Common Name:

General Information

Bambusa balcooa is an evergreen bamboo forming a dense clump of erect, woody stems that are usually around 16 - 20 metres tall but can reach up to 30 metres. The stems are around 8 - 15cm in diameter with a thick wall and internodes 40 - 45cm long[, ]
This species is one of the most important village bamboos used for construction in Bangladesh[]. The plant is widely cultivated on a small scale in northeast India and Bangladesh and occasionally also outside this region[]. Whole culms or pieces are sold in local markets and transported from rural to urban areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Believed to originate from E. Asia in northern India and Bangladesh

Habitat

Open places in Nepal; at elevations up to 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	17.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Bambusa balcooa is a plant of the lowland tropics, where it can be found at altitudes up to 600 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 9 - 35°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,300 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,500mm[], typically growing in a tropical monsoon climate with a dry season of up to 6 months[].
Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[]. Succeeds in any type of soil but prefers heavy textured soils with good drainage and pH of about 5.5[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[].
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[].
The shoots emerge above the ground during the rainy season and reach full culm length within 2 - 3 months. The lateral branches develop simultaneously with the elongation of the culm. A culm becomes mature in 3 - 4 years. It seems advisable to start harvesting mature culms about 6 years after planting; selective cutting may encourage new culms to develop[].
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 flowering cycle of this species is estimated at 35 - 45 years[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots are used as a vegetable[]. The young shoots are harvested as they emerge from the soil.

Medicinal

The siliceous secretion of the culm is considered to be aphrodisiac and tonic[].

Other Uses

The culms are used as building material for houses, bridges, temporary fishing floats, frames of rickshaw hoods, to prepare agricultural and fishing implements and to weave mats and baskets[, ]. This is one of the best and strongest bamboos for building purposes[].
The culms serve as raw material for making paper[].
After cutting, the culms are debranched and traditionally are immersed for 2 months in stagnant water to protect them against powder-post beetles. After drying, whole culms or culm segments are sold in local markets[].
The natural durability of Bambusa balcooa is poor[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in containers as soon as it is ripe, preferably at a temperature around 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Prick out the seedlings into containers when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a lightly shaded place until large enough to plant out. Plants only flower at intervals of many years and so seed is rarely available.
Division as new growth commences[]. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[].
Plants can be propagated vegetatively by rhizome, culm and branch cuttings. The propagules are raised in a nursery and after they have produced roots and developed rhizomes they are planted out in the field during the rainy season in pits filled with a mixture of compost and soil[].

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