Bengal bamboo
Bambusa polymorpha
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A densely tufted bamboo. The culms or stems are erect but can curve outwards at the top. They are 15-25 m tall. They are 7.5-15 cm across. They are greyish green when mature. The internodes are 60-100 cm long. The nodes are thickened. There are branches from the nodes in the upper half of the stem. The culm sheath is 15-17.5 cm long by 30-35 cm wide. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 7.5-20 cm long by 8-20 mm wide. It is slightly rough with small lumps. The life cycle is probably 60 years. Plants die after flowering.
It is used for construction in Burma. There are about 120 Bambusa species. They are tropical and subtropical in Asia.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in humid mixed deciduous forests in Burma. It grows on lower slopes and in well drained valleys. It does best on deep fertile loams. Cairns Botanical Garden. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Central America, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar (country/location of origin), Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, West Indies
How it is used for food
The shoots are eaten but are bitter.
Edible parts
Shoots
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed but also from cuttings of the rhizome, branches or culms. Germination from seed is about 40%. Seedlings are planted in a nursery and transplanted when 30-50 cm tall. Rhizome cuttings should be taken from 2 year old clumps. Cuttings of culms should be from 2 year old stems.
A 1000 seeds weigh 38 g.
Its other names
Local names
Bambu benggali, Bar, Bari, Bethua-bah, Betua, Betwa, Burmese bamboo, Jaibaroowa, Jama betua, Kyathaungwa, Narangi bas, Phai-hom