Dendrocalamus giganteus

Dendrocalamus giganteus, commonly known as giant bamboo, is a giant tropical and subtropical, dense-clumping species native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest bamboo species in the world.

Description

A clump forming bamboo. It can be 25-30-50 m tall. It has rhizomes which spread. The clumps can be 10-15 m wide. The canes can be 35 cm across. They are erect and jointed. The nodes are hairy. The leaf blades are sword shaped and smooth with fine teeth along the edge. The leaves can be 55 cm long. These clasp the canes at their base. The flower is a long panicle which droops.

Edible Uses

The young shoots are edible. When cooked they are creamy and tender, though not widely consumed. They have a fair canning quality.

Traditional Uses

Young shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are cooked with meat or fish.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The siliceous secretion of the culm is considered aphrodisiac and tonic.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It often grows in high mountains. It must have temperatures above 5°C. They are frost tender. It cannot tolerate drought. It prefers rich moist soil. In Nepal it grows between 200-1300 m altitude. In Yunnan it grows between 380-1,900 m above sea level. In Cairns Botanical garden. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Ghana, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Reunion, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 27°c, but can tolerate 15 - 34°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 3,600mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 4,500mm. Succeeds in full sun or in light shade. Prefers a rich, alluvial soil. Succeeds in most soils of at lest moderate fertility. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5. Offsets consisting of young shoots with small portions of attached rhizome produce small culms in the first year. Subsequent culms increase in size each consecutive year until, after 7 years, they have attained a girth of about 25 cm and a height of about 12 metres. They are then harvested. However, culms only attain full size ultimately at an age of 15 - 16 years. 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. At first, the growth of an individual young shoot is very slow, quickening gradually during a period of 4 - 6 weeks until the culm is about 4 metres tall. Then maximum growth is attained and maintained for several weeks (e.g. On average, 32 cm per day), after which growth gradually decreases until it stops when full height is attained at the age of 3.5 months. Rapid growth seems to be induced by high relative humidity, irrespective of light and temperature, causing a high turgescence in the culm. Competition between culms in a clump may cause 'abortive shoots', affecting about 50% of all new shoots. Young abortion-prone shoots usually grow within 20 cm from a culm, attaining about 13 cm height before dying. Such young shoots are suitable for vegetable use 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. This species is reputed to have a cycle of around 40 years between major flowerings.

Propagation

Seed is seldom available because the plant only flowers at intervals of many years. When seed is available, sow in containers and barely cover; germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in a low-growing juvenile state for several years — cutting culms to ground level can stimulate taller adult growth. Normally propagated by clump division. Culm and branch cuttings are possible though difficult; artificial induction of roots before taking cuttings is possible and reasonably successful.

Other Uses

Large culm sheaths are used to make hats. Strips of cane are woven into mats and baskets. The large culms serve many purposes including construction, scaffolding, rural housing, water pipes, buckets, boat masts, matting, woven wares, and paper production. The thick-walled culms are particularly well suited to making bamboo boards for room decoration and interior applications such as walls, ceilings, floors, doors, shelves, and similar fittings. The plant can also be used to protect soil against erosion.

Production

Young shoots can grow at the rate of 30 cm a day.

Other Information

It is widely used for building, water pipes and other uses. The shoots are sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 29 Dendrocalamus species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ae hatee, Bambu ater, Bambu sembilang, Bhalu bans, Buloh semilang, Kyo-Chiku, Lao bu bie, Long zhu, Mai sang, Phai phama, Phai po, Phai pok, Phai yak, Rusey prey, Russei prei, Surung, Vai-mau, Wabo, Wabo-gyi, Wo pu, Worra

References (31)

• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 209
• Balkrishna, A., et al, 2022, Indigenous Uses of Plants among Forest-dependent Communities of Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh. International Journal of Economic Plants 2022, 9(1):064-080
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 334
• Borrell, O.W., 1989, An Annotated Checklist of the Flora of Kairiru Island, New Guinea. Marcellin College, Victoria Australia. p 23
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 354

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