of a winter 

bud, preventing dessication and injury 

bud scale scars : scars left on a twig by the abcision of bud scales from the terminal buds of the 

previous year 

bulliform cells : large, thin-walled cells present in the leaves of most of monocots 

bundle cap : sclerenchyma or thick-walled parenchyma associated with a vascular bundle and appearing 

like a cap on the phloem or xylem side, as seen in cross-section 

bundle sheath : a special layer, or layers of cells which enclose the vascular bundles of dicot and monocot 

leaves. The cells are of often parenchyma or some times of sclerenchyma 

butt : the base of a plant from which the root springs 

C 

caducous : falling or dropping off very early 

caespitose : see cespitose 

calcarate : with a spur; spurred 

313

Glossary 

callus : a tissue composed of large thin-walled parenchyma cells which develop on or below a 

wounded surface often resulting in a firm thickening or protruberance 

calyculus : a simulated calyx composed of bracts or bractlets 

campanulate : bell-shaped 

canescence, canescent : covered with dense, fine, greyish-white hairs; becoming hoary, usually with a grey 

pubescence 

canopy : the cover or horizontal projection of the vegetation of a plant formed by its leaves, branches 

etc. 

capillary, capillate : very slender, resembling a hair 

capitate : formed like a head; aggregated into very dense clusters or heads 

carnose : fleshy 

cartilaginous : like cartilage in texture; firm and elastic 

caryopsis : a one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with the seed coat adnate to the fruit wall (pericarp), 

derived from a one-loculed superior ovary; the grain or fruit of grasses 

caudate : bearing a tail, or tail-like appendage 

caudex : a shoot thickened, often woody, vertical or branched perennial stem, usually subterranean 

or at ground level 

cellulose : a complex carbohydrate, the chief component of the cell walls of most plants; it consists of 

long chain-like molecules of glucose which form microfibrils 

ceraceous, ceriferous : waxy; wax-bearing 

cernuous : nodding or drooping 

cespitose, caespitose : matted, growing in tufts or small dense clumps; plants forming a cushion 

chartaceous : papery in texture, opaque and thin 

ciliate : fringed with conspicuous hairs along the margins 

clasping : a leaf blade which partly or wholly surrounds the stem 

clavate : club-shaped; gradually thickened towards the apex from a slender base 

claw : the modified auricle of some grass leaves 

closed bundle : a vascular bundle in which a cambium does not develop 

closed venation : leaf characterised by anastomosing veins 

comose : bearing a tuft of trichomes, usually apically 

coleoptile : a protective sheath like structure enclosing the epicotyl in seeds of grasses 

concrescent : growing together of parts originally separate 

congeneric : belonging to the same genus 

conglomerate : densely clustered 

connate : union or fusion of like parts or organs to one another 

connate-perfoliate : opposite, sessile leaves, instead at their bases, surrounding the stem 

314


connective : an extension of the filament, connecting the two cells of an anther 

conspecific : within or belonging to the same species 

convolute : rolled up longitudinally and usually twisted apically 

cordate : heart-shaped, having notched end at the base and the pointed end at the apex 

coriaceous : thick, tough and leathery 

corniculate : bearing or terminating in a small horn-like process 

corrigate : irregularly folded or wrinkled 

crassinucellate ovule : one of two general type of nucellar organization found in angiosperms in which the 

megasporocyte forms a sporogonous cell deeply embedded with in the nucellus 

crenate : shallowly ascending round toothed or teeth obtuse 

crispate, crisped : irregularly curled leaf margin or trichome 

crustaceous : hard, thin and brittle 

cucullate : hooded or hood-shaped 

culm : the stem of a grass or sedges 

culm leaf : consists of a sheath, blade, ligule and auricles 

culm sheath : the sheath of the culm leaf, borne singly at each node of the culm proper, below the level 

at which the sheath of foliage leaves originate 

cuneate, cuneiform : wedge-shaped; triangular, with the narrow part at the point of attachment 

cuspidate : with an apex somewhat abruptly and sharply constricted into an elongated, sharp-pointed 

tip or cusp 

cuticle : a noncellular layer of waxy or fatty materials on the outer wall of epidemal cells 

cutting : a vegetative portion removed (cut) from a plant for the purpose of propagation 

D 

damping off : a fungal disease of seedlings which causes them to rot and shrivel at soil level, or to die 

before they emerge from the soil 

deciduous : the falling of parts at the end of a growing period 

declinate : bend or directed downwards or forward 

decumbent : a growing habit in which a portion of the stems or shoots lie close to the ground, without 

rooting adventitously, the upper parts of the stem are erect or ascending 

decurrent : an extension of tissue occuring down the stem below the point of insertion of a leaf 

petiole or ligule, forming a wing or ridge 

decussate : opposite leaves alternating at right angles with those above and below 

deflexed : reflexed; bent or turned abruptly downward 

dentate : with toothed margin 

denticulate : minutely toothed, finely dentate 

315

Glossary 

depressed 

determinate 

determinate 

inflorescence 

dichogamy 

dichotomous 

dieback 

diffuse 

digitate 

dilated 

dimidiate 

discrete 

dissected 

distal 

diurnal 

DMSO 

dorsal 

: pressed downward close to the axis 

: growth of limited duration 

: an inflorescence in which the terminal or central flower develops first, thereby asserting 

further elongation of the inflorescence axis 

: in a bisexual flower, maturation of stamens and stigma at different times, thus preventing 

self-pollination 

: branching by repeated forking in pairs 

: a progressive death of plant shoots beginning at the tip 

: the loosely branching or spreading; widely spread 

: finger like 

: flattened and broadened 

: unequally divided in two 

: separate, not coalesced 

: deeply divided 

: opposite from the point of origin or attachment towards the apex 

: opening during the day 

: dimethyl sulphoxide 

: the lower or undersurface of a leaf; abaxial 

E 

ebracteate 

ecotone 

edaphic 

elliptical, elliptic 

emarginate 

endemic 

endocarp 

ensiform, ensate 

entire 

epicotyl 

erect 

explorate 

explant 

exserted 

extrorse 

: without bracts 

: a transition zone; a region of overlapping plant association, between two adjascent ecosystems 

: pertaining to, or influenced by, soil conditions 

: oval in outline but widest about the middle 

: bearing a shallow notch at the apex 

: native or confined naturally to a particular and usually very restricted geographical area or 

region 

: the innermost layer of the pericarp or fruit wall 

: sword-shaped 

: without indentations or incisions on the margin; smooth 

: portion of the axis of an embryo 

: directed towards summit, not decumbant 

: spread out flat 

: an exised tissue or organ fragment which is used to initiate an in vitro culture 

: projecting beyond, sticking out or protruding 

: opening or facing outwards 

316


F 

falcate : sickle-shaped 

fallow : agricultural land left uncultivated for one or more seasons to allow for the accumulation 

of moisture, destruction of weeds, and the decomposition of organic matter 

fariaceous, farinose : covered with a mealy powder 

fascicle, fascicled : a close cluster of flowers, leaves etc. in groups (bundles) 

filiform : thread like, flexuous 

fimbriate : margins fringed, with long and coarse hairs 

fistular, fistulose : hollow and cylindrical 

fibre : long, narrow cell of wood or bark other than vessel or parenchyma elements 

fibre saturation point : the point at which there is no more free water in the culm, but the cell walls are still 

saturated with water 

flagelliform : whip-shaped 

flexibility ratio : parameter used by the pulps and paper industry, desired from the fibre dimensions of the 

culm, fibre lumen diameter divided by fibre diameter, multiplied by 100 

flexuous : coarsely sinuous or wavy; curved alternately in opposite directions 

FRI : forest research institute 

FTIR : fourier transform infra-red 

furcate : forked 

fusiform : spindle-shaped 

G 

gemmiparous : producing a bud or reproducing by a bud 

germplasm : collection of genotypes of an organism 

geniculate : abruptly bent at a joint, like a bent on knee 

genus : the smallest natural group containing distinct species 

gibbous : swollen on one side near the base 

girdle : a conspicuous horizontal band of tissue inserted circumaxially at the node of some bamboos 

glabrous : without pubescence; not hairy 

glans : a fruit with hard, smooth crustaceous pericarp separated from seed coat 

glaucous : covered with a removable waxy coating which gives the surface a whitish or bluishs 

green cast 

globose, globular : spherical or rounded 

glomerate : in dense or compact clusters or head 

glumes : a pair of small scale like bracts subtending a grass spikelet 

317

Glossary 

glutinous : with sticky exudate 

gregarious : growing in groups or colonies; in bamboos, gregarious flowering is used to indicate that a 

whole population flowers over a period of time 

H 

habit : the general appearance or characteristic form of a plant, or other organisational erect, 

prostrate, climbing etc. 

habitat : the natural environment of an organism; the place where it is usually found 

hemi : a prefix meaning half 

hemicellulose : a polysaccharide resembling cellulose but more soluble and less complex; a common 

component of the cell wall matrix 

herbarium : a collection of dried and pressed plant specimens, systematically arranged and labelled; 

used for taxonomic studies 

heterogeneous : not uniform 

hexaploid : having six haploid chromosome sets (6n) 

hilum : a scar on a seed marking the point of attachment to the funiculus 

hirsute : covered with rather rough and stiff hairs 

hispid : covered with long, stiff trichome; usually stiff enough to penetrate the stem 

hoary : coverd with a white or greyish-white pubescence: syn. canescent 

holosericeous : covered with fine and silky pubescence 

holotype : the single specimen, the type specimen designated to carry the name of a new species 

homogenous : uniform, alike; having the same nature or consistancy 

homonym : in nomenclature, a name rejected because it duplicates a name previously and validly 

published for a group of the same taxonomic rank and based on a different type 

humus : decomposing organic matter in the soil 

hypogeal, hypogean : describing seed germination in which the cotyledons remain beneath the surface of the 

soil 

I 

IAA : indole acetic acid 

IBA : indole butyric acid 

imbricate : with margins of structures overlapping 

incanescent : becoming grey 

incised : leaf margins cut sharply, irregularly and deeply 

incrassate : thickened 

increment : addition, increase 

318


incumbent : lying or leaving upon; anthers turned inward 

incurved : curved inward or upward 

indefinite : indeterminate 

indehiscent : not dehiscent, remaining closed at maturity 

indeterminate growth : unrestricted growth, as with a vegetative apical meristem, capable of producing an unlimited 

number of lateral organs 

indigenous : native to a region or country 

inflexed : bent abruptly inward 

innate : borne at the tip of a supporting structure 

imperfect stage : the part of life cycle which reproduces only by asexual means 

inserted : growing upon or attached to 

integument : the outer cell layer which surrounds the nucellus of the angiosperm ovule and develops 

into the seed coat 

intercoastal : space between ribs 

internode : the portion of the stem between two successive nodes 

introduced : brought into one area or region from another 

introrse : turned inward towards the axis; as the opening of an anther towards the inside of a flower 

invaginated : enclosed within a sheath 

inverted : upside down; turned over 

involute : margins rolled or turned in over the upper or ventral surface 

isotype : a specimen of the type collection other than the holotype; a duplicate of the holotype 

isozymes : different forms of the same enzyme 

K 

keel : a sharp crease or ridge; the two united petals of a paplionaceous flower 

keeled : having a keel, sharply creased 

KFRI : kerala forest research institute 

kiln dried : being seasoned in a kiln 

KN/mm 2 : kilo newton per millimetre square 

kraft pulp : sulphate pulp 

L 

labiate : lipped; having a lipped structure 

lacerate : cut irregularly, appearing torn, as in certain leaves and ligules 

laciate : cut deeply into closely parallel, narrow divisions 

319

Glossary 

lamella : a thin plate or layer of photosynthetic membranes 

lamina : thin and flattened, a leaf blade 

lanate, lanose : woolly, cottony, covered with long, fine, intertwined trichomes (hairs) 

lanceolate : much longer than broad; widened above the base and tapering towards the apex 

lateritic soil : a relatively infertile soil characteristics of tropical and subtropical areas, usually red in 

colour due to the presence of iron oxides, they are highly acidic and have little organic 

matter 

lax : loose, not densely packed 

leach : downward movement of minerals through the soil by percolating water 

leaf scar : a scar or mark left on a stem when a leaf falls, indicating the former place of attachment of 

the petiole or leaf base 

leaf sheath : the basal portion of a leaf blade or petiole that more or less completely surrounds the stem 

lectotype : a specimen selected from the original collection of plant material, to serve as the 

nomenclatural type when the holotype is missing, or if it was not designated when the 

taxon was first published 

lemma : one of the pairs of bracts (lemma and palea) that subtends the floret. The lemma is lower, 

usually larger, and frequently bears an awn, which is the extension of its midrib 

lenticular : lens-shaped; double convex with two edges 

leptomorph : one of two general type of rhizomes, characterised by a slender stem, long internode and 

indeterminate growth 

librifom fibre : a xylem fibre commonly with thick walls and simple slit-like pits 

lignin : a complex organic substance derived from phenylpropane and distinct from carbohydrates 

ligule : a membranous out growth on the upper surface of a grass leaf at the junction of the 

sheath and the blade. It may be presented by a ridge or by a line of hairs; an elongated 

flattened strap shaped structure 

linear : long and narrow with sides parallel 

lobate : divided into lobes 

lodicule : one of two or three minute hyaline scales of the base of the stamens of most grasses 

(poaceae) 

longitudinal : lengthwise 

lumen : the space enclosed by the walls of an organ, such as the central cavity of a cell. the central 

cavity of a hollow internode of a bamboo plant 

M 

maculate : spotted or blotched 

marginate : having a distinct margin 

membranaceous, : thin, soft, flexible, and more or less translucent 

membranous 

320


meristem : undifferentiated tissue of the growing points whose cells are capable of dividing and 

developing into various organs and tissues 

mesophyll : the photosynthetic tissue between the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf 

microclimate : the climate in the immediate vicinity of an organism 

microfibril : the primary structural components of a plant cell wall, composed of chain-like cellulose 

molecules 

micropyle : a small opening with integuments of an ovule through which the pollen tube usually 

enters to reach the nucellus 

midrib : the main vein of a leaf which is a continuation of the petiole 

middle lamella : an inter cellular substance, composed mostly of pectic compounds, that counts the primary 

walls of contiguous cells 

modulus of elasticity : modulus of elasticity (in N/mm 2 ) indicates the ratio between the bending stress in the 

(MOE) 

material and the relative deformation caused by this bending stress; it is a measure of 

rigidity 

modulus of rupture : fibre stress at maximum load, maximum fibre stress, ultimate bending stress necessary to 

(MOR) bring about future of the tested material when bent (in N/mm 2 ) 

moisture content : the weight of water in the culm expressed as a percentage of the dry weight of the culm 

(MC) 

monadelphous : stamens united by connation of their filaments into a single group forming a tube or 

column 

monopodial : a form of branching in which lateral branches usually originate at some distance from the 

apex of the main axis. In bamboos, a primary axis continues its original line of growth 

from the same apical meristem to produce successive lateral branches 

mosaic : with a variegated or mottled appearance 

mother cell : precursory cell 

mottled : with blotched or spotted appearance 

MS medium : murashige and skoog’s medium 

mucronate : terminated abruptly in a short stiff point 

multicoastal : many-ribbed 

muricate : rough, as a surface covered with many minute, sharp protruberances 

muticous : pointless, blunt, awnless 

N, O 

NAA : naphthalene acetic acid 

naturalized : an organism which is well-established and reproducing in one area but originally came 

from another area, introduced to a new area 

neck : the constricted basal part 

321

Glossary 

necrosis : the death of cells 

N/mm 2 : newton per millimetre square 

node : a region on this stem where leaves are attached; or the point of branching of the stem 

nomenclature : naming of things, particuarly organisms; correct usage of scientific name used in taxonomy 

nucellus : the tissue of an ovule, from which the embryo sac develops 

obcordate : inversely cordate with the notch at the apex 

oblanceolate : inversely lanceolate; with the broadest portion nearest the apex and tapering toward the 

base 

oblique : slanted; with unequal sides 

oblong : much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides 

obovate : inversely ovate, with the terminal half broader than the basal 

obtuse : blunt or rounded at the apex 

offset : a short, lateral shoot or branch which develops from the main stem producing a means of 

vegetative propagation 

orbicular, orbiculate : more or less circular in outline or shape 

oval : broadly elliptical, the width more than half the length 

ovate : egg-shaped in outline, with the axis widest below the middle 

ovoid : an object that is oval in outline 

ovulate : bearing ovules 

P 

pachymorph : one of two general types of rhizome, characterised by a shortened thick and fleshy stem 

end determinate growth; its growth produces many-branched clumps which terminate in 

flowering stalks 

palea : the upper or inner of a pair of bracts that subtends the floret 

paleaceous : having small membranous scales 

panicle : an indeterminate inflorescence, the main axis of which is branched, with pedicellate flowers 

borne upon the secondary branches 

paniculate : having a panicle type of inflorescence 

pantropical : distributed throughout the tropics 

papillae : a soft, nipple-shaped protuberance 

parenchyma : tissue composed of more or less isodiametric cells, as in pith and mesophyll 

parthenocarpy : the natural or artificially induced development of fruit without sexual fertilization 

pedicel : the stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence or the stalk of a grass spikelet 

PEG : poly ethylene glycol 

pendent, pendulous : suspended, drooping, hanging down from a support 

322


penicillate : ending in a tuft of fine hairs or branches 

percolation : the downward movement of water through the soil 

perennial : a plant which lives for more than two years and usually flowers every year 

perfect flower : a flower having both stamens and carpels 

pericarp : the mature fruit wall which develops from the ovary wall, frequently differentiated into 

distinct layers; exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp (outer, middle, and inner layers) 

periclinal : parallel to the surface 

perigynium : a sac like bract which surrounds the pistillate flower or achene 

persistent : remaining attached, not falling off 

petiolate : having a petiole 

petiole : the stock of a leaf 

phloem : the principal food-conducting tissue of a vascular plant which is usually composed of sieve 

elements, parenchyma cells, fibres and sclereids 

pileate : having a cap or cap-like structure 

piliferous : hair-like, flexuous 

pilose : having soft, long, shaggy trichomes 

plicate : plaited, fan-like 

plumose : covered with a fine, feather like pubescence 

plumule : the first bud of an embryo, the part of the embryonic axis above the cotyledonary node 

prickle : a sharp-pointed epidermal or cortical outgrowth 

proembryo : an embryo in the early stages of development 

proproots : aerial roots 

propagule : a part of a plant that becomes detached and grows into a new plant 

prophyll : one of the first leaves of a lateral branch; a bracteole or small scale like appendage 

protogyny : flowers in which the stigma becomes receptive prior to maturation of anthers and dehiscence 

of pollen in the same flower 

proximal : the part nearest the axis 

pruinose : having a heavy waxy bloom on the surface 

pruning : cutting off the superfluous branches or shoots of a plant for better shape or more fruitful 

growth 

pseudospikelet : a spikelet-like branch of an indeterminate inflorescence 

pubescence, pubescent : covered with short, soft trichomes 

punctate : dotted with minute depressions 

pulp : the soft fleshy part of the fruit; mechanically ground or chemically digested wood used in 

manufacturing paper and allied products 

323

Glossary 

Q, R 

quadr, quandra, quadri : a prefix meaning four 

raceme : an unbranched, indeterminate inflorescence, in which the individual flowers are borne on 

pedicels along the main axis 

racemose : like a raceme; having flowers in raceme like inflorescence that may or may not be true 

racemes 

rachilla : a diminutive or secondary axis, as the stalk of the spikelets of grasses 

rachis : the axis of a compound leaf upon which the leaflets are attached; the major axis of an 

inflorescence 

radial : lengthwise, in a plane that passes through the pit; radiating, as from a centre 

ramified, ramiform : branched; branching 

radical : arising from the root, or its crown 

radicle : the first root of an embryo or germinating seed 

rhomboidal : diamond-shaped 

recurved : bent or curved downward or backward 

reflexed : abruptly bent or turned downward or backward 

reniform : kidney-shaped 

reticulate : forming a network 

rhizome : an underground stem which is distinguished from a root by the presence of nodes, buds 

and leaves or scales 

rostrate, rostrum : having a beak 

ruffled : having a very strong wavy margin 

rugose : wrinkled, covered with coarse reticulate lines 

Runkel ratio : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions of the 

culm; twice the fibre wall thickness divided by the fibre lumen diameter 

runner : a specialized stem that develops from a leaf axil at the crown of a plant, grows horizontally 

along the ground and forms a new plant at one of the nodes, usually at or near the tip 

S 

sagittate : shaped like an arrow head; triangular-ovate with two straight or slightly concave 

basal lobes 

scabrid : roughened 

scabrous : having a surface that is rough to touch, because of the presence of short stiff hairs 

scale : any thin, usually small and dry, scarious to coriaceous bract 

scandent : climbing 

scarious : a thin, nongreen, dry, membranous structure 

sclerenchyma cell : a supporting cell, variable in form and size, having a more or less thick, often lignified 

secondary cell walls. Includes fibres, fibre-tracheids and sclerieds 

324


scurfy : covered with minute, branch like scales; with scaly incrustation 

scutellum : single cotyledon of a grass embryo 

seepage : percolation of water through the soil 

senescence : the aging process 

septate : being divided or partitioned by cross walls into locules or cells 

sericeous : having a saw-toothed margin with sharp teeth pointing forward or toward the apex 

serrate : toothed like a saw 

sessile : without a stalk 

setaceous : having bristle like hairs; bristly 

sheathing base : a leaf base that surrounds a stem 

sieve element : a cell of the phloem concerned mainly with the longitudinal transport of food materials. 

siliceous, silicious : composed of or impregnated with silica (silicon dioxide) 

sinuous : having a strongly wavy margin 

slenderness ratio : parameter used by the pulp and paper industry, derived from the fibre dimensions in the 

culm; fibre length divided by fibre diameter 

sparsely : scattered 

spatulate : spoon or spatula-shaped 

spicate : having the form of or produced in a spike 

spike : a simple indeterminate infloresence with sessile flowers along a single axis 

spikelet : a secondary spike, one of the units of which the inflorescence consisting of one or more 

florets on a thin axis, subtended by a common pair of glumes as in grasses 

spinose, spinous : spine-like, or having spines 

sporadic : widely dispersed or scattered; irregular in time, flowering at irregular intervals 

stipitate : borne on a stipe or stalk 

straggling : extremely divergent, spreading very far apart 

striate : marked with fine longitudinal parallel lines, as grooves or ridges 

subspecies : a subdivision of a species, in rank between a variety and a species 

subulate : awl-shaped, tapering from base to apex 

sulcate : having longitudinal grooves, furrows or channels 

strigose : having straight, sharp, stiff, appressed hairs frequently with a bulbous base 

sympodial : of a stem in which the growing point either terminates in an inflorescence or dies, growth 

being continued by a new lateral growing point 

T 

tangential : lengthwise, in a plane at right angles to the radius but not passing through the pith 

tawny : dull yellowish-brown; fulvous 

325

Glossary 

terete : more or less circular in cross section; cylindrical and elongated 

terminal : found at the tip, apex or distal end 

tesselate : having a checkered pattern 

tomentose : covered with dense, matted, woolly hairs 

tortuous : cut off more or less squarely at the end; a base or apex which ends abruptly 

trigonal : three-angled 

truncate : a base or apex which ends abruptly almost right angles to the main axis 

tufted : in clumps; clustered, cespitose 

turbinate : shaped like a top; inversely conical 

unarmed : devoid of thorns, spines or prickles 

undulate : a margin wavy (up and down) in the vertical plane 

uni : a prefix meaning one or single 

unitegmic ovule : an ovule with a single integument 

V 

vaginate : sheathed 

varicose : abnormally and irregularly enlarged or swollen 

vein : a strand of vascular tissue in the organs like leaf or petals 

ventricose : enlarged or swollen unequally; inflated on one side near the middle. syn. gibbose; 

velvety : with a matting of the soft hairs; the same as tomentose but dense so that the surface feels 

very smooth 

ventral : facing central axis 

verticillate : arrangement in whorls, arising at same node 

villose : with long weak hairs 

viviparous, vivipary : germinating or sprouting of bud or seed still attached to the parent plant 

326


SOURCES OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Arundinaria racemosa Munro. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 

Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 8. 

Bambusa affinis Munro. A & B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical 

Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 36. 

Bambusa atra Lindl. A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical 

Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 43. J & K = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. 

Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p14 

Bambusa auriculata Kurz. A - C = Original illustration from the herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87805; D & E = 

Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. 

p16. 

Bambusa balcooa Roxb. A - C = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6725; D - J = Gamble, J. S. 

1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 39. K - L = Bennet, 

S.S.R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p18. 

Bambusa bambos (L) Voss. A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6463; E - F = Bennet, 

S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p21. 

Bamusa bambos var. gigantea A - D = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, 

Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p22. 

Bambusa burmanica Gamble. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 


Bambusa cacharensis Majumdar. A - C = Majumdar, R. B. 1983. Bulletin of Botanical Survey of India. p237 

Bambusa copelandi Gamble. A - C = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, 

Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p23. D - M = Raizada, M.B. 1948. Indian Forester, 74: 710. 

Bambusa griffithiana Munro. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 


327

Sources of Illustrations 

Bambusa khasiana Munro. A - B = orignal illustrations from the herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87796; C - I = 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 17. 

Bambusa kingiana Gamble. A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical 


Bambusa longispiculata Gamble ex Brandis. A - C = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos 

growing in India.Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p26. 

Bambusa multiplex (Lour.) Raeusch ex Schult. and Schult. f. A - D = Original illustrations from herbarium specimen 

(KFRI) 6794; E - F = Tewari, D. N. 1992. A Monograph on Bamboo. International Book Distributors, Dehra Dun. 

p43. G = Bennet, S.S.R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, 

Dehra Dun. p28. 

Bambusa nutans Wall. ex Munro. A - D = Original illustraion from the herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87788; 

F - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 

30. K = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, 


Bambusa oliveriana Gamble. A - I = Gamble, J.S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical 

Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 116. J - K = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. 

Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p32. 

Bambusa pallida Munro. A - D = original illustration from herabarium specimen BSI (MH); F - I = Gamble, J. S. 

1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 25. J = Bennet, 

S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p34. 

Bambusa polymorpha Munro. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6720; C - K = Gamble, 

J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 34. L = Bennet, 

S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p36. 

Bambusa striata Lodd. ex Lindl. A - D = original illustrations from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6722; E - K = 


Bambusa teres Buch. Ham. ex Munro. A = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87792; C - H = 


I - J = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, 


Bambusa tulda Roxb. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6712; C - I = Gamble, J. S. 

1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 29. J - K = Bennet, S. 

S. R and Gaur, R.C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p42. 

Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. A - C = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in 

India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p43. 

Bambusa wamin Camus. A - O = original illustrations from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6724. 

328


Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro) Nakai A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 

Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 10. 

Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz. A - C = original illustrations from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6777. D - K 


L - M = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, 


Dendrocalamus calostachyus (Kurz) Kurz. A - B = Naithani, H. B. 1985. Indian Journal of Forestry 8: 239240. C - H 

= Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 77. I 

- J = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, 


Dendrocalamus collettianus Gamble. A - H = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro A - H = Camus, E. G. 1913. Les Bambusees. Paul Lechevalier, Paris. Plate 85. I - J = 

Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, 


Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Arn. ex Munro = A - D = original illustrations from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 

6726. E - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. 

Plate 74. 

Dendrocalamus hookeri Munro A - C = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH). D - H = Gamble, 

J.S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 73. I - J = Bennet, 

S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p56. 

Dendrocalamus longispathus Kurz. A - J = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6478. K - L = 



Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6479; E - J = 


Dendrocalamus parishii Munro. A - G = Gamble, J.S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 


Dendrocalamus patellaris Gamble. A - C = original illustrations from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87821; E - J = 


Dendrocalamus sahnii Naithani and Bahadur. A - I = Naithani, H. B. and Bahadur, K. N. 1982. Indian Forester 

108: p213. 

Dendrocalamus sericeus Munro. A - H = Camus, E. G. 1913. Les Bambusees. Paul Lechevalier, Paris. Plate 86. 

Dendrocalamus sikkimensis Gamble. A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6709; E - K = 


Dendrocalamus somdevai Naithani A - K = Naithani, H. B. 1993. Indian Forester 119: 504-506. 

329


Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6725; E - F = 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 69. G = 



Dinochloa andamanica Kurz A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 7031. 

Dinochloa compactiflora (Kurz) McClure. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 

Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 84. K = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos 

growing in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p64. 

Dinochloa indica (Majumdar) Bennet A - M = Majumdar, R. 1983. Bulletin of Botanical Survey of India 25: p236. 

Dinochloa maclellandii (Munro) Kurz A - B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 

Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 99. C = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos 


Dinochloa nicobariana Majumdar A - K = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 7046. 

Gigantochloa albociliata (Murno) Kurz A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 

Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 61. M = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos 


Gigantochloa apus (Bl. ex Schult. f.) Kurz A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Gigantochloa atroviolacea Widjaja. A - H = Widjaja, E. A. 1987. Reinwardtia (10): 321. 

Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz. A - H = Widjaja, E. A. 1987. Reinwardtia (10): 316-318. 

Gigantochloa macrostachya Kurz A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 


Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea (Steud.) Widjaja A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 

Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 52. M = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven 

bamboos growing in India. Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p72. 

Gigantochloa rostrata Wong A = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH). B - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. 

The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 60. K - J = Bennet, S. S. R 

and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p74. 

Melocanna arundina Parkinson A - B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 

Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 106. C - D = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing 

in India, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. p78. 

Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6716; C - H = 

Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 105. I = 



330


Ochlandra beddomei Gamble. A - M = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6466 

Ochlandra ebracteata Raizada & Chatterji. A - K = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6769. 

Ochlandra scriptoria (Dennst.) Fisch. A - J = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6418. 

Ochlandra setigera Gamble. A - N = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6413 

Ochlandra sivagiriana (Gamble) Camus A - K = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6735. 

Ochlandra talboti Brandis. A - J = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 7533. 

Ochlanddra travancorica Benth. A - L = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6429. 

Ochlandra travancorica Benth. var. hirsuta Gamble. A - K = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 

6412. 

Ochlandra wightii (Munro) Fisch. A - J = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6707. 

Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A.Rich.) Munro A - F = Camus, E. G. 1913. Les Bambusees. Paul Lechevalier, Paris. Plate 

90. G - H = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing in India, Forest Research Institute, 


Oxytenathera parvifolia Brandis ex Gamble A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Phyllostachys aurea Carrie ex A and C Riv. A - C = Camus, E. G. 1913. Les Bambusees. Paul Lechevalier, Paris. 

Plate 33. 

Phyllostachys bambusoides Sieb. and Zucc. A - H = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Phyllostachys mannii Gamble. A - B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal 


Phyllostachys puberula (Miq.) Munro A - H = Camus, E.G. 1913. Les Bambusees. Paul Lechevalier, Paris. Plate 28. 

Pleioblastus simonii (Carr.) Nakai A - C, Naithani, H.B. and Bennet, S. S. R. 1986. Indian Forester 112: p86. 

Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii (Gamble) Naithani A - M = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 

7531. 

Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha (Thw.) Soderstrom & Ellis A - H = original illustration from herbarium specimen 

(KFRI) 6718. 

Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi (Munro) Naithani A - K = 

6427, 7895. 

original illustration from herbarium specimens (KFRI) 

Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii (Munro) Naithani A - K = original illustration from herbarium specimens (KFRI) 7593, 

7594. 

Racemobambos mannii (Gamble) Muktesh Kumar A - B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 

Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 26. 

331


Racemobambos prainii (Gamble) J. Campbell. A - B = Original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 

58557, C - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 

7. Plate 19. 

Schizostachyum arunachalensis Naithani A - C = Naithani, H. B. 1992. Indian Forester 118: p230. 

Schizostachyum beddomei (Fischer) Majumdar A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimens (KFRI) 6401, 

6424; E - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. 

Plate 87. 

Schizostachyum capitatum (Munro) Majumdar var. capitatum (Gamble) Majumdar A - B original illustration from 

herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87829. C - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) Majumdar. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87827. 

C = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 89. 

Schizostachyum flavescens (Kurz) Majumdar. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 

the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 96. 

Schizostachyum fuchsianum (Gamble) Majumdar. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 

87832. C - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 

7. Plate 94. 

Schizostachyum griffithii (Munro) Majumdar. A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Schizostachyum helferi (Munro) Majumdar. A - D = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Schizostachyum kurzii (Munro) Majumdar. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the 


Schizostachyum latifolium (Munro) Majumdar. A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 

87831; C - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. 

Plate 93. 

Schizostachyum pallidum (Munro) Majumdar. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Schizostachyum pergracile (Munro) Majumdar A - B = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 

87834. C - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 

7. Plate 95. K - L = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research 

Institute, Dehra Dun. p48. 

Schizostachyum polymorphum (Munro) Majumdar. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


Sinarundinaria anceps (Mitf.) Chao & Renv. A - C = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI(MH) 87780. 

D - L = Bahadur, K. N and Naithani, H. B. 1978. Indian Journal of Forestry, 1: p40. 

332


Sinarundinaria densifolia (Munro) Chao & Renv. A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6482; 

E - M = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 9. 

Sinarundinaria elegans (Kurz) Chao & Renv. A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Sinarundinaria falcata (Nees) Chao & Renv. A = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87776; 

B - M = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. 

Plate 11. 

Sinarundinaria floribunda (Thw.) Chao & Renv. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals 

of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 3. 

Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro) Chao & Renv. A - C & G = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI 

(MH) 87775. D - F & H - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical 


Sinarundinaria hirsuta (Munro) Chao & Renv. A - B = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals 


Sinarundinaria hookeriana (Munro) Chao & Renv. A - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


Sinarundinaria intermedia (Munro) Chao & Renv. A = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 

58565. B - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 

7. Plate 14. 

Sinarundinaria jainiana (Das & Pal). Naithani. A - G = Majumder, R. B. 1983. Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of 

India, 25(14): 235-238. 

Sinarundinaria kurzii (Gamble) Muktesh Kumar. A= Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Sinarundinaria longispiculata (Bor) Chao & Renv. A - I = Chao, C. S. and Renvoize, A. 1988. Kew Bulletin, 43: p412. 

Sinarundinaria nagalandiana Naithani. A - C = Naithani, H. B. 1994. Indian Forester, 120: 1120-1121. 

Sinarundinaria pantlingii (Gamble) Chao & Renv. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


Sinarundinaria polystachya (Gamble) Chao & Renv. A - H = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


Sinarundinaria rolloana (Gamble) Chao & Renv. A - C = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals 


Sinarundinaria suberecta (Munro) Muktesh Kumar. A - C = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


Sinarundinaria walkeriana (Munro) Chao & Renv. A - J = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. 


333


Sinarundinaria wightiana (Nees) Chao & Renv. A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6796; 

E - M = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 2. 

Thamnocalamus aristatus (Gamble) Camus. A - I = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Thamnocalamus falconeri Hook. f. ex Munro. A - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of 


Thamnocalamus spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro. A - D = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 58559. 

E - K = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 16. 

Thyrsotachys oliveri Gamble. A - E = original illustration from herbarium specimen (KFRI) 6776; F - M = Gamble, 

J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. Plate 50. 

Thyrsostachys regia (Munro) Bennet. A - C = original illustration from herbarium specimen BSI (MH) 87802. 

D - L = Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta 7. 

Plate 51. M - N = Bennet, S. S. R and Gaur, R. C. 1990. Thirty seven bamboos growing in India, Forest Research 

Institute, Dehra Dun. p86. 

334


BAMBOO SPECIES INDEX 

Valid names are given in bold letters 

A 

Ampelocalamus patellaris (Gamble) Stapleton 278 

Arundinaria anceps Freeman Mitf. 262 

A. aristata Gamble 294 

A. brachyclada Hack. ex Matsumura 216 

A. callosa Munro 96 

A. clarkei Gamble ex Brandis 230 

A. densifolia Munro 264 

A. elegans Kurz 266 

A. falcata Nees 268 

A. falcata var. glomerata Gamble 268 

A. falconeri (Hook. f. ex Munro) Benth. 295 

A. floribunda Thw. 270 

A. fortunei Fenzi 216 

A. gracilis Camus 28 

A. griffithiana Munro 271 

A. hirsuta Munro 273 

A. hispida Steud. 289 

A. hookeriana Munro 274 

A. intermedia Munro 276 

A. interupta Trin. 268 

A. japonica Sieb. and Zucc. ex Steud. 218 

A. jaunsarensis Gamble 262 

A. kurzii Gamble 279 

A. longispiculata Bor 279 

A. mannii Gamble 230 

A. microphylla Munro 280 

A. pantlingii Gamble 282 

A. polystachya Kurz ex Gamble 293 

A. prainii Gamble 231 

A. procera Wallich ex Munro 297 

335

Bamboo Species Index 

A. racemosa Munro 28 

A. rolloana Gamble 285 

A. simonii (Carr.) A and C Riv. 216 

A. spathiflora Trin. 297 

A. suberecta Munro 286 

A. utilis Cleghorn 268 

A. walkeriana Munro 287 

A. wightiana Nees 289 

A. wightiana var. hispida (Steud.) Gamble 289 

Arundo bambos L. 41 

A. multiplex Lour. 59 

B 

Bambusa abyssinica A. Rich 204 

B. apus Bl. ex Schult. f. 154 

B. arundinacea Retz. 41 

B. arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. 41 

B. aundinacea var. gigantea Bahadur and Jain 46 

B. affinis Munro 32 

B. atra Lindl. 33 

B. atter Hassk. 158 

B. auriculata Kurz 34 

B. baccifera Roxb. 169 

B. balcooa Roxb. 37 

B. bambos Voss 40 

B. bambos var. gigantea Bennet and Gaur 46 

B. brandisii Munro 100 

B. burmanica Gamble 47 

B. cacharensis Majumdar 49 

B. calostachya Kurz 103 

B. copelandi Gamble 50 

B. gigantea Wall. 105 

B. glaucescens (Willd.) Sieb. ex Munro 60 

B. griffithiana Munro 52 

B. helferi Munro 246 

B. jaintiana Majumdar 53 

B. khasiana Munro 53 

B. khasiana sensu Gamble 250 

B. kingiana Gamble 54 

B. kurzii (Munro) Balakr. 248 

B. lineata Munro 33 

B. longispiculata Gamble ex Brandis 56 

B. maclellandii Munro 147 

336


B. mastersii Munro 58 

B. multiplex (Lour.) Raeusch ex Schult. and Schult. f. 59 

B. nana Roxb. 59 

B. nigrociliata Buse 163 

B. nutans Wall. ex Munro 62 

B. oliveriana Gamble 66 

B. pallida Munro 67 

B. polymorpha Munro 70 

B. pseudoarundinacea Steud. 161 

B. pseudopallida Majumdar 74 

B. puberula Miq. 213 

B. regia Munro 306 

B. ritcheyi Munro 225 

B. rumphiana Kurz 33 

B. schizostachyoides (Kurz) Kurz ex Gamble 248 

B. scriptoria Dennst. 182 

B. simonii Carr. 216 

B. striata Lodd. ex Lindl. 74 

B. stricta Roxb. 129 

B. vulgaris var. striata (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Gamble 74 

B. vulgaris var. vittata A and C Riviere 74 

B. teres Buch. Ham. ex Munro 78 

B. thouarsii Kunth 158 

B. tulda Roxb. 79 

B. verticillata Willd. 161 

B. vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. 83 

B. vulgaris cv. wamin McClure 87 

B. wamin Camus 87 

Bheesa rheedii Kunth 182 

B. travancorica Bedd. 191 

Burmabambusa elegans (Kurz) Keng 266 

Butania pantlingii (Gamble) Keng 282 

C 

Cephalostachym capitatum Munro 238 

C. capitatum Munro var. decompositum Gamble 240 

C. flavescens Kurz 242 

C. fuchsianum Gamble 243 

C. griffithii (Munro) Kurz 245 

C. latifolium Munro 249 

C. pallidum Munro 251 

C. pergracile Munro 252 

Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro) Nakai 96 

337


C. callosus (Munro) Hsuesh and Yi 96 

C. densifolia (Munro) Nakai 264 

C. falcata (Nees) Nakai 268 

C. griffithiana (Munro) Nakai 271 

C. hookeriana (Munro) Nakai 274 

C. intermedia (Munro) Nakai 276 

C. jainiana Das & Pal 278 

C. jaunsarensis (Gamble) Bahadur & Naithani 262 

C. polystachya (Kurz ex Gamble) Nakai 283 

Chimonocalamus longispiculatus Majumdar 264 

D 

Dendrocalamus balcooa (Roxb.) Voigt 37 

D. brandisii (Munro) Kurz. 100 

D. calostachyus (Kurz) Kurz 103 

D. collettianus Gamble 105 

D. giganteus Munro 105 

D. griffithiana (Munro) Kurz 52 

D. hamiltonii Nees and Arn. ex Munro 109 

D. hookeri Munro 113 

D. hookeri Munro var. parishii (Munro) Blatter 121 

D. longispathus Kurz 114 

D. membranaceus Munro 118 

D. monadelphus Thw. 224 

D. parishii Munro 121 

D. patellaris Gamble 122 

D. sahnii Naithani and Bahadur 124 

D. sericeus Munro 125 

D. sikkimensis Gamble 126 

D. somdevai Naithani 128 

D. strictus (Roxb.) Nees 129 

D. strictus (Roxb.) Nees var. sericeus (Munro) Gamble 125 

D. tulda (Roxb.) Voigt 79 

Dinochloa andamanica Kurz 142 

D. compactiflora (Kurz) McClure 144 

D. gracilis (Majumdar) Bennet & Jain 146 

D. indica (Majumdar) Bennet 146 

D. maclellandii (Munro) Kurz 147 

D. nicobariana Majumdar 148 

D. tjankorreh var. andamanica (Kurz) Gamble 142 

Drepanostachyum falcatum (Nees) Keng f. 268 

D. hookerianum (Munro) Keng f. 274 

D. intermedium (Munro) Keng 276 

338


D. jainianum Majumdar 278 

D. khasianum (Munro) Keng f. 268 

D. kurzii Majumdar 279 

D. polystachyum (Kurz ex Gamble) Majumdar 283 

D. suberectum Majumdar 286 

F 

Fargesia collaris Yi 296 

F. gyirongenis Yi 296 

F. racemosa (Munro) Yi 28 

G 

Gigantochloa albociliata (Murno) Kurz 152 

G. apus (Bl. ex Schult. f.) Kurz 154 

G. auriculata Kurz 34 

G. atroviolacea Widjaja 156 

G. atter (Hassk.) Kurz 158 

G. atter sensu Kurz 156 

G. kurzii Gamble 154 

G. macrostachya Kurz 159 

G. maxima sensu Kurz 161 

G. maxima var minor Holtt. 163 

G. pseudoarundinacea (Steud.) Widjaja 161 

G. rostrata Wong 163 

G. takserah Camus 154 

G. verticillata (Willd.) Munro 161 

G. verticillata (Willd.) Munro sensu Backer 158 

H, I 

Himalayacalamus falconeri (Hook. f. ex Munro) Keng 296 

Indocalamus floribundus (Thw.) Nakai 270 

I. walkerianus (Munro) Nakai 287 

I. wightianus (Nees) Nakai 289 

I. wightianus var. hispidus (Steud.) Nakai 290 

L, M, N 

Ludolphia falcata Nees ex Munro 268 

L. glaucescens Willd. 59 

Melocalamus compactiflorus (Kurz) Benth. & Hook.f. 144 

M. gracilis Majumdar 146 

M. indicus Majumdar 146 

Melocanna arundina Parkinson 168 

339


M. brachyclada Kurz 237 

M. bambusoides Trin. 169 

M. baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz 169 

M. humilis kurz 168 

M. kurzii Munro 248 

M. zollingeri var. brachyclada (Kurz) Munro 237 

Microcalamus prainii Gamble 231 

Neohouzeana dullooa (Gamble) Camus 240 

N. helferi (Munro) Gamble 246 

Neomicrocalamus clarkei (Gamble ex Brandis) Majumdar 230 

N. mannii (Gamble) Majumdar 230 

N. prainii (Gamble) Keng 231 

O 

Ochlandra beddomei Gamble 178 

O. brandisii Gamble 1999 

O. ebracteata Raizada & Chatterji 180 

O. rheedii (Kunth) Benth. & Hook.f.ex Gamble 182 

O. rheedii var. sivagiriana Gamble 188 

O. rheedii var. sivagiriana sensu Talbot 190 

O. scriptoria (Dennst.) Fisch. 182 

O. setigera Gamble 185 

O. sivagiriana (Gamble) Camus 188 

O. stridula Woodr. 190 

O. talboti Brandis 189 

O. travancorica Benth. 191 

O. travancorica Benth. var. hirsuta Gamble 196 

O. wightii (Munro) Fisch. 199 

Oxytenathera abyssinica (A.Rich.) Munro 204 

O. albociliata Munro 152 

O. bourdillonii Gamble 222 

O. macrostachya (Kurz) Brandis 160 

O. monadelpha (Thw.) Alst. 224 

O. monostigma Bedd. 225 

O. nigrociliata Munro 163 

O. parvifolia Brandis ex Gamble 205 

O. ritcheyi (Munro) Blatter & McCann 226 

O. stocksii Munro 227 

O. thwaitesii Munro 224 

P, R 

Phyllostachys assamica Gamble ex Brandis 208 

P. aurea Carrie ex A and C Riv. 208 

340


P. bambusoides Sieb. and Zucc. 210 

P. mannii Gamble 212 

P. puberula (Miq.) Munro 213 

P. reticulata sensu Koch. 210 

Pleioblastus simonii (Carr.) Nakai 216 

Pseudosasa japonica (Sieb. and Zucc. ex Steud.) Makino ex Nakai 218 

Pseudostachyum compactiflorum Kurz 144 

P. helferi (Munro) Kurz 246 

P. polymorphum Munro 255 

Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii (Gamble) Naithani 222 

P. monadelpha (Thw.) Soderstrom & Ellis 224 

P. ritcheyi (Munro) Naithani 225 

P. stocksii (Munro) Naithani 227 

Racemobambos clarkei (Gamble ex Brandis) Muktesh Kumar 230 

R. mannii (Gamble) Muktesh Kumar 230 

R. prainii (Gamble) J. Campbell 231 

S 

Schizostachyum arunachalensis Naithani 234 

S. beddomei (Fischer) Majumdar 235 

S. brachycladum (Kurz) Kurz 237 

S. capitatum (Munro) Majumdar var. capitatum (Gamble) Majumdar 238 

S. capitatum (Gamble) Majumdar var. decompositum (Gamble) Majumdar 240 

S. dullooa (Gamble) Majumdar 240 

S. flavescens (Kurz) Majumdar 242 

S. fuchsianum (Gamble) Majumdar 243 

S. griffithii (Munro) Majumdar 245 

S. helferi (Munro) Majumdar 246 

S. kurzii (Munro) Majumdar 248 

S. latifolium (Munro) Majumdar 249 

S. mannii Majumdar 250 

S. pallidum (Munro) Majumdar 251 

S. pergracile (Munro) Majumdar 252 

S. polymorphum (Munro) Majumdar 255 

S. rogersii Brandis 257 

S. seshagirianum Majumdar 258 

Semiarundinaria pantlingii (Gamble) Nakai 282 

Sinarundinaria anceps (Mitf.) Chao & Renv. 262 

S. arunachalensis Naithani 264 

S. densifolia (Munro) Chao & Renv. 264 

S. elegans (Kurz) Chao & Renv. 266 

S. falcata (Nees) Chao & Renv. 268 

S. floribunda (Thw.) Chao & Renv. 270 

341


S. griffithiana (Munro) Chao & Renv. 271 

S. hirsuta (Munro) Chao & Renv. 273 

S. hookeriana (Munro) Chao & Renv. 274 

S. intermedia (Munro) Chao & Renv. 276 

S. jainiana (Das & Pal) Naithani 278 

S. kurzii (Gamble) Muktesh Kumar 279 

S. longispiculata (Bor) Chao & Renv. 279 

S. microphylla (Munro) Chao & Renv. 280 

S. nagalandiana Naithani 281 

S. pantlingii (Gamble) Chao & Renv. 282 

S. polystachya (Gamble) Chao & Renv. 283 

S. rolloana (Gamble) Chao & Renv. 285 

S. suberecta (Munro) Muktesh Kumar 286 

S. walkeriana (Munro) Chao & Renv. 287 

S. wightiana (Nees) Chao & Renv. 289 

Sinobambusa callosa (Munro) Wen 96 

S. elegans (Kurz) Nakai 266 

Sinocalamus copelandi (Gamble) Raizada 50 

T, Y 

Teinostachyum beddomei Fischer 235 

T. dullooa Gamble 240 

T. griffithi Munro 245 

T. helferi (Munro) Gamble 246 

T. schizostachyoides Kurz 248 

T. wightii Bedd. 235 

Thamnocalamus aristatus (Gamble) Camus 294 

T. falconeri Hook. f. ex Munro 295 

T. prainii (Gamble) Camus 231 

T. spathiflorus (Trin.) Munro 297 

Thyrsostachys copelandi Gamble Mss. 50 

T. oliveri Gamble 302 

T. regia (Munro) Bennet 306 

T. siamensis Gamble 306 

Yushania jaunsarensis (Gamble) Yi 262 

Y. rolloana (Gamble) Yi 285 

342

BAMBOOS OF INDI A

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