BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Bamboos of India
➤D. giganteus - Basal part of clump
➤
D. giganteus - A clump
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47b
FLOWERING
Flowering has been reported from Kurseong Division of West Bengal during 1880-88. Flowering cycle is reported to be
about 40 years. From North-Eastern India flowering was reported during 1974 and 1981-82.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY
Distributed in India and Indonesia. It is a native of Myanmar and cultivated in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Nagaland and West Bengal; occasionally in other parts of the country. Plantations were raised in Kurseong Division in
1880-1888; introduced to Coorg between 1913-1924. D. giganteus is found associated with teak (Tectona grandis).
Moist hill slopes and flat lands with rich loam soil are suitable for the growth of this species and it is found growing up
to an altitude of 1200 m.
ANATOMY AND FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS
In the culm internode, epidermis is single-layered with thick-walled cells followed by a single layer of sclerenchymatous
hypodermis. Cortex 6-8 layered parenchyma cells. Fibre strands absent. Vascular bundles of type IV. Protoxylem cap
present at the inner region. Isolated fibre strands absent in the inner region. Inner lining of the cavity of 6-8 layered
thick-walled parenchyma, 5-6 layers of sclereids and one layer of thin walled parenchyma cells. Three types of fibres,
very thick, thick and thin-walled present. Septate fibres absent. Fibre tips pointed, blunt or forked and wall lamellation
4-7 layered (Sekar and Balasubramanian - personal communication). Stomata common in leaf epidermis, arranged in
two bands, in 1-5 alternate rows, subsidiary cells high-domed to triangular, surrounded by globose to elliptical papillae.
Long cell medium and broad, walls sinuous, width uniform, ends straight. Papillae scattered and globose. Interstomatal
cells short and broad, walls sinuous, ends concave. Papillae scattered. Short cell solitary and paired, costal and intercostal.
Cork cells costal not distinct, intercostal distinct; silica cells costal common, intercostal infrequent. Silica bodies costal,
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