Cephalostachyum pergracile
Munro
Poaceae
Oxytenanthera aliena McClure
Schizostachyum pergracile (Munro) R.B.Majumdar
Common Name: Tinwa Bamboo
Cultivated plant at the Kerlala Forest Research Institure, Veluppadam, Trichur, Kerala, India
Photograph by: Dvellakat
Cultivated plant at the Kerlala Forest Research Institure, Veluppadam, Trichur, Kerala, India
Photograph by: Dvellakat
Plant growing at San Diego Zoo, California, USA.
Photograph by: Stickpen
Public domain
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 | |
Habit | Evergreen Bamboo |
Height | 20.00 m |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, 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 -
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