BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Thyrsostachys
SILVICULTURE AND MANAGEMENT
When seeds are sown soon after collection, hundred percent germination has been recorded (Rawat, 1987). Preliminary
investigations on rooting of 1-3 year old culm cuttings indicated the possibility of rooting (Dabral,1956). Recent
observations showed that 80 per cent rooting can be obtained in cuttings taken from basal one-third of the culms and
treated with a solution of NAA 250 ppm, by dip method (Seethalakshmi, 1995).
Work carried out on tissue culture showed the possibility of multiple shoot induction and rooting. Various explants
used were nodes, shoots and leaves (Zamora, 1994).
Growth data from bambusetum established in Bangladesh during 1986 have shown that the culm height varied from
1-7 m, average height being 4 m, girth varied from 2-7 cm, average being 4.5 cm and total number of culms per/clump
being 11. Observations on growth of clumps from 1983-1986 from a plantation established in 1963 have shown that the
removal of older culms enhances new culm production (Chaturvedi, 1986).
PESTS AND DISEASES
Culm rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum, culm necrosis caused by Curvularia lunata sp., leaf rust caused by Puccinia
and Helminthosporium sps., rhizome and root rot caused by Merulius eurocephalus have been reported.
PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Strength properties of this bamboo showed moisture content of 53 per cent in green and 7.8 per cent in air-dry.
Similarly, specefic gravity in green is 0.733 and in air-dry 0.758. Fibre stress at elastic limit is 33.3 in green and
50.6 N/mm 2 in air-dry condition. Modulus of rupture is 61.9 in green and 90.0 N/mm 2 in air-dry. Modulus of elasticity
is 9.7 and 12.2 kN/mm 2 in green and air-dry respectively. Compression strength parallel to grain is 46.9 N/mm 2 in green
and 58.0 N/mm 2 in air-dry.
USES
Culms are in great demand for construction purposes in Myanmar; reinforcement for concrete slabs, poles, basketing
and handicrafts (Ramyarangsi, 1990). Young shoot is commonly used in Thailand for edible purposes. This species is
used for canning in Thailand for the production of steamed bamboo shoots for export (Thammincha, 1990).
Thyrsostachys regia
Thyrsostachys regia (Munro) Bennet, Indian For. 114: 711. 1988; Bennet and Gaur, Thirty Seven Bamboos Growing
in India 85. 1990; Tewari, Monogr. Bamboo 155.1992. (Fig. 113).
Bambusa regia Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 85: 116. 1868, non B. regia Thomson nom. invalid; Thyrsostachys
siamensis Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. Calcutta 7: 59. 1896 and in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 7: 397. 1897; Camus, Les
Bambusees 137. 1913; Varmah and Bahadur, Indian For. Rec. (n.s.) Bot. 6(1): 4. 1980.
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