Punting pole bamboo
Bambusa tuldoides

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A densely tufted bamboo. The culm or stem is erect but nodding at the tip. They grow 6-10 m tall. The stems are 3-5 cm across at the base. The young stems are covered with white wax. The internodes are 30-36 cm long. The lowest 1 or 2 nodes have a ring of grey silky hairs above the sheath scar. The stems branch from the nodes. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 10-18 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. Flowering can start at 50 years of age. In China clumps usually die after flowering but in other locations plants can remain alive.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow in subtropical conditions. It can tolerate frost down to -7°C. In tropical Asia it grows at low altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Central America, China (country/location of origin), Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Europe, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Taiwan, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

Shoots are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

It is grown from rhizome and culm cuttings. Tips of shoots from a clump are cut off and replanted. Whole culms can be planted and the separate shoots chopped off.

A young fresh shoot has an average weight of 938 g before peeling and 137 g after peeling. Plants grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Bambu blenduk, Buddha's belly bamboo, Buloh balai, Hosp, Pa-ma-htan-wa, Verdant bamboo

Synonyms

Bambusa pallescens (Doell) Hack.; Bambusa ventricosa McClure; Bambusa longiflora W.T.Lin; and several others