Common Name:

General Information

Oreobambos buchwaldii is an evergreen, clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes. The woody, hollow, thin-walled stems are usually spreading or drooping; they can be up to 20 metres tall and 10cm in diameter. Th plant grows in small dense patches or solitary clumps[].
The stems are harvested from the wild for local use in construction, weaving, basket making etc and are sometimes traded in local markets[]. The plant is sometimes used in soil conservation projects.
Oreobambos buchwaldii has not as yet been evaluated in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, it occurs scattered and is, as far as known, not planted, and might be liable to genetic erosion. In Zambia it has been extensively over-utilized and appears to be already extinct in some localities[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East Africa - eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Habitat

Clearings of evergreen rainforest, swampy forest, and along mountain streams, at elevations from 300 - 2,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Bamboo
Height	16.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].
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, although some plants in this species[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plants are used for soil conservation[].

Other Uses

The stems are used for many purposes including to make fences and for construction. They are also used for weaving chairs, mats and making baskets[, , ].

Propagation

Seed -

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