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Useful Tropical Plants

Cephalostachyum pergracile

Munro

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Oxytenanthera aliena McClure

Schizostachyum pergracile (Munro) R.B.Majumdar

Common Name: Tinwa Bamboo

Cephalostachyum pergracile
Cultivated plant at the Kerlala Forest Research Institure, Veluppadam, Trichur, Kerala, India
Photograph by: Dvellakat
Creative Commons License
Cephalostachyum pergracile Cephalostachyum pergracile

General Information

Tinwa bamboo is a clump-forming, evergreen bamboo with short rhizomes. The erect, thin-walled culms can be 10 - 30 metres tall and 50 - 75mm in diameter with internodes 30 - 45cm long[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
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 widely harvested from the wild for its useful canes. It is also sometimes cultivated, both within and outside its native range, both for its canes and as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam.

Habitat

Mixed deciduous forests, often growing with teak[
146
Title
A Manual of Indian Timbers.
Publication
 
Author
Gamble. J. S.
Publisher
Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
Year
1972
ISBN
-
Description
First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
,
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.
]. It is vigorous in moister forests but stunted in the driest forests. Characteristic of low, hilly country, it thrives best on well-drained loams and usually grows in large stands[
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

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

Cultivation Details


Grows best in the dappled shade of woodland. Prefers a moist, but well-drained soil[
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. This species, however, flowers sporadically in most years, but does not then generally produce good seed[
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.
]. It also flowers gregariously at intervals of several years, at which time good seed is usually produced[
146
Title
A Manual of Indian Timbers.
Publication
 
Author
Gamble. J. S.
Publisher
Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
Year
1972
ISBN
-
Description
First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
].

Edible Uses

The canes are highly esteemed as a vessel for cooking glutinous rice[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The green canes are used and, the fact of their being green and the presence of the fluid within, seems to render the fire incapable of burning these wooden cooking-pots[
439
Title
The Commercial Products of India.
Publication
 
Author
Watts. Sir George.
Publisher
John Murray, London.
Year
1908
ISBN
 
Description
A classic, with a comprehensive (as then known) listing of useful plants that were traded commercially at that time. It can be downloaded from various sites on the Internet.
]. The bamboo casing also acts as a convenient container in which the cooked food can be carried whilst on journeys[
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.
].
The internodes of 1-year-old culms are used as casings for 'khaao laam', a popular Thai dessert comprising a mixture of glutinous rice, adzuki beans, coconut milk, sugar and salt. After grilling or baking, the whole dish is eaten, including the bamboo casing, which adds a specific fragrance to the meal[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Young shoots - cooked[
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.
]. A bitter flavour[
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.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The canes are widely used in construction, (as house posts, walling mats, shingles etc) and as fishing rods. They are easily split into thin strips which are used for basketry, mat making etc. The outer green layer can be split very finely and is used to make handicrafts. The culms are also used as a raw material for paperpulp[
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.
,
439
Title
The Commercial Products of India.
Publication
 
Author
Watts. Sir George.
Publisher
John Murray, London.
Year
1908
ISBN
 
Description
A classic, with a comprehensive (as then known) listing of useful plants that were traded commercially at that time. It can be downloaded from various sites on the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-10. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cephalostachyum+pergracile>

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