Bamboo Species of Argentina

5 genera, 13 species

In Argentina, bamboo does not play a dominant role in forestry. As in the majority of South American countries, bamboo exploitation is generally confined to the local use of native species in areas close to the source of supply.

Because there is no control over the removal of native bamboos from riverbanks by people, it has created a shortage of bamboo resources over many years.

Guadua is concentrated in the provinces of Corrientes, El Chaco, Misiones and the edge of the Parana River in the province of Santa Fe. In Argentina, the Guadua genus includes 3 species: Guadua chacoensis, Guadua paraguayana and Guadua trinii.

Several Asiatic bamboos were introduced into the country approximately a hundred years ago and became widespread, especially in the north-western part of the country. The most widespread and cultivated ones are: Bambusa tuldoides (tacuara), Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' (yellow bamboo), Bambusa arundinacea (spiny bamboo), Dendrocalamus asper (tacuara gigante), Phyllostachys aurea and Phyllostachys bambusoides (cana de indias).

Native Bamboo Species of Argentina

Species	Diameter	Height
Chusquea andina		⇑ 1 m
Chusquea culeou	∅ 30 mm	⇑ 8 m
Chusquea deficiens	∅ 8 mm	⇑ 4 m
Chusquea lorentziana	∅ 15 mm	⇑ 6 m
Chusquea ramosissima	∅ 15 mm	⇑ 10 m
Chusquea tenella	∅ 4 mm
Chusquea valdiviensis		⇑ 10 m
Colanthelia rhizantha	∅ 2 mm	⇑ 3 m
Guadua chacoensis	∅ 150 mm	⇑ 20 m
Guadua paraguayana	∅ 40 mm	⇑ 10 m
Guadua trinii	∅ 50 mm	⇑ 10 m
Merostachys claussenii	∅ 4 mm	⇑ 7 m
Rhipidocladum racemiflorum	∅ 10 mm	⇑ 15 m

Source: INBAR

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