36. Ochlandra travancorica (Bedd.) Gamble
Local names
Kerala - Etta, Kar-eetta, Vei
Tamilnadu - Eeral, Eerakalli, Iral, Irul, Ita-kalli, Nanal, Odai
General description
Ochlandra travancorica is a clump-forming, perennial bamboo with short rhizomes, producing erect culms 2 - 6 metres long. The woody culms are 25 - 50mm in diameter, the internodes terete, thin-walled, 45 - 60cm long, the culm-nodes swollen. Culm sheaths 15-20 cm long, thin, longitudinally wrinkled, covered densely with appressed golden or black bulbous-based hairs when young, glabrous afterwards. Leaves broadly oblong, 9-30 cm long and 5-12 cm broad. Spikelets ovate or oblong-ovate, 3-4 x 0.8-1 cm, glabrous, striate, supported by 2-4 small sheathing bracts. Caryopsis very large, 7.5 x 2.4 cm, brown, wrinkled, pericarp fleshy. Recently, this species was collected in flower during 1988, 1992 and 1993 from Southern parts of Western Ghats.
Habit and Habitat
Reed form. It occurs widely as an undergrowth in the low-level evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Pure patches which grow as impenetrable thickets are also found along the sides of rivers and streams where other tree species are not allowed to come up. This species prefers diffused light, requires a rainfall of more than 1500 mm, and requires good drainage for proper growth.
Distribution
Distributed throughout the Western Ghats and more abundant in South Kerala.
Uses
An ideal raw material for paper manufacture. Culms are used for mat and basket making, umbrella handles, fishing rods, handicraft, and for making walls of huts. Leaves are used for thatching. The mats made from reeds are used for making ‘Bamboo ply’.