09. Gigantochloa nigrociliata (Buse) Kurz

General description

Gigantochloa nigrociliata is a perennial, evergreen, loosely clump-forming bamboo that can grow 15 - 20 metres tall. The erect, thin-walled, woody culms are 30 - 60mm in diameter with internodes 20 - 35cm long. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 15-20 m long; 3-6 cm diameter; woody. Culm-internodes; thin-walled; 20-35 cm long; light green; Culm-sheath ligule 2-3 mm high; dentate. Culm-sheath blade triangular; erect, or spreading; 6-10 cm long; 20-35 mm wide; acute. Inflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes. Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 4-6 mm long; red; anther tip with extended connective and pubescent. Filaments united in a tube. Stigmas 1-2. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; 15 mm long; hairy at apex.

Habit and Habitat

Tree form. Usually found along streams and on lower slopes; at elevations up to 600 metres, occasionally to 1,400 metres.

Distribution

Southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, India.

Uses

Young shoots are edible. Somewhat bitter, they are usually eaten after being fermented in running water or river mud. The culms are used in the construction of rafters, fences and watch houses. The culms are split and used to make household utensils and basketry.

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