Sacred Bali bamboo
Schizostachyum brachycladum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An erect bamboo. It forms dense clumps. It grows about 10-20 m high and 5-10 cm across the stem. The shoots are smooth and with shorter internodes than Schizostachyum lima. They are 20-50 cm long. The sheaths stay on the stem and have reddish hairs. The leaves are sword shaped and hairy underneath.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forests up to 600 m above sea level. Common in the Philippines in Palawan and Culion on dry open slopes. Also occurs in Nueva Nizcaya, Leyte, Butuan and Palawan. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked and eaten.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Bagakan, Bambu gading suci, Buloh nipis, Buloh urat rusa, Buloh pelang, Phai pho, Pulu bulu telang

Synonyms

Melocanna zollingeri var. brachyclada Kurz ex Munro;