The bamboo which is identified as Gigantochloa hasskarliana in Thailand and is found growing abundantly in pure stands in the northern and western parts of the country, is not conspecific with Gigantochloa hasskarliana. The culm sheath of the Thai bamboo has a large, broadly triangular, usually erect blade. Its correct name, unfortunately, is not yet confirmed[].

Common Name: Awi Tela

General Information

Gigantochloa hasskarliana is an evergreen, perennial clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes. The thin-walled, erect, woody culms are 5 - 6 metres tall, 30 - 50 mm in diameter at the base[].
The plant is occasionally cultivated, and also gathered from the wild, for its edible young shoots and useful canes[]. It is also sometimes grown as a hedge[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, though it can be found at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. It prefers humid conditions[].

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[].
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.

Edible Uses

Young stem - cooked[]. Eaten as a side dish with rice, or cooked in soups and stews[].Highly esteemed in Indonesia for their sweet flavourful qualities[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Planted extensively to prevent soil erosion on steep hills[, ].
Often planted as a tall hedge[, , ].

Other Uses

The canes are used to make basketry[, ].
The canes are 5 - 6 metres long, 30 - 50 mm in diameter at the base, with a thin wall.

Propagation

Seed -
Division.
Culm cuttings. This method is mostly used for establishing hedges and for erosion control measures[303[.

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