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Useful Tropical Plants

Gigantochloa apus

(Schult. & Schult.f.) Kurz ex Munro

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Bambusa apus Schult. & Schult.f.

Gigantochloa kurzii Gamble

Common Name: Watho

Gigantochloa apus
Drawing of the leaves and flowers
Photograph by: Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, vol. 7: t. 56 (1891)
Creative Commons License

General Information

Watho is a densely clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes. The erect, woody culms are 8 - 30 metres long, 4 - 13cm in diameter, with a thick wall up to 15mm thick and with internodes 20 - 60cm long[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild, and also often cultivated, for its durable culms, which have a wide range of uses[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
992
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A very important plant in the Indonesian rural economy because it is much used for making cooking utensils, fishery utensils, furniture, ropes or strings, and in basketry[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

992
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia.

Habitat

Found in open areas, disturbed forest and on river sides on sandy or clayey soils[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Bamboo
Height20.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers growing in the tropical humid low-lands, but also occurs on hill slopes at elevations up to 1,500 metres[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Grows well in clay soils[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
When growing in drier areas, the culms remain smaller[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
One year after planting the vegetatively obtained propagules, about 10 - 15 culms will emerge; they are harvestable 1 - 3 years later, depending on the use[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Annual yields of 1,000 culms per hectare can be obtained[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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. The plant flowers very rarely - in Indonesia, flowering may start 50 - 60 years after planting[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. When flowering, viable seed is produced that can be used for propagation[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The overlapping of rhizomes in old clumps often raises the middle portion of the clump high above the ground[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The culm size can vary considerably, leading local people to use different names for plants with different culm sizes[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].

Edible Uses

Young shoots - cooked[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. Very bitter[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. In Java the freshly cut shoots are buried in mud for 3 - 4 days to remove the bitter taste, before they are consumed as a vegetable[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The culms are durable, 8 - 30 metres long, 4 - 13cm in diameter, with a thick wall up to 15mm thick and with internodes 20 - 60cm long[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. They are used as building material for roofs, walls, scaffoldings and bridges[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The culms can be split into fine strips for weaving hats, baskets and other objects; when split fine and the pieces bent, the surface does not chip off[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992
Title
The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Publisher
The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
Year
1958
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
In the absence of more suitable species, it is sometimes used to make musical instruments, although the quality of the tones produced is inferior[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. It is unsuitable for making chopsticks or toothpicks mechanically, because it has overlapping fibres[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Rhizome cuttings consist of fragments of young rhizomes bearing 1 - 2 culm buds[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. They are raised in a nursery and, when well rooted, are transplanted to the field at a spacing of 5 - 7 m2[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Culm cuttings consist of culm segments or whole culms. Good results were obtained with one-year-old culm segments bearing 2 buds each[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. The cuttings are set upright or at an angle, with the node well covered with soil[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
It is not advisable to propagate vegetatively from flowering clumps, as the new plants will also start flowering soon after planting[
303
Title
World Agroforesty Centre
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gigantochloa+apus>

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