Dendrocalamus hamiltonii

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, or Hamilton's bamboo, is a species of bamboo, 12–15 cm in diameter and growing up to 15–18 m in height, found in South Asian countries such as, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and far eastern China.

Description

A bamboo. It grows to 25 m tall. It forms dense thickets. The stems are 7-12 cm across. The stems are curved downwards and the nodes are marked with root scars. The internodes are 20-40 cm long. The stem sheath is triangular. The leaves are narrow and sword shaped. They have small teeth along the edge. The leaves are rough underneath. The leaf sheaths have stiff hairs. The flower is reddish brown. The fruit is a grain which is oval and beaked. It flowers both annually and gregariously after 30 years.

Edible Uses

Young shoots are widely consumed as a vegetable. In India the shoots are made into a sour pickle known as 'hiyup'.

Traditional Uses

Young shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in curry and pickles. The parts near the base are washed, boiled and cooked as a vegetable. The shoots are fermented and used to flavour meat.

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses are known for this plant.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal between 500-2000 m altitude. It grows up to 900 m altitude in Uttar Pradesh in India. In Sikkim it grows between 700-4,000 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 29?c, but can tolerate 15 - 34?c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 3,600mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,500mm. Succeeds in full sun and in light shade. Prefers a medium to heavy soil of at least moderate fertility. 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. 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 flowering cycle for this species is said to be 30 - 40 years.

Propagation

Seed in this genus tends to have short viability and should be sown within 2–3 months of harvest. Sow in containers in a lightly shaded position, barely covering the seed; 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. Can also be propagated by rhizome, culm, and branch cuttings; propagules are raised in the nursery until rooted, then planted out before or during the first half of the rainy season.

Other Uses

The culms are used for temporary constructions such as houses and bridges, and for household utensils including water containers. They are widely used for pulp in paper production. Split culms are made into baskets and mats. The skin of the culms can be used for binding and for caning chairs. Harvesting may begin 3–4 years after a clump has started producing full-sized culms; only culms older than 3 years are harvestable, and harvesting should not be done during the growing season. Culms should be cut lower than 30cm above ground level but not below the 2nd node, and all debris and cut branches should be removed completely. The plant is also grown as a windbreak in tea plantations.

Other Information

The shoots are sold in markets. It is a popular bamboo shoot. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 29 Dendrocalamus species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ae, Banh, Bans, Choya bans, Ea, Eppo, Gonam, Gova, Hamilton dendrocalamus, Kaghsi bans, Kaipho, Kokua, Kokwa, Kongha, Lao gang, Mai bo, Maiwan, Pa, Pao, Pashing, Pecha, Peidiau, Petcha, Phai hok, Phai nuan yai, Phai phiao, Phul-rua, Ramkaha, Rhino bamboo, Ri dhu, Schee, Seij-lai, Tama seto, Tama, Tama bans, Tamo, Unap, Wabo-myetsangye, Wah, Wah mi, Wanap, Wa'nok, Wo chi, Yaqiu

References (61)

• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 166
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 209
• 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
• Aryal, K. P., et al, 2018, Diversity and use of wild and non-cultivated edible plants in the Western Himalaya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:10

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