BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Bamboos of India
ANATOMY
In the leaf epidermis macrohairs present on the abaxial side on the costal zone, 182-360 µm long; microhairs distal, 36-
46 µm long, basal cell 33-36 µm long; prickles few, 23-39 µm long; papillae overarching each stoma; stomata 3-4 files;
long cells in 6-7 files on intercostal zones with sinuous walls. A cross section of lamina shows two smaller vascular
bundles on the adaxial side and 6 on the abaxial side with large vascular bundle in the middle of the midrib, seven small
vascular bundles between successive large ones. Epidermal cells of the culm are short, trapezoid and some rectangular.
Stomata 40 µm long and 30 µm wide; long cells short 40-70 µm, sinuous, thick, rhomboid, broadest in the middle and
slightly tapering at the ends (Widjaja, 1987).
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
The strength properties of the species were tested in green (Moisture content 72.3%) and in air dry (M.C 14.4%)
condition. Average MOR varied from 87.9 to 108.1 N/mm 2 from base to top in green and 117.7 to 127.7 N/mm 2 in air
dry. Compression strength parellel to grain 24.77 to 27.97 N/mm 2 in green, 32.87 to 30.98 N/mm 2 in air dry. Average
tensile strength was 299.8 to 273.0 N/mm 2 from base to top in green and 33.15 to 24.70 N/mm 2 in air dry. Average
shear strength was 5.8 to 10.8 N/mm 2 in green and 9.5 to 10.8 N/mm 2 in air dry (Prawirohatmodjo, 1990).
USES
In Central Java, people call this species bambu legi which means sweet bambu. Young shoots of this bamboo are as
delicious as those of Dendrocalamus asper. The culm of this species is very useful for building material. It is also used for
making musical instruments and other handicrafts.
(Prawirohatmodjo, 1990).
Gigantochloa macrostachya
line 50
Gigantochloa macrostachya Kurz, For. Fl. Burma
2: 557. 1877; Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta
7: 63 t. 54. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 399.
1896; Camus, Les Bambusees 140. 1913; Bor in Kanjilal,
Fl. Assam 5: 36. 1940; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian
For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 3. 1980; Tewari, Monogr.
Bamboo 94. 1992. (Fig. 50).
Oxytenanthera macrostachya (Kurz) Brandis, Indian
Trees 719. 1906.
➤
Fig. 50. G. macrostachya A - leafy branch;
B - flowering branch; C - culm-sheath; D - spikelet;
E & F - empty glumes; G - flowering glume; H - palea
with imperfect terminal flower; I - palea; J - stamen;
K - staminal tube and stamens around pistil;
L - a portion of the flowering branch enlarged.
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