Family: Poaceae
Common Name: Giant Bamboo

Suitable for tropical and subtropical climates, in frost-prone areas these bamboos are grown in pots or tubs in a warm greenhouse or conserva­tory. This genus includes the largest bamboos in the world. They are clump-forming, with new shoots coming from the parent plant itself. The stem and rhizome are one. The upper part of the short rhizome produces buds, one of which grows upwards to make a new plant. Many of these bamboos have economic uses in their native countries, being used for construc­tion, raft building and buckets, as well as for their edible shoots.

Species

D. giganteus, worra, from India, is the world's largest bamboo, growing to 35 m (115 ft) tall, with thick stems up to 25 cm (10 in) in diameter.

D. strictus, male bamboo or Calcutta bamboo, grows to 20 m (65 ft), with thick stem walls and curved upper branches. It is the best known of the Indian bamboos and cultivated there for paper pulp.

Cultivation

To propagate clump-forming bam­boos, dig up a 50 cm (20 in) length of a one­year-old branchless stem, cutting it off as near as possible to the parent plant and retaining two or three nodes. Bury in the ground in a horizontal position 20 cm (8 in) deep. Alterna­tively, bury diagonally, two-thirds below the ground, one-third above.

Climate

At least zone 10.