Common bamboo
Bambusa vulgaris

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An erect clump forming spineless bamboo. It is a large bamboo with strong stalks used for buildings. The stalks can be 20 m tall and 5-10 cm across at the base. They are often not straight. The stalks can be green and glossy or yellow or yellow with green stripes. It very rarely flowers. The distinctive culm sheath (top of the leaf that is wrapped around the stalk) helps identify the plant. The culm sheath is triangular and 15-45 cm long by 20 cm wide. The edges are hairy. The leaf blade is 6-30 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The stems are smooth and usually yellow green and smaller than Kauayan-tinik of the Philippines and with a thinner wall.

There are about 120 Bambusa species. They are tropical and subtropical in Asia. Chemical composition of young shoots per 100 g edible portion: Water 88-90 g, Protein 1.8-2.6 g, Fat 4.1-7.2 g, Carbohydrates 0-0.4 g, Fibre 1.1-1.2 g, Ash 0.8-0.9 g, Ca 22.8-28.6 mg, P 27.5-37 mg, Fe 1.1-1.4 mg, Vitamin C 0-3.1 mg

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics and subtropics. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude. It does best at low altitudes. It can stand frost down to -3°C. It has been introduced to Papua New Guinea and is common in the lowlands. (A different large bamboo is grown and eaten in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.) In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yap, Zambia

How it is used for food

The very young shoots are cooked and eaten. The shoots are bitter. They are cooked, or added to soups and made into pickles.

The plant is widespread in Papua New Guinea and is important for building. As a food plant it is only of minor importance. It is a cultivated plant. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

It is easily grown by planting cut portions of the green stalks. It can also be grown from shoots off the rhizome or underground stem and from branches.

Offsets can produce mature clumps in 7 years. They grow very quickly. Haulms can grow 4 m high in 2 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Aundmi, Awi ampel, Bachiabas, Bakal, Bamboo, Bambu kuning, Basini bans, Boh, Buera bueta, Buloh kuning, Buloh minyak, Daisan-chiku, Domar, Hatu mad, Ibia, Jaibaru wa, Jajang ampel, Jajang gading, Kabaloan, Kamaundmi, Kauayan-kiling, Murangi, Obros kunbuntol, Pai mai, Pau, Phai-bongkham, Phai-luang, Po-o, Pring ampel, Pring legi, Pring tutul, Rabuang, Ranai-shilot, Robung, Russei kaew, S'ang kh'am, Shwe-wa, Sunderkania bans, Tamelang, Tatem, Tumpuamng, Tutu, Uasur, Vadud, Vairua, Wanet

Synonyms

Bambusa thouarsii Kunth.; Bambusa surinamensis Ruprecht; Leleba vulgaris (Schrader ex Wendland) Nakai;