27. Dendrocalamus sikkimensis Gamble ex Oliv

Local names

Garos - Wadah;
Lepcha - Pugriang;
Mizoram - Rawami,
Sangau;
Nepal - Bhalu-bans.

General description

It is an attractive bamboo due to its unusual rusty orange culms and large leaves. Culms large, 17-20 m high, bare at the base, 12-20 cm diameter, dark green; internodes up to 45 cm long, rough. Culm-sheaths 36 cm long and 30 cm broad, densely covered with golden-brown hairs. Inflorescence a large panicle with stiff nodose branches bearing large red-brown globose heads. Caryopsis obovate, depressed, apiculate, shining above with few hairs

Habit and Habitat

Found growing up to an altitude of 2100 m

Distribution

North-Eastern India, West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya

Uses

In Sikkim Himalaya, this is one of the largest bamboos preferred by Lepchas and Bhutias for making the ‘Chungas’ for carrying water and milk. In Sikkim, it is used for fencing, posts, huts, ropes, boxes, water pipes and as animal fodder. It also can be used for pulp and paper.

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