White-fringed gigantochloa
Gigantochloa albociliata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A densely tufted bamboo. It grows 2-10 m tall. The stems are 2-7 cm across. It can shed its leaves during the dry season. The internodes are 20-35 cm long. There are several unequal branches at a node. The leaf blade is 15-20 cm long by 2-3 cm wide.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical rainforests between 500-800 m above sea level in Yunnan in China. In Thailand it grows between 150-800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled as a vegetable and used in curries.

Young shoots are canned. Shoots are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Shoots, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown by seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bai mao ju zhu, Laix, Maihoushuan, Phai khai, Phai-rai, Phai-ruaklek, Russei khlei, Wa-hpyu-ka-le

Synonyms

Dendrocalamus albociliata (Munro) J. L. Sun; Oxytenanthera albociliata Munro; Pseudotenanthera albociliata (Munro) R. B. Majumdar; Pseudotenanthera albociliata (Munro) T. Q. Nguyen; Pseudotenanthera albociliata (Munro) R. B. Majumdar;