Gigantochloa apus
(Schult. & Schult.f.) Kurz ex Munro
Poaceae
Bambusa apus Schult. & Schult.f.
Gigantochloa kurzii Gamble
Common Name: Watho
General Information
Watho is a densely clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes. The erect, woody culms are 8 - 30 metres long, 4 - 13cm in diameter, with a thick wall up to 15mm thick and with internodes 20 - 60cm long[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
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- Author
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild, and also often cultivated, for its durable culms, which have a wide range of uses[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
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.
,
992- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
- The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1958
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. A very important plant in the Indonesian rural economy because it is much used for making cooking utensils, fishery utensils, furniture, ropes or strings, and in basketry[
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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
992- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
- The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1958
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
E. Asia - India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia.
Habitat
Found in open areas, disturbed forest and on river sides on sandy or clayey soils[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]
Properties
Edibility Rating |      |
Other Uses Rating |      |
Habit | Evergreen Bamboo |
Height | 20.00 m |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Prefers growing in the tropical humid low-lands, but also occurs on hill slopes at elevations up to 1,500 metres[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
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- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- Year
- 0
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Grows well in clay soils[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
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- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
When growing in drier areas, the culms remain smaller[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
One year after planting the vegetatively obtained propagules, about 10 - 15 culms will emerge; they are harvestable 1 - 3 years later, depending on the use[
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.
].
Annual yields of 1,000 culms per hectare can be obtained[
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. The plant flowers very rarely - in Indonesia, flowering may start 50 - 60 years after planting[
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.
]. When flowering, viable seed is produced that can be used for propagation[
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 overlapping of rhizomes in old clumps often raises the middle portion of the clump high above the ground[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
The culm size can vary considerably, leading local people to use different names for plants with different culm sizes[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Edible Uses
Young shoots - cooked[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. Very bitter[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. In Java the freshly cut shoots are buried in mud for 3 - 4 days to remove the bitter taste, before they are consumed as a vegetable[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
- The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1958
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The culms are durable, 8 - 30 metres long, 4 - 13cm in diameter, with a thick wall up to 15mm thick and with internodes 20 - 60cm long[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. They are used as building material for roofs, walls, scaffoldings and bridges[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
- The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1958
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The culms can be split into fine strips for weaving hats, baskets and other objects; when split fine and the pieces bent, the surface does not chip off[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
,
992- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 16
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
- Publisher
- The Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1958
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this issue includes a treatment of the Bamboos in Malaya and the Myristicaceae in Malaya. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
In the absence of more suitable species, it is sometimes used to make musical instruments, although the quality of the tones produced is inferior[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. It is unsuitable for making chopsticks or toothpicks mechanically, because it has overlapping fibres[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Propagation
Seed -
Rhizome cuttings consist of fragments of young rhizomes bearing 1 - 2 culm buds[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. They are raised in a nursery and, when well rooted, are transplanted to the field at a spacing of 5 - 7 m2[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Culm cuttings consist of culm segments or whole culms. Good results were obtained with one-year-old culm segments bearing 2 buds each[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
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- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
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- Year
- 0
- ISBN
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- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
]. The cuttings are set upright or at an angle, with the node well covered with soil[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
It is not advisable to propagate vegetatively from flowering clumps, as the new plants will also start flowering soon after planting[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
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