Priority species of bamboo and rattan - Bioversity International

DISTRIBUTION: Exact origin of this species is unknown, but said to be native of
Indonesian islands, cultivated in PNG, Northern part of Peninsula Malaysia, Thailand
and the Philippines (Fig. 4).
CLIMATE AND SOILS: Bambusa blumeana grows in humid tropical or dry tropical areas
and on rich to poor soils, heavy saline soils not suitable, tolerates –7°C.
CURRENT RESEARCH: Studies on physical and mechanical properties, have only used
materials from limited areas. Some research on vegetative and tissue culture propagation
has been carried out. Some work on its use in rehabilitation of denuded forest lands has
been carried out. Harvesting techniques have been worked out. Cytology 2n=78
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL: This species has great potential for rehabilitation of marginal
lands and can be used as borders to agricultural areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS: No work has been done, one variety luzonensis has been
found in the Philippines.
USES: General purpose, in furniture industries medium to poor quality, chopsticks
industries, local handicrafts, baskets and occasionally as a vegetable after processing
of edible shoots, good quality, planted as windbreaker.
RESEARCH NEEDS:
1. Exploration for primitive and superior cultivars.
2. Selection for quality improvement
3. Propagation management, tissue culture work needed.
4. Sustainable management of natural stands, tissue culture for propagation.
5. Rarely flowers, seed production, seed storage studies.
6. Limited germplasm collection in Sumatra, need to be improved.
7. Testing for degraded areas.
8. Study on genetic diversity of the species.
Bambusa polymorpha
PART I 19
This is a medium to large size bamboo with culms up to 25 m tall, diameter of culms
up to 15 cm, wall thickness 1–2 cm, relatively thick walls, occasionally solid, leaf 10–
20 x 8–2 cm, inflorencence long with pseudospikelets arranged in bunches, flowering
cycle 50–60 years, flowering gregarious and sporadic, ovary obovate, fruit ovoid, 5 mm
long. Vegetative propagation methods: Culm cuttings, rhizome planting, branch cutting,
layering and marcotting.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Thailand, cultivated
elsewhere (Fig. 5), grows along with Teak in Myanmar
CLIMATE AND SOILS: Bambusa polymorpha grows naturally in semi-humid areas on
medium to rich soils, well-developed soils.
CURRENT RESEARCH: Very little, tissue culture work done. Cytology 2n=64, 72
anueploid.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Needs investigation, germplasm collections in India and
Myanmar.