Dendrocalamus farinosus

Synonyms: Sinocalamus farinosus Keng & Keng f.; Lingnania farinosa (Keng & Keng f.) Keng f.; Neosinocalamus farinosus (Keng & Keng f.) Keng f. & T. H. Wen; Dendrocalamus ovatus N. H. Xia & L. C. Chia.

Thai name: ไผ่แป้งจีนใต้ (phai paeng chin tai).

Chinese name: 大叶慈竹 (dà yè cí zhú).

Distribution: THAILAND (North): introduced, in cultivation, rare. — CHINA (South), at 500–1,700 m altitude. — Perhaps also in northern VIETNAM.

Culm size: Height 7–12 m, diameter 4–8 cm.

Descriptions:

(1) "Culms 7–12 m, 4–8 cm in diam.; internodes 20–45 cm; wall 4–10 mm thick. Branches from ca. 10th node up; dominant branches distinct, 1–2.5 m, 4–12 mm in diam. Culm sheaths initially orange-brown, becoming brown, oblong-triangular, about as long as internodes, thickly papery or leathery, margins ciliate, apex truncate or concave; auricles absent; ligule ca. 1.3 cm, with setae; blade reflexed, narrowly lanceolate. Leaf sheaths initially hispid; ligule 1–1.5 mm; blade lanceolate, 9–33 × 1.5–6 cm … [flowers and seeds described]." — Flora of China [#1303].

(2) "… caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 1000 cm long; 40–60 mm diam.; woody; with aerial roots from the nodes. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 10–21 cm long; distally pruinose. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths deciduous; 15–21 cm long; 1 length of internode; coriaceous; brown, or red; hispid; with appressed hairs; with black hairs; truncate at apex; without auricles; setose on shoulders; shoulders with 7–10 mm long hairs. Culm-sheath ligule 3–6 mm high; lacerate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; constricted at base; reflexed; 4–12 cm long; 5–12 mm wide; scabrid. Leaves 4–8 per branch. Leaf-sheaths 6–7.5 cm long; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2 cm long. Leaf-blades oblong; 9–17 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 10–14 secondary veins; with obscure cross veins. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate. … Flowering specimens unknown." — Kew GrassBase [#1335].

Images: Line drawing in Flora of China [#1303]. Photos in AsianFlora (leaves) [#1332]; CFH.

Uses: Dendrocalamus farinosus is recorded to have high cellulose and a low lignin content (Z. J. Long & al., Acta Horticult. Sinica, 47(S2): 3139-3140). When dry, the culms can readily burst lengthwise. The culms are not long-lived at Bambusetum Baan Sammi; in living clumps, they dry out after a few years (approximately 3–5 years). Nonetheless, the culms are highly resistant to severe winds, and storm-induced culm breaking has not been seen at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, both in living or dried culms. Young shoots are edible and said to be palatable. Plants used as garden ornamentals and for landscaping.

Comments: A variety with yellow stripes on lower culms, 'Flavostriatus', was recorded from China, but it is not known whether this variety has been introduced into Thailand.