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
Photo by: Stéphane Schröder © www.guaduabamboo.com
| Plant Info | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocalamus asper |
| Synonyms | Bambusa aspera, Gigantochloa aspera |
| Common Names | Rough Bamboo, Giant Bamboo |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Tribe | Bambuseae |
| Genus | Dendrocalamus |
| Height | 15 - 30 m |
| Diameter | 8 - 20 cm |
| Growth Habit | Dense Clumping |
| Climate | Tropical - Subtropical |
| Hardiness | -4°C |
| Edibility | (4 of 5) |
| Flowering Cycle | 30-120 years |
| Origin | Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Uses | Construction, 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
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.
Support our Bamboo Reforestation Project in Colombia!
Date planted: 26 October 2021
Growth update: 1 September 2023
Adopted by: The Natural Movement (The Netherlands)