Dendrocalamus Asper

Characteristics and Identification

Dendrocalamus asper is a large bamboo growing in dense tufts with culms up to 30m tall, and a average diameter of 8-20cm. Dendrocalamus asper (or Giant Bamboo) has relatively thick walls (11-20mm) and the lower culms show aerial roots from the nodes.

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Common name for Dendrocalamus asper: Giant bamboo, Bamboo Betung

Dendrocalamus asper

Rhizome characteristics of Dendrocalamus asper:

Short rhizomes; pachymorph / sympodial

Culm characteristics of Dendrocalamus asper:

Average height: 20-30m
Average diameter: 8-20cm
Internodes: 20-45cm
Lower nodes covered with a circle of rootlets
Relatively thick walls (11-20mm), but thinner towards the top of the culm, woody
Culms are pale green and covered with short hairs
Buds or branches are present on lower quarter of culm

Culm-sheath characteristics of Dendrocalamus asper:

Culm-sheaths are 40–50cm long and covered with short dark brown hairs, they shed at maturity
Culm-sheaths auricles (ear-like parts at the base of the culm-sheaths) are 7mm high with 5mm long hairs on the culm-sheath shoulders
Culm-sheath tip is fringed and 7–10mm high
Culm-sheath blade is narrower than the sheath and tapers to a point, it is 25cm long and 35mm wide

Branch characteristics of Dendrocalamus asper:

Branch complement: Several branches with 1 branch dominant.

Leaf characteristics of Dendrocalamus asper:

Leaf-blades are lance-shaped and 15–30cm long and 10–25mm wide
Leaf-blade base is wedge-shaped with a brief stalk-like connection to sheath, the stalk is 0.3–0.5cm long
Leaf-blade surface is smooth and hairless
Leaf-blade tip tapers to a point

Uses of Dendrocalamus asper:

Structural timber for heavy construction in rural communities
Bamboo boards
Furniture
Musical instruments
Containers, chopsticks, household utensils and handicrafts
The young shoot is sweet and considered a delicious vegetable

Native Distribution of Dendrocalamus asper:

Dendrocalamus asper is native to Malaysia and Indonesia, but was introduced all over South-East Asia.

Dendrocalamus Asper Distribution Map

This bamboo species occurs from lowlands up to 1,500m altitude, but thrives at altitudes of 400–500m in areas with an average annual rainfall of about 2,400mm.

Dendrocalamus asper grows well on various soil types, even on sandy and rather acidic soils, but prefers well-drained heavy soils.