Priority species of bamboo and rattan - Bioversity International

DISTRIBUTION: Native of Southern Myanmar and N W Thailand, introduced and
cultivated in various countries including: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand,
Vietnam, South China, Indonesia, Malay Peninsula and the Philippines (Fig. 11).
CLIMATE AND SOILS: D. giganteus grows in humid tropical to subtropical regions,
usually on richer soils, up to 1200 m, tolerates –2°C.
CURRENT RESEARCH: A range of basic information including physico-chemical and
mechanical properties available; tissue culture work done, germplasm collection in
India and Bangladesh, superior plants identified. Cytology 2n=72, Hexaploid.
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL: Shoot production could be enhanced and use in the bamboo
board industry can be expanded.
CONSERVATION NEEDS: Need to be investigated in different countries, especially in
Myanmar and North West Thailand.
USES: Structural timber, strong superior quality, mostly used for building and for
making bamboo board. It is also useful for making pulp and household implements,
furniture very good quality, shoots can be eaten, canned, very good quality.
RESEARCH NEEDS:
1. Clonal selection and improvement
2. Population diversity survey
3. Cultivation methods
PART I 31
Dendrocalamus latiflorus – (= Bambusa latiflora, Sinocalamus latiflorus)
Common name: Taiwan giant bamboo, Mabamboo
This is a medium-sized bamboo; 14–25 m tall, internodes 20–70 cm, 8–20 cm diameter.
thick walls, leaf 15–40 x 2.5–7.5 cm, Internodes 20–70 cm long, wall thickness 0.5–3.0
cm, inflorescence 80 cm long with many spikelets, caryopsis 0.6 – 1.2 cm cylindrical
to avoid. Vegetative propagation – culm cutting, layering, marcotting.
DISTRIBUTION: Distributed wild in Myanmar and parts of neighbouring countries,
Cultivated in South and South West China, Taiwan; it has been introduced to the
Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Vietnam and Japan (Fig. 12) one cultivar
Meimung in China.
CLIMATE AND SOILS: Mostly subtropical, up to 1000 m, frost resistant, tolerates –
4°C. It grows on rich soils in the humid tropics, with high rain fall.
CURRENT RESEARCH: Work is underway on improvement for shoot production,
germplasm collections in Yunnan, China, including Taiwan. Cyctology 2n=72.
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL: It can be more widely cultivated on sandy loam soils.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Limited work done, good collection in Xishuangbanna area
both wild and cultivated, two cultivars recognised.
USES: Structural timber, medium quality, commercially valuable species, shoots are
sweet, edible, very good quality. Other uses include production of quality furniture,