Bambusa tulda

Bambusa tulda, or Indian timber bamboo (alternatively spineless Indian bamboo or Bengal bamboo), is considered to be one of the most useful of bamboo species. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Tibet, and Yunnan, and naturalized in Iraq, Puerto Rico, and parts of South America. B. tulda is used extensively by the paper pulp industry in India. It can grow to a height of 15 m and a thickness of 8 cm. The single most important fact about Bambusa tulda is its incredible tensile strength; up to 60,000 pounds (27,000 Kg) per square inch. It is commonly found in southeastern Asia.

Description

A thick walled tufted bamboo. It grows to about 20 m tall. It is almost un-branched near the base but branches higher up. The nodes are slightly thickened. The internodes are 40-65 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. They have a white ring around the node. They are grey-green at maturity. The culm sheath is 10-25 cm long and 15-25 cm wide. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are 15-25 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. They are narrow and sword shaped. They are hairy underneath. Young shoots are green with yellow stripes. Plants may take 25-40 years to flower.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots Edible Uses: The young shoots are edible but taste slightly bitter, therefore they are often pickled. The young shoots are harvested as they emerge from the soil.

Traditional Uses

The young shoots are boiled and eaten. The water is changed. They are also used in soup. They are also pickled. The harvested young shoots can be stored for 8-10 days. They are also dried for future use.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal at 200-1200 m altitude. It grows in moist soils near rivers. It grows up to 1500 m altitude in Bangladesh. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Himalayas, India - Assam, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Tahiti, Thailand, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28c, but can tolerate 9 - 32c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,500mm. Prefers a position in dappled shade, also succeeding in full sun. Grows best in fertile, medium to heavy soils. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5. 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. About one month after germination a seedling produces its first stem and at this stage the rhizome also starts to develop. After 9 months 4 - 5 young culms have been formed. Shoot growth starts at the beginning of the rainy season and it takes approximately 1 month to emerge above the ground. Height increase of the shoots may attain as much as 70 cm per day. Culms complete their growth within 2 - 3 months after their emergence as shoots, and their diameter and height do not increase as they become older. Young shoots to be used as a vegetable should preferably be harvested while they are still underground. In plantations, selective felling of older culms may start 5 - 7 years after planting. Normally 3 - 4-year-old culms are harvested, retaining at least 3 - 6 evenly spaced culms per clump. A 4-year felling cycle is often adopted. Traditionally, the harvested canes are submerged for 10 - 20 days in running water to improve resistance to powder-post beetles. Subsequently the culms are air dried for 1.5 - 3.5 months. The culms suffer considerably from cracking and collapse. Cracks often extend along the entire length of the internodes and the culm collapses at these cracks. To improve their durability, culms can be treated with solutions of sodium carbonate, calcium hydroxide or copper sulphate. The annual yield of dry culms is about 3 tonnes/ha in India. 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. Bengal bamboo normally flowers gregariously for a period of 2 years in a cycle of 25 - 40 years, and produces viable seed. However, it also often flowers sporadically or in small groups, without an obvious cycle. In Bangladesh several forms are distinguished: 'tulda bans' is the normal form; 'jowa bans' is a large form with longer and thicker culms, mainly used for scaffolding and construction; and 'basini bans' is a form with a larger cavity in the culms and is mainly used for basketry.

Propagation

Seed - under ambient conditions, the seed remains viable for about 1 month only; when stored dry (in a desiccator over silica gel) viability can be extended to up to 1.5 years. Surface sow the seed in containers as soon as it is ripe, preferably at a temperature around 20c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination of around 70% usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Prick out the seedlings into containers when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a lightly shaded place until large enough to plant out. Plants only flower at intervals of many years and so seed is rarely available. Division as new growth commences. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more. Propagation by rhizome cuttings with direct planting in the field is very successful (survival more than 90%) and average height of shoots 2.5 months after planting is 1.35 m. Rhizome parts can best be taken at the beginning of the rainy season from 1 - 2-year-old culms and planted in pits of 60 cm3 at a spacing of 8 m x 8 m.

Other Uses

Basketry Biomass Containers Paper Roofing Shelterbelt Wood Agroforestry Uses: In its natural area Bambusa tulda is also often planted as a wind-break around farms and fields. Other Uses: Near solid culms and hence very strong timber. The culms are generally used for construction, scaffolding, furniture, boxes, basketry, mats, household utensils, handicrafts and as raw material for paper pulp. Used extensively by the paper pulp industry in India. In Thailand the handicrafts made of this bamboo, polished with a mixture of Young oil and oleoresin, are famous. Special Uses Carbon Farming Food Forest

Production

A 1000 seeds weigh 70 g. Young shoots to be used as a vegetable should preferably be harvested while still underground.

Other Information

It is important in northern Thailand for edible shoots. It is common in Bangladesh. It is in high demand as bamboo shoots. It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 120 Bambusa species. They are tropical and subtropical in Asia.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Auwa gubwi, Ba, Bakal, Bambu india, Banse, Bas, Bijuli, Bong, Calcutta cane, Chat-wa, Chekeme, Deo-bans, Deobans, Dibang, Ghora, Govatuai, Govatuoi, Jati bah, Jao, Jowa, Karil, Kharra, Kiranti, Liangpai, Mai bong, Mak, Matela, Mirtinga, Nal-bans, Peka, Phai hangchang, Phai-bongdam, Rawthing, Utang, Talagu-wa, Taru bans, Thaik-wa, Tre xim, Tulda, Tusa, Utang, Wagi, Wamuna, Wandal, Wati

References (51)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 67
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 203
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550
• A Rapid Participatory Biodiversity Assessment. 2007, Southern Lao PDR. IUCN p 42
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 36

More from Poaceae

Triticum durum

Durum wheat, Hard wheat, Macaroni wheat

🌱

Triticum georgicum

Triticum macha

Macha wheat, Makha wheat

Triticum monococcum

Cultivated einkorn, Einkorn wheat, Small spelt

Triticum monococcum subsp. aegilopoides

Wild einkorn

Triticum orientale

Kharassan wheat