Bamboo Species of Bolivia

9 genera, 24 species, 1 subspecies

In Bolivia, bamboo has been used by Andean communities in traditional production of musical instruments and baskets, and as cattle forage. An estimate of the area of bamboo forest in the highlands or lowland regions of this country does not yet exist.

The botanical survey conducted during the last decade in the lowland regions of Bolivia has reported two genera: Actinocladum and Elytrostachys, in addition to 3 species of Guadua to be added to Bolivia’s bamboo inventory. Eastern Bolivia has Guadua capitata, G. chacoensis and G. paniculata growing in dry closed-type plant communities; 2 other species, Guadua. sarcocarpa and G. superba, occur in north-eastern Bolivia at the border with Brazil and Peru, in a huge bamboo dominated forest.

From the 24 species reported in Bolivia, only 3 have some economic and/or cultural role: Aulonemia queko, Rhipidocladum harmonicum and Guadua paniculata.

Guadua paniculata in Bolivia occurs in the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz, growing in dry forests at 200-700 m elevation. It is locally named "guuapa" and is extracted from existing native populations.

Native woody bamboo species of Bolivia:

Source: INBAR