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Dendrocalamus membranaceus - Munro

Common Name White bamboo
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats An undergrowth plant in dry/moist tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests, montane rain forest and semi-evergreen rain forest at elevations up to 3,000 metres[338 ].
Range E. Asia - China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Dendrocalamus membranaceus White bamboo


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Dendrocalamus membranaceus White bamboo
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Dendrocalamus membranaceus is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 15 m (49ft) by 4 m (13ft) 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), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Bambusa membranacea (Munro) Stapleton & N.H.Xia Dendrocalamus longifimbriatus Gamble Oxytenanthera lacei Gamble Sinocalamus longifimbriatus (Gamble) T.Q.Nguyen

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots
Edible Uses:

Young shoots are edible[310 ]. A slightly bitter taste, but they are excellent for processing because they are nearly smooth and easy to handle[310 , 361 ].

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  Fibre  Paper  Soil stabilization  Wood  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: The plant has a large root system that helps to prevent soil erosion[338 ]. Other Uses: The culms are used for building purposes, bamboo board, furniture, basketry, matting and handicrafts, and as props for fruit trees. They are said to be very promising for the production of paperpulp[310 , 361 ]. Harvesting may start 3 - 4 years after a clump has begun to produce culms of maximum size. Only culms older than 3 years are harvestable and harvesting should never be done during the growing season. It is recommended to cut the culms lower than 30cm above the ground level, but not below the 2nd node. Debris and cut branches should always be removed completely[310 ].

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

This species is most commonly found in tropical mixed deciduous or monsoon forest at elevations below 1,000 metres[310 ]. In northeastern Thailand, where it is native, the annual average minimum temperature is 21.7?c (ranging from 14.5 - 25.6?c) and average maximum temperature 33.3?c (ranging from 30.5 - 38.1?c). The average annual rainfall is 950mm with a dry season of about 5 months[310 ]. Prefers a moist laterite or black limestone soil, but plants can tolerate arid and barren conditions[361 ]. 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.

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

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - many, if not all, members of this genus have a short viability and should be sown within 2 - 3 months of harvest. Sow in containers in a lightly shaded position and only just cover. Germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in their low-growing juvenile state for several years - cutting the culms to the ground level can stimulate taller adult growth[200 ]. Rhizome, culm and branch cuttings[310 ]. The propagules are raised in the nursery and after they have produced roots they are planted out in the field before or during the first half of the rainy season[310 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Aowang, Hok haix, Hmyin-phyu, Hyyin-wa, Hmyinwa-aphyu, Hmyin-wa-gyi, Maisang, Phai-nuan, Phai-sangdoi, Phai-sangnuan, S'ang, Wamu, Wapyu, Waya

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, USA, 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 : Status: Least Concern

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Dendrocalamus asperGiant Bamboo, Dragon bamboo, Sweet bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHNM403
Dendrocalamus brandesiiVelvet Leaf Bamboo, Clumping BambooBamboo25.0 9-10 FLMHNM304
Dendrocalamus giganteusGiant Bamboo, Bhalu bans, Dhungre bansBamboo30.0 9-12 FLMHSNM214
Dendrocalamus hamiltoniiTama Bamboo. Tufted bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHSNM303
Dendrocalamus hookeriBhalu bans, Bhutan Green BambooBamboo20.0 10-12 FLMHSNM203
Dendrocalamus latiflorusSweet Bamboo, Sweet bamboo shoot, Taiwan giant bambooBamboo20.0 10-12 FLMHNM402
Dendrocalamus strictusMale Bamboo. Calcutta Stricta or BambooBamboo15.0 9-12 FLMHSNDM313

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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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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