BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Dendrocalamus
compressed, with 4 to 6 fertile flowers; empty glumes 2 to 3, broadly ovate, acute, many-nerved, with conspicuous
transverse veinlets, ciliate on the edges; flowering glumes similar but rather longer; palea of lower flowers keeled, acute,
5-nerved between the keels and transversely veined, 1-nerved on either side of keel, ciliate on the keels, that of uppermost
flower ciliate on the edges, but not on the keels. Stamens exserted; anthers yellow, mucronate. Ovary ovate, rounded,
sub-hemispheric, hairy, ending in a long hairy style with a simple fringed purple stigma.
FLOWERING AND FRUITING
It was first collected in flowering from Myanmar in 1868. At FRI, Dehra Dun, flowering was observed in 1973. Seeds
collected from FRI, Dehra Dun weighed 200 seeds/g. More than 30 per cent germination was reported under nursery
trial.
DISTRIBUTION
This species is a native of Myanmar; occurs up to 1000 m elevation. Naithani (1985) reported its occurrence in wild
from Meghalaya and Nagaland. It is grown in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta and Forest Research Institute, Dehra
Dun.
ANATOMY AND FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS
In the culm internode, epidermis consists of a single layer of thick-walled cells followed by 1-3 layered sclerenchymatous
hypodermis. Cortex 2-3 layered, thick walled parenchymatous cells. Fibre strands absent in the outer region. Vascular
bundles of type IV. Protoxylem cap persistent at the inner region. Isolated fibre strands absent. Inner lining of the cavity
with 5-6 layers of irregularly shaped sclereids. Culm contains four types of fibres thick, very thick, thin and very thin
walled. Septate fibres present. Fibre tips pointed or blunt and wall lamellation 4-8 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian
- personal communication). Leaf epidermal stomata arranged in two bands in 1-2 alternate rows, subsidiary cells triangular
surrounded by small inconspicuous papillae. Interstomatal cell short and broad with concave ends; papillae scattered,
conspicuous. Long cells long and narrow with uniform width, walls markedly sinuous, ends straight, papillae conspicuous
in a row in the middle. Short cell costal and intercostal, solitary and paired. Cork cells costal, not distinct, intercostal
conspicuous; silica cells costal, very common, intercostal frequent, obscured by prickles. Silica bodies costal, saddleshaped,
intercostal dumbbell-shaped. Prickles very common, costal infrequent having long pointed apex, intercostal
frequent with round base and short pointed apex surrounded by a ring of papillae. Microhairs frequent, bicelled, basal
cell slightly longer than apical cell, apex tapering. Macrohairs infrequent, costal and intercostal, medium, base raised
(Luxmi Chauhan et al., 1988). Maceration studies showed a fibre length of 1.87 mm, diameter 7.2 µm, lumen width 4.6
µm, wall thickness 5.4 µm. Fibres have slenderness ratio of 259.7, flexible ratio 63.8, Runkel ratio 2.3 (Sekar and
Balasubramanian - personal communication).
CHEMISTRY
Spectral absorbance values (FTIR) recorded for cellulose and lignin are 0.326 and 0.315 respectively.
USES
In Myanmar, it is used for the construction of small buildings and domestic purposes. Nagas use it for water chungas
(vessels).
104