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Gigantochloa verticillata - (Willd.) Munro

Common Name Whorled bamboo, Giant stripy bamboo
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in a truly wild location.
Range Unknown - the plant is only known in cultivation and its origins are obscure.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Gigantochloa verticillata Whorled bamboo, Giant stripy bamboo


wikimedia.org Wibowo Djatmiko (Wie146)
Gigantochloa verticillata Whorled bamboo, Giant stripy bamboo
wikimedia.org Wibowo Djatmiko (Wie146)

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Gigantochloa verticillata is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 15 m (49ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Arundo maxima Oken Bambos verticillata Poir. Bambusa excelsa (Roep. ex Trin.) Miq. Bambusa pseudoarundinacea Steud. Bambusa verticillata Willd. Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea (Steud.) Widjaja Melocanna excelsa Roep. ex Trin. Nastus verticillatus (Willd.) Sm.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots
Edible Uses:

The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable, especially those of less robust forms[310 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry  Biomass  Charcoal  Fodder  Furniture  Pipes  Teeth  Wood

The canes are used for building material, water pipes, furniture, household utensils, chopsticks and toothpicks. They are also used to make basketry (although Gigantochloa apus is preferred), and musical instruments (although Gigantochloa atroviolacea is preferred)[310 ]. The culm can range in length from 7 - 30 metres, they are 5 - 13 cm in diameter at the base, with internodes 40 - 60cm long and a thick wall up to 2 cm wide[310 ]. The canes are green to yellow-green, yellow striped, initially with scattered appressed brown hairs on the upper parts, glabrous and smooth when older[310 ]. The culms might be used to make charcoal[310 ]. The energy value for charcoal made from the culms is about 30 000 kJ/kg[310 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Fodder: Bank  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Managed Multistem  Regional Crop

A plant of the perhumid tropics growing at elevations from sea-level up to about 1,200 metres[310 ]. It is found in areas with an annual rainfall in the range of 2,350 - 4,200 mm, an average temperature of 20 - 32°c and average relative humidity of over 70%[310 ]. In Indonesia (West Java), the culms grown on hill slopes ( at elevations of 500 metres with an annual rainfall of around 4,200 mm) are stronger (higher specific gravity, bending and tensile strength) than culms grown in valleys[310 ]. Grows best on sandy loams and alluvial soils[310 ]. One year after planting of a cutting, 7 - 10 culms have emerged[310 ]. Per year, about 8 - 9 culms per clump reach full size[310 ]. Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[K ]. A young culm grows fast, attaining full height in 3 - 4 months with an average growing rate of 3.4 cm per day[310 ]. Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying. Flowering occurs when the clump is 50 - 60 years old; it flowers gregariously, after which the clump dies[310 ]. First harvesting may start 3 years after planting, preferably in the dry season[310 ]. It is recommended to harvest only 3-year-old culms and to cut just above the ground[310 ]. To promote regeneration, it is recommended to earth up and to mulch the base of the harvested culms[310 ]. The annual yield of mature culms from a plantation with 275 clumps per ha (6 m x 6 m) is estimated at 1,650 per ha or about 6 culms per clump[310 ]. If converted to charcoal, about 18% good charcoal and 4% brand and broken charcoal are produced310]. Traditionally, the culms are left leaning upright against a tree for some days before being used. Sometimes culms are first soaked in running water or mud for some time[310 ]. Experiments with preservation by soaking in a chemical solution of e.g. Caustic soda or boric acid show promising results[310 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Management: Managed Multistem  Regularly removing some multiple stems. A non-A non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea is only propagated vegetatively by rhizome, culm or branch cuttings. Cuttings from flowering clumps should be avoided because they will start flowering soon after planting. Culm cuttings have shown a survival rate of nearly 100%. In Indonesia, the best time for planting is in the rainy season from December to March. Recommended spacing is 8 m x 8 m, and high rainfall areas are preferred[310 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Awi andong, Awi gombong, Awi temen, Bamboo andong, Bamboo ater, Bambu belang raksasa, Buluh Jawa, Clumping bamboo, Kayali, Pereng keles, Pring legi, Pring surat, Wa-pyu

Native Range

TROPICAL ASIA: Borneo, Cambodia, Jawa, Malaya, Myanmar, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Gigantochloa albociliataClumping bambooBamboo12.0 10-11 FLMHSNM303
Gigantochloa apusWatho. Tabashir BambooBamboo20.0 9-11 FLMHSNM204
Gigantochloa atroviolaceaBlack Bamboo. Giant Black bambooBamboo12.0 9-11 MLMHSNM203
Gigantochloa baluiClumping BambooBamboo 10.0 10-12 FLMHNM203
Gigantochloa hasskarlianaAwi TelaBamboo10.0 10-12 FLMHSNM403
Gigantochloa levisBulo semilang, Buloh seremai, BoloBamboo15.0 9-10 FLMHSNM323

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Willd.) Munro

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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