25. Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro, Trans.

Local names

Madhya Pradesh - Bhalan bans; Assam - Madang;
Manipur - Wootang; Nagaland - Latang; Orissa –Dangi

General description

Cephalostachyumpergracileis a clump-forming, evergreen bamboo with short rhizomes. The erect, thin-walled culms can be 10 - 30 metres tall and 50 - 75mm in diameter with internodes 30 - 45cm long and 5-7.5 cm broad. Culmsheathschestnut brown, broader than long, 10-15 cm long and 15-20 cm broad, covered with black, stiff deciduoushairs. Inflorescence a large panicle with verticils of long, drooping, filiform spikesbearing distant broad heads of spikelets. Caryopsis 1.25 cm long.

Habit and Habitat

Tree form. Mixed deciduous forests, often growing with teak.It prefersmoderately moist soil and profuse watering in summer and responds readily to fertilizers.

Distribution

Southern China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, India- Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Uses

Culms are largely used for building, mat and basket making. In Myanmar culm witha node is used as a container for making rice mould. It is good forpaper pulp; split culms are used as fishing rods.

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