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Useful Tropical Plants

Gigantochloa wrayi

Gamble

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Gigantochloa maxima viridis Holttum

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Gigantochloa wrayi is an evergreen, perennial, densely clump-forming bamboo growing up to 12 metres tall The erect, thin-walled, woody culms can be 20 - 70mm in diameter with internodes up to 40cm long[
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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. It is probably also cultivatd in villages[
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

633
Title
Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta. Vol. 7
Publication
 
Author
Gamble J.S.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Bengal Secretariat Press; Calcutta.
Year
1896
ISBN
 
Description
A very comprehensive listing of the bamboos of India, as they were known at the end of the 19th Century. Includes some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
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 - Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia.

Habitat

Alluvial sites and foothills[
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.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Bamboo
Height10.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details


The plant establishes naturally on poor clayey soils but does not produce as large culms as when it grows on alluvial soils. Nevertheless in many wasteland areas it can establish as whole stands, mixed with secondary-forest trees and also with Gigantochloa scortechinii and sometimes Schizostachyum grande Ridley. In such dense stands, its leaf litter accumulates on the ground and appears to prevent effective establishment of other plants[
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. 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 pattern can vary - sometimes flowering is sporadic, with plants flowering annually and not dying; at other times it is gregarious with all the plants in a specific species coming into flower at the same time.
Flowering in this species is sporadic, occurring on one to several culms in a clump, which can continue to show new vegetative growth during and after such flowering[
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.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

This species occurs sympatrically with Gigantochloa scortechinii, and its culms are of comparable quality and used in the same way, e.g. to prepare incensed prayer sticks used by the Chinese community, vegetable baskets, poultry cages and handicrafts. In rural areas in Peninsular Malaysia and southern Sumatra they are used when needed for fences, poles, roughly plaited house walls and other household items[
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.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Gigantochloa+wrayi>

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