Description
From Bamboos of Thailand, Native and Introduced Species (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) — An Annotated Compilation, by D. Ohrnberger (Khun Dieter – คุณดีเท่อร์)
"Culm sheaths green, sometimes flushed slightly orange, white-waxy, with dark brown hairs on the back; auricle a large lobe 10–20 mm high, sometimes corrugate, bearing pale bristles 8–20 mm long on its edge; ligule a rim to 4 mm high bearing pale bristles 2–4 mm long; blade broadly triangular, erect, green. Culms to 8–10 m tall, slightly arched outwards, 3.5–7 cm diameter; internodes 20–35 cm long, white-waxy, with scattered dark brown hairs near the top, green. Leaf: blade 6–22 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, lower side bluish green and soft pale-hairy; auricle a lobe 2–4 mm long with pale fine bristles 2–5 mm long; ligule a subentire rim 0.5–1 mm high … [flowers described]." — K. M. Wong, Bamboos of Peninsular Malaysia, 1995: p. 90-92, fig. 41-42 [#1210].
Characteristics: Culm internodes copiously covered with white wax; culm sheaths white-waxy and with black hairs; culm sheath blades erect; culm sheath auricles large and bristly; foliage leaf blades pale bluish green beneath.
Origin
THAILAND (South): Provinces of Chumphon, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Songkla, and possibly also in other southern provinces. — MALAYSIA (Peninsular): Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor. — INDONESIA: Sumatra, introduced.
Uses
Not recorded. Especially young shoots have ornamental value, and plants can be used for gardens and landscaping. Young shoots are bitter and not used for food.
Cultivation
Easy growing; in part shade to full sun, sandy loam to clay loam, normal moisture-retentive with good drainage.
References
Common Names
- Thai
- ไผ่หลัก (phai lak)
- ไผ่พรมรอก (phai phrom rok)
- Balsa
- Buluh aur bukit