Common Name:

General Information

Valiha diffusa is an evergreen bamboo producing solitary culms from an elongated rhizome. The erect, slender culms can be 6 - 10 metres long and 6 - 10cm in diameter; the internodes are thin-walled, 40 - 80cm long[].
The plant is a locally useful source of construction material, often gathered from the wild. It is a plentiful resource, and is actually spreading and increasing, but because it produces somewhat isolated culms and does not form clumps it is somewhat difficult to harvest[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Madagascar.

Habitat

The plant was formerly restricted to primary forest, at elevations up to 700 metres, but it has become more widespread and now also occurs on open hills and in valleys, often together with Ravenala madagascariensis[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Bamboo
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant does not respond well to excessive harvesting of the stems[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are used for weaving. After harvesting, they are split on one side and flattened, then they are woven into mats that are used in the construction of walls and roofs[]

The stems are used for light construction, for making fences, and for carrying and storing water[]. Formerly they were used for making a traditional musical instrument, the tube zither known in Madagascar as 'valiha'. Nowadays this instrument is made from other bamboo species with longer internodes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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