13. Thyrsostachys oliveri Gamble

General description

A large tufted elegant bamboo. Evergreen, perennial, clumping bamboo with short rhizomes. The erect culms can be 15 - 25 metres long; 50 - 70mm in diameter; with internodes 40 - 60cm long. Culm-sheaths persistent, fibrous, green when young, turning orange and finally brown. Leaves 15-20 cm long and 1.2-1.5 cm broad, light green, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, base rounded into a short petiole, both surfaces rough, hairy beneath, scabrous on the margins. Flowers are protrandrous, three florets are hermaphrodite, only the uppermost floret produces a seed. Flowering cycle is reported to be 48-50 years. Inflorescence a large compound curved,thyrsoid panicle. Stamens long exserted, drooping; filaments purple; anthers yellow, the connective protruded into a blunt point. Ovary yellow, depressed-turbinate, stalked, surmounted by a long style, bearing three broad feathery stigmas. Caryopsis about 1 cm long, glabrous, cylindrical,broader top, spongy below; pericarp crustaceous, shining above.

Habit and Habitat

Tree form. Forests on low hills, open areas at elevations of 500 - 700 metres in southern China, Moist hill forest; mixed or teak forest.

Distribution

Myanmar, Southern China, Thailand.

Uses

Used for construction, poles, basketing and handicrafts. Young shoot is commonly used in Thailand for edible purposes. In Thailand, this species isused for canning for the production of steamed bamboo shoots for export and young shoot is commonly used for edible purposes.

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