32. Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble) R.B.Majumdar

Local names

Assam – Dullooa
Meghalaya – Wadroo

General description

Schizostachyum dulloa is an evergreen, perennial, clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes. The culms, which can be erect, leaning, or scandent, are 6 - 9 metres long; 25 - 75mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 40 - 75cm long. This species can be recognised by its thin walls, silvery pubescence on the culm and subulate blade, concavely depressed sheath apex. Culm-sheaths variable, 12-30 cm long and 10-25 cm broad, with white appressed hairs, rounded at the tip; imperfect blade narrow. Leaves variable, oblong. Inflorescence a panicle of spiciform branches with verticils of few spikelets. Spikelets usually in pairs, slender, bracteate at the base, flowering glume oblong-lanceolate, mucronate. Stamens 6, monadelphous; anthers 9 mm long, obtuse at the apex, exserted. Ovary elongate, glabrous; stigmas 3, short, red. Sporadic flowering has been reported from Cachar in 1961 and gregarious flowering in 1971.

Habit and Habitat

Tree form. Grows in the lower elevations up to an altitude of 1200 m.

Distribution

North Bengal, Sikkim, Khasi and Jaintia Hills

Uses

Used for making baskets, mats and small boxes. It is used by the people of Garo Hills for carrying water and for making umbrellas.

‹ ›