Black fringed giant grass
Gigantochloa nigrociliata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A bamboo. It forms many tillers. It grows 3-12 m tall. The stems are green and can have white stripes. The joints are 25-50 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. The leaves have short distinct stalks. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped. The base is wedge shaped. The flowering shoot is large and without leaves. The flowers are in groups 2-7 cm apart.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and up to 600 m above sea level in Java. In southern China it grows in tropical rain forests between 500-800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked and eaten. They are also pickled.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Nat-wa, Wa-ba, Wa-thaik, Wa-ya

Synonyms

Bambusa nigrociliata Buse; Oxytenantherea nigrociliata (Buse) Kurz;