Bengal bamboo, Spineless Indian bamboo
Bambusa tulda

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A thick walled tufted bamboo. It grows to about 20 m tall. It is almost un-branched near the base but branches higher up. The nodes are slightly thickened. The internodes are 40-65 cm long and 5-10 cm wide. They have a white ring around the node. They are grey-green at maturity. The culm sheath is 10-25 cm long and 15-25 cm wide. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are 15-25 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. They are narrow and sword shaped. They are hairy underneath. Young shoots are green with yellow stripes. Plants may take 25-40 years to flower.

There are about 120 Bambusa species. They are tropical and subtropical in Asia.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Nepal at 200-1200 m altitude. It grows in moist soils near rivers. It grows up to 1500 m altitude in Bangladesh. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Himalayas, India - Assam, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Tahiti, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are boiled and eaten. The water is changed. They are also used in soup. They are also pickled. The harvested young shoots can be stored for 8-10 days. They are also dried for future use.

It is important in northern Thailand for edible shoots. It is common in Bangladesh. It is in high demand as bamboo shoots. It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Shoots, rhizomes, root, seeds

How it is grown

They can be grown from branch or culm cuttings. They can also be grown from seed. Seeds only remain viable for about one month unless dried. Seeds germinate in about 8 weeks. Seeds after germination produce a stem in about one month. Seedlings can be ready to plant out in 18-20 weeks.

A 1000 seeds weigh 70 g. Young shoots to be used as a vegetable should preferably be harvested while still underground.

Its other names

Local names

Auwa gubwi, Ba, Bakal, Bambu india, Banse, Bas, Bijuli, Bong, Calcutta cane, Chat-wa, Chekeme, Deo-bans, Deobans, Dibang, Ghora, Govatuai, Govatuoi, Jati bah, Jao, Jowa, Karil, Kharra, Kiranti, Liangpai, Mai bong, Mak, Matela, Mirtinga, Nal-bans, Peka, Phai hangchang, Phai-bongdam, Rawthing, Utang, Talagu-wa, Taru bans, Thaik-wa, Tre xim, Tulda, Tusa, Utang, Wagi, Wamuna, Wandal, Wati

Synonyms

Dendrocalamus tulda (Roxb.) Voigt.; Bambusa longispiculata Gamble ex Brandis; and others