Common Name: Giant Bamboo

General Information

Dendrocalamus asper is an evergreen, clumping bamboo with a short, thick rhizome and densely tufted, erect stems that can be 15 - 30 metres tall. The stems can be 8 - 20cm in diameter, producing aerial roots from the nodes, and with internodes 40 - 50cm long[, ].
The plant is widely cultivated, especially in tropical Asia, for its stems which are considered by many to be the best of all the edible tropical Asiatic bamboos; they also have a wide range of other uses. In the areas where the culms are highly valued for building material, the shoots are rarely collected as a vegetable. On the other hand, where the culm is not much used, this bamboo is planted solely for its shoots[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - Madagascar; Southeast Asia - China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moist areas in the tropics and subtropics, where it can be found from low elevations up to 1,500 metres, though it grows best at an elevation of 400 - 500 metres[, ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 27°c, but can tolerate 15 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 3,600mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 4,500mm[].
Succeeds in any type of soil of at least moderate fertility, though it grows better on heavy soils with good drainage[, ]. In Thailand, according to local farmers, the plant will grow well on sandy and rather acidic soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[].
Initially, a young plant raised from a lateral branch cutting will produce small shoots which will develop into small culms[]. As the plant grows older, so the culms produced each year increase in size and quantity until full-size culms appear five or six years after planting[]. A mature clump may attain a diameter of 3 metres or more and contains about 60 culms[].
A culm becomes mature when 3 - 4 years old[]. A good healthy clump can produce several shoots annually[].
Yields of 10 - 11 tonnes per hectare of bamboo shoots have been reported from Thailand[].
Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying. This species usually flowers when around 100 - 120 years old[].

Edible Uses

Young stems - cooked[]. Free of bitterness[]. Harvested before they emerge from the soil, they are tender and sweet[, ]. They are used as a vegetable, pickled or preserved[]. They can be cut into strips and used as a substitute for macaroni in soups[]. The edible portion of young shoots is about 34%; they weigh on average 5.4 kilos before peeling and 1.8 kilos after peeling[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The upper internodes of the culm, which are longer than the lowermost ones, are used as containers for water or to collect juice being tapped from palm inflorescences[].
The internodes of this and other bamboo species are also used as ready-made cooking pots in the field[, ]. The internode is opened at one end (or the node) and filled with vegetables, meat or rice, and water, and is then covered and placed on a fire[].

The culms have thick walls and are very strong and durable. They are used as building material for houses and bridges, for making furniture, boards, musical instruments, household utensils, crafts, outriggers of fishing boats and for paper making[, , ].
Harvesting may start 3 - 4 years after a clump has begun to produce culms of maximum size. Only culms older than 3 years are harvestable and harvesting should never be done during the growing season. It is recommended to cut the culms lower than 30cm above the ground level, but not below the 2nd node. Debris and cut branches should always be removed completely[].

Propagation

Seed - many, if not all, members of this genus have a short viability and should be sown within 2 - 3 months of harvest. Sow in containers in a lightly shaded position and only just cover. Germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in their low-growing juvenile state for several years - cutting the culms to the ground level can stimulate taller adult growth[].
Rhizome, culm and branch cuttings[]. The propagules are raised in the nursery and after they have produced roots they are planted out in the field before or during the first half of the rainy season[].

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