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Bambusa vulgaris - Schrad. ex J.C.Wendl.

Common Name Common Bamboo
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Riversides and open forests in Yunnan[ 266 ].
Range Northern and western S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia. Ecuador, Venezuela.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Bambusa vulgaris Common Bamboo


https://edibleplants.org/
Bambusa vulgaris Common Bamboo
https://edibleplants.org/

 

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Summary

Common bamboo or Bambusa vulgaris is a large, tropical, spineless bamboo that can grow up to 20 m tall and up to 10 cm across at the base. It has distinctive triangular culm sheath with hairy edges. Among all other bamboo species, common bamboo is one of the largest and most easily recognize. It has a wide range of uses. The young shoots are edible when cooked. The stems are used as treatment for rheumatism while the shoots are used against abscesses and malaria. The bark is astringent and used to stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area especially during menstruation. The leaves are used as treatment for heart problems and malaria as well. It is also boiled and used in bath to ease fever. Common bamboo is used in erosion control on sloping ground. The stems are used for light construction, handicrafts, and are a good source of fibre for papermaking.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bambusa vulgaris is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 20 m (65ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Arundarbor blancoi (Steud.) Kuntze Arundarbor fera (Oken) Kuntze Arundarbor monogyna (Blanco) Kuntze

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots
Edible Uses: Drink  Tea

Edible portion: Shoots. Young shoots - cooked[ 46 , 301 ]. They can be eaten with rice[ 301 ]. The shoots are 5 - 9cm in diameter[ 266 ]. A decoction of the growing point of the plant, mixed with the roots of Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) gives a refreshing drink[ 299 ]. The shoots remain buttercup yellow after cooking. Chemical composition of young shoots per 100 g edible portion: Water 88-90 g, Protein 1.8-2.6 g, Fat 4.1-7.2 g, Carbohydrates 0-0.4 g, Fibre 1.1-1.2 g, Ash 0.8-0.9 g, Ca 22.8-28.6 mg, P 27.5-37 mg, Fe 1.1-1.4 mg, Vitamin C 0-3.1 mg.

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.
Antirheumatic  Astringent  Emmenagogue  Febrifuge  Malaria

The stems are used as a remedy for rheumatism[ 348 ]. The shoots are used to treat abscesses and malaria[ 348 ]. The bark is astringent and emmenagogue[ 413 ]. The leaves are used to treat heart problems and malaria. They are boiled and used in a bath to ease fevers[ 348 ]. A decoction of boiled leaves is used by women as a 'clean-out' for dilation and curettage, and also to aid the expulsion of the afterbirth[ 348 ]. The leaves are boiled as a hot tea , which induces profuse perspiration in treating a fever[ 348 ]. The sap is used to treat fever and haematuria[ 413 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry  Biomass  Broom  Fencing  Fuel  Furniture  Insecticide  Paper  Pipes  Plant support  Roofing  Shelterbelt  Soil stabilization  Wood

Other uses rating: High (4/5). Other Uses: The split stems are used for making brooms, fences, roofs, roof tiles, baskets etc[413]. The acrid smoke produced from burning the stem is used as a mosquito repellent[348].The stems serve as poles to support banana plants[299].The working and machining properties of the stems are poor. The stems are not straight, not easy to split, and inflexible, but they are thick-walled and initially strong. The canes have a high starch content, making them more susceptible to powder post beetle and dry wood termite than many other bamboos (such as Dendrocalamus giganteus), therefore they are not normally used for long term constructions[299, 310, 418]. They are used for light construction, fences, tool handles, handicrafts, irrigation pipes, lattices, bridges, housing, furniture, boat masts etc. They are a good source of pulp for making paper[299, 310, 418].The canes are used for fuel[299]. Agroforestry Uses: Used for shelterbelts and erosion control on sloping ground and stream banks[418]. Planted as a barrier and marker along boundaries[413].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Managed Multistem  Minor Global Crop  Other Systems: Multistrata  Other Systems: Strip intercrop

Common bamboo is a plant of the moist, lowland tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28c, but can tolerate 9 - 32c[ 418 ]. The stems die back to the ground if exposed to frost, but if the frost was not too severe the plant may resprout from the rhizomes[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,500mm[ 418 ]. Requires a moist, fertile, humus rich soil in full sun or dappled shade in warm humid conditions[ 200 , 302 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[ 418 ]. Widely grown throughout the tropics for its many uses and as an ornamental, the plant sometimes escapes from cultivation and becomes naturalized. It forms extensive monospecific stands, excluding other plant species[ 413 ]. It is classified as 'Invasive' in some Pacific Islands[ 299 , 305 ]. Harvesting normally starts 3 years after planting with full production being reached after 6 - 8 years. Selective cutting of stems 2-year-old or older is recommended. In tropical Africa it has been recommended to selectively harvest one half to two-thirds of the adult stems on a clump every 3 - 4 years. Young shoots for consumption should be harvested in the first week of their emergence[ 299 ]. Annual yields of up to 20 tonnes (dry weight) of the canes per hectare have been achieved[ 299 ]. 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 ]. 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 is uncommon in Bambusa vulgaris. When a stem flowers, it produces a large number of flowers, but no fruits. Low pollen viability due to irregular meiosis seems to be one of the reasons for the absence of fruiting. Eventually the stem dies, but the clump usually survives[ 299 ]. Production: Offsets can produce mature clumps in 7 years. They grow very quickly. Haulms can grow 4 m high in 2 weeks. Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' - Dwarf Buddha Belly Bamboo is a dwarf bamboo perfect by a pond but will fit just about any landscape. Swollen attractive internodes to 3m. USDA zone 9-12.

Carbon Farming

  • 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.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
  • Other Systems: Multistrata  Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
  • Other Systems: Strip intercrop  Tree crops grown in rows with alternating annual crops.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in containers as soon as it is ripe, preferably at a temperature around 20c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Prick out the seedlings into containers when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a lightly shaded place until large enough to plant out. Plants only flower at intervals of many years and so seed is rarely available. Division as new growth commences[ 220 ]. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[ 200 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Common bamboo or Bambusa vulgaris. Other Names: Awi ampel, Bamboo, Bambu kuning, Buloh kuning, Buloh minyak, Daisan-chiku, Domar, Jajang ampel, Jajang gading, Kabaloan, Kauayan-kiling, Murangi, Pai mai, Pau, Phai-bongkham, Phai-luang, Po-o, Pring ampel, Pring legi, Pring tutul, Russei kaew, S'ang kh'am, Tamelang, Wanet.

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Yunnan Sheng,China.

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.

Culms and branches root very readily, it naturalizes forming monospecific stands along river banks, roadsides and in open ground. B. vulgaris has the potential to invade relative unaltered forests moving along streams.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Least Concern

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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.

 

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Author

Schrad. ex J.C.Wendl.

Botanical References

Links / References

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A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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