Himalayan blue bamboo
Himalayacalamus hookerianus

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A bamboo. It grows 6 m tall. It grows in clumps and keeps growing from year to year. The stems are 5-9 m long and 2-4 cm wide. The internodes are 15-20 cm long. The culm sheaths are 30-40 cm long. The leaf blades are narrowly sword shaped and 15-30 cm long by 1-4 cm wide.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Bhutan it grows between 1,000-2,100 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8b-9

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia (country/location of origin), Bhutan, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tanzania, Thailand, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, shoots, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mwanzi, Pagjiok-pao, Pah-ryang, Parang, Prong

Synonyms

Arundinaria hookeriana Munro; Chimonobambusa hookeriana (Munro) Nakai; Drepanostachyum hookerianum (Munro) Keng.f.; Sinarundinaria hookeriana (Munro) C.S.Chao & Renvoize;