Tama Bamboo. Tufted bamboo
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 15 m (49ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
Mixed forests.
E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Young shoots are widely consumed as a vegetable. A sour pickle, known as 'hiyup', is made from the shoots in India.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
Agroforestry Uses: Grown as a windbreak in tea plantations. Other Uses: The culms are used for temporary constructions (houses, bridges) and various household utensils such as water containers. The culms are widely utilized for pulp to make paper. Split culms are used for making baskets and mats. Harvesting may start 3 - 4 years after a clump has begun to produce culms of maximum size. Only culms older than 3 years are harvestable and harvesting should never be done during the growing season. It is recommended to cut the culms lower than 30cm above the ground level, but not below the 2nd node. Debris and cut branches should always be removed completely. The skin of the culms can be used for binding and caning of chairs.
Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.
Biomass: Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.
Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
Shelterbelt: Wind resistant plants than can be grown to provide shelter in the garden etc.
String: Plants that can be used for string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre. Plants for ropes may be included.
Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.
Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
Management: Managed Multistem: Regularly removing some multiple stems. A non-A non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
Other Systems: Multistrata: Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
Other Systems: Strip intercrop: Tree crops grown in rows with alternating annual crops.
Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
Management: Managed Multistem: Regularly removing some multiple stems. A non-A non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
Other Systems: Multistrata: Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
Other Systems: Strip intercrop: Tree crops grown in rows with alternating annual crops.
Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 29?c, but can tolerate 15 - 34?c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 3,600mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,500mm. Succeeds in full sun and in light shade. Prefers a medium to heavy soil of at least moderate fertility. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5. Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world. Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying. The flowering cycle for this species is said to be 30 - 40 years.
Propagating it: Seed - many, if not all, members of this genus have a short viability and should be sown within 2 - 3 months of harvest. Sow in containers in a lightly shaded position and only just cover. Germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in their low-growing juvenile state for several years - cutting the culms to the ground level can stimulate taller adult growth. Rhizome, culm and branch cuttings. The propagules are raised in the nursery and after they have produced roots they are planted out in the field before or during the first half of the rainy season.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Bamboo
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Banh, Choya bans, Ea, Hamilton dendrocalamus, Kaghsi bans, Kokua, Kokwa, Maiwan, Pao, Pashing, Pecha, Phai hok, Phai nuan yai, Phai phiao, Phul-rua, Rhino bamboo, Seij-lai, Tama seto, Tama, Tamabans, Tamo, Wabo-myetsangye, Wah, Yaqiu
Synonyms
Bambusa monogynia Griff. Dendrocalamus edulis Munro Dendrocalamus maximus Kuntze Sinocalamus hamiltonii (Nees & Arn. ex Munro) T.Q.Nguyen.