Dendrocalamus asper

Dendrocalamus asper also known as Rough Bamboo or Giant Bamboo is a giant tropical and subtropical dense clumping species native to Southeast Asia. This timber bamboo is used as a building material for heavy construction, and shoots are consumed as a vegetable.

Dendrocalamus asper

Dendrocalamus asper
Photo by: Stéphane Schröder © www.guaduabamboo.com

Plant Info
Scientific NameDendrocalamus asper
SynonymsBambusa aspera, Gigantochloa aspera
Common NamesRough Bamboo, Giant Bamboo
FamilyPoaceae
TribeBambuseae
GenusDendrocalamus
Height15 - 30 m
Diameter8 - 20 cm
Growth HabitDense Clumping
ClimateTropical - Subtropical
Hardiness-4°C
Edibility (4 of 5)
Flowering Cycle30-120 years
OriginBangladesh, China, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
UsesConstruction, Furniture, Water Containers, Cooking Pots, Laminated Boards, Handicrafts, Musical Instruments, Food

Culms

Dendrocalamus asper has large woody culms between 15-30 m tall and 8-20 cm in diameter, and has relatively thick walls (11-20 mm) which become thinner towards the top of the culm. The lower culms show aerial roots (rootlets) from the nodes. Culm internodes are 40-50 cm long, pale green and covered with short brown hairs.


Branches

Many clustered branches with 1 larger central dominant branch usually occur from ca. 9th node up.


Leaves

Leaf-blades are lance-shaped and between 15–30 cm long and 10–25 mm wide.


Seeds

Flowering cycle and seed-setting is reported to be about every 30-120 years. Dendrocalamus asper flowers gregariously although sporadic flowering has been reported.


Habitat

Planted or naturalized from low elevations up to 1,500 m. Dendrocalamus asper thrives best at 400-500 m altitude in areas with average annual rainfall of about 2,400 mm. They grow well on various soil types, even on sandy and rather acidic soils, but prefers well-drained heavy soils.


Uses

Dendrocalamus asper poles are used as a building material and structural timber for heavy construction such as houses and bridges. The culm internodes used as containers for water and other fluids, and as cooking pots. This bamboo is also used for making laminated boards, furniture, musical instruments, chopsticks, household utensils and handicrafts. Young shoots are sweet and considered a delicious vegetable.


Origin

Dendrocalamus asper distribution map | Source: Kew Science

Native to:

Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Borneo, China, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Introduced into:

Bismarck Archipelago, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka.

 

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Stéphane Schröder

Guadua Bamboo SAS

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