19. Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro, Trans, Linn

Local names

English- Giant Bamboo, Dragon Bamboo
Assam –Worra
Manipuri –Maroobob
Sikkim - Bhaloo bans.

General description

It is also known as King of Bamboo. A very tall, large-culmed, grayish-green bamboo, it grows in clumps consisting of a large number of closely growing culms, and typically reaches a height of 30 meters. Under favorable conditions, it can grow up to 40 cm per day.Culms are straight and grayish green with a powdery appearance. Young shoots are blackish purple. Internode length is 25–40 cm, and diameter is 10–35 cm. Culm walls are thin, branching only at the top.The culm sheath is greenish when young, becoming dark brown when mature. Sheaths are large and broad, length of sheath proper 24–30 cm, and width is 40–60 cm. Caryopsis oblong, about 7-8 mm long, obtuse, hairyabove. The distinguishing featuresare large diameter of the culms andbroad culm sheath.

Habit and Habitat

Tree form. Forests and on river banks, from sea level to 2,000 metres altitude.

Distribution

Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, China, India- Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland.

Uses

The culm is used for building purposes, boat masts, vases, buckets, and various other decorative purposes. Young shoots of this species are used for the preparation of many delicacies in Manipur.

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