BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Thyrsostachys
FLOWERING
Flowering has been reported from Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta in 1892; from FRI, Dehra Dun in 1941 and 1989
(Naithani, 1990). At Penang, it flowered in 1948 and in Singapore in 1949 (Holttum, 1958). In its native country,
Thailand. this species is reported to flower every year (Anantachote, 1987). In India, it flowers only at intervals of more
than 40 years.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY
This species is mainly distributed in Thailand and Myanmar. Cultivated in Malaysia, India and China. It was introduced
in Indian Botanic Gardens, Calcutta before 1892 and FRI, Dehra Dun before 1941. Mostly occurs in dry and poor soil.
Chaomao (1987) mentions it as an intolerant bamboo and grows on south ridge of mountains in Thailand and Myanmar.
CHEMISTRY
The chemical composition of culms is approximately holocellulose 68 per cent, lignin 24 per cent, pentosans 17 per cent,
ash 2 per cent, solibility in hot water 5.7 per cent and in alcohol-benzene 6.1 per cent.
SILVICULTURE AND MANAGEMENT
Weight of seeds collected from different provenances of Thailand showed a variation of 14.5 to 82 g per 40 seeds. The
germination percentage varied from 1 to 86 per cent (Anantachote, 1987). Seed viability can be extended by proper
storage with control of moisture content and temperature (Ramyarangsi, 1990). In vitro callus induction has also been
observed.
PESTS AND DISEASES
The seed-borne fungi recorded from Thailand include Alternaria tenuis, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitectum and
Myrothecium sp. (Anantachote, 1987).
USES
In Thailand, tender shoots are considered as delicacies, consumed fresh or made into pickles. It is used as vegetables
and in dried forms. T. regia is grown as ornamental in China and Malaysia.
REFERENCES
Anantachote, A. 1987. Flowering and seed characteristics of bamboos in Thailand. In A. N. Rao, G. Dhanarajan and
C. B. Sastry (Eds.). Recent Research on Bamboos. Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Hanzhou,
October 6-14, 1985. Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing and International Development Research Centre, Canada:
136-145.
Chaomao, H. 1987. A preliminary study on the natural bamboo forest in Xishuangbanna. Journal of Bamboo Research,
6: 16-23.
Chaturvedi, A. N. 1986. Bamboo for farming. U. P. Forest Bulletin, 52: 36 p.
Dabral, S. N. 1956. A Preliminary note on propagation of bamboos from culm segments. Indian Forester, 76: 313-314.
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