Common Name:

General Information

Dendrocalamus brandisii is a perennial, clump-forming, evergreen bamboo with erect culms that can be 19 - 33 metres tall. The woody culms are 13 - 20cm in diameter with walls 25 - 50mm thick and internodes 30 - 38cm long, aerial roots are produced at the nodes[, ].
The plant produces one of the strongest and largest of the bamboos used for construction purposes, and is also often used for food. It is commonly harvested from the wild; is frequently grown in botanical and experimental gardens in the tropics and subtropics; has sometimes been introduced for cultivation, especially in India; and is occasionally cultivated in small plantations[]. The production, use and trade of the culms are mainly local, though in Thailand young shoots are also exported[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Andamans.

Habitat

Wet, evergreen tropical forest, at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the warm, moist tropics, where it can be cound at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].
The plant is frequently found on limestone, but it also grows well on well-drained loamy soils[].
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 young shoots of this species emerge above the soil during the rainy season and develop to their full height in 4 - 6 months. After that the lateral branches start to develop. A culm becomes mature in 3 - 4 years[].
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. Very often, all the specimens of one species in a given area will all come into flowering at the same time. This species flowers sporadically as well as gregariously. Its life cycle is not known; in India an interval of 45 - 50 years between two gregarious flowerings has been reported[].

Edible Uses

The young shoots are used as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The culms are used for building purposes, furniture, farm implements, baskets and other woven wares and handicrafts[]. This is one of the strongest and largest bamboos for construction purposes[].
Harvesting may start 3 - 4 years after a clump has begun to produce culms of maximum size. Only culms older than 3 years are harvestable and harvesting should never be done during the growing season. It is recommended to cut the culms lower than 30cm above the ground level, but not below the 2nd node. Debris and cut branches should always be removed completely[].

Propagation

Seed - many, if not all, members of this genus have a short viability and should be sown within 2 - 3 months of harvest. Sow in containers in a lightly shaded position and only just cover. Germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in their low-growing juvenile state for several years - cutting the culms to the ground level can stimulate taller adult growth[].
Rhizome, culm and branch cuttings[]. The propagules are raised in the nursery and after they have produced roots they are planted out in the field before or during the first half of the rainy season[].

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