This name is not universally accepted. Whilst many sources use it, the Flora of China[] says that it is an illegitimate superfluous name and that the correct name is Melocanna humilis Kurz (treated here as a synonym).

Common Name:

General Information

Melocanna arundina is an evergreen, spreadng bamboo with rhizomes that can be up to 5 metres long and 25mm in diameter. It forms a loose or open clump of erect woody stems 8 - 20 metres tall, 3 - 7cm in diameter with walls 5 - 8mm thick and internodes 20 - 50cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is cultivated in southeast China, though the report does not specify if it is for ornament or utility. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand. Naturalized in southeast China

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun or light shade[]. Succeeds in moist soils, preferring a fertile medium to heavy soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but tolerates 5 - 7[].
Harvesting of the culms may start 5 - 6 years after planting[]. Young shoots are harvested in the rainy season. Culms are considered mature when 2 years old[].
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[].
Seedlings of this species, unlike those of most bamboos, grow vigorously from the beginning. By the end of their first year's growth they have usually produced 1 or 2 shoots, but up to 5 shoots can be produced[]. The last shoot produced can be up to 2.5 metres tall and 3cm in diameter[]. The shoots are crowded together in a clump[].
More shoots are produced during the second season - these can be up to 7 metres tall and the clump becomes larger[].
By the fifth season, the culms have attained almost their maximum height, but they are still thin and crowded together[]. Per clump, more than 70 culms may be present[].
In later years, the culms become spaced out with the gradual extension of the rhizomes[].
Young shoots emerge above the soil during the rainy season and develop to their full height within 4 - 6 months[]. Lateral branches emerge and develop in the following season[].
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 gregariously, with a flowering cycle of 30 - 45 years. In the season before flowering no new shoots are produced. Flowering may continue for about 10 years over a tract that is sometimes called a flowering wave[]. Soon after flowering, the leaves wither and fall, the culms turn yellow and the fruit forms rapidly, ripening and falling - often already germinating even before they fall[]. Many fruits fail to mature and those produced from the earlier flowering part are larger than those from the later part[]. Eventually, clumps that have flowered die[].
The rhizomes are very vital and start growing easily - this means that eradication of the plant from cleared bamboo forest is very difficult because every rhizome part left in the ground quickly develops into a new plant[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used for making wine[].

The fruit is edible[]. The somewhat pear-shaped, fleshy fruit is much larger than with most bamboo species and can be 45 - 125mm long and 50 - 70mm wide with a long curved beak at the apex[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The canes are split and used for weaving baskets, mats etc[]

The culms are used for pulping to make paper[].

Propagation

Seed - when available, they afford the best means of propagation[]. Sown in a nursery bed and only just cover the seeds. Germination usually takes place within a few days - up to 80% of the seed germinates if sown in a shady position, but only 33% in a sunny position[]. Rhizome development begins 30 - 40 days after germination[]. Due to its tall and soft stem, the seedling gets easily damaged during handling and transportation - therefore chopping the seedling stem tips at 3 - 5 nodes is generally recommended[]. Frequent shifting of seedlings from one bed to another helps in minimizing root and rhizome intermingling at the nursery stage[].
Normally, seed remains viable for about 35 days. Storage in air-conditioned rooms increases its lifespan up to 45 days, and when stored with dry sand in gunny bags, up to 60 days[].
Single-culm clump division. These should be made from the youngest culms, while the lateral buds of the rhizome are still dormant, or before they have pushed more than 50 - 75mm[]. Most of the culm and the long slender rhizome neck may be discarded for convenience[].
Culm cuttings are preferably taken from 2-year-old culms[].
Propagation with rhizome cuttings is easy and successful. In fact the rhizomes are very vital and start growing easily[].

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