Guadua Angustifolia

Characteristics and Identification

Common name: Guadua

Rhizomes:

• Sympodial-scattered (grows in open clumps).
• Short and thick rhizomes that curve upwards to produce new culms which occurs on a yearly or continual basis.

Culms:

• Average height: 20-30m
• Average diameter: 10-13cm
• Culms are woody, with root thorns from the nodes.
• Culm internodes are cylindrical, thin-walled and about 20 cm long.

Culm-sheaths:

• Covered with short, dark brown hairs without auricles.
• Culm-sheath blade is triangular, erect and covered with tiny hairs.

Branches:

• Lateral branches are treelike with one dominant branch.
• Branches are thinner than stem.

Leafs:

• Leaf-blade base with a brief stalk-like connection to sheath, stalk is smooth and has no hairs.
• Leaf-blades are lance-shaped, or oblong, going from a rounded base towards an apex.
• Leaf-blades are 10-20 cm long, 6-12 mm wide.
• Leaf-blades have no cross veins.

Flowering:

• Flowering occurs infrequently.
  
• Flowers are 5-10 cm long.
  

Uses:

• Erosion control
• Landscaping
• Reforestation
• Construction
• Furniture
• Fences
• Laminates
• Papermaking
• Instruments
• Decorative objects

Distribution:

Argentina Ι Bolivia Ι Colombia Ι Costa Rica Ι Ecuador Ι Guatemala Ι Guyanas Ι Honduras Ι Mexico Ι Nicaragua Ι Panama Ι Paraguay Ι Peru Ι Venezuela

Click to enlarge

Sources:
GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
INBAR (International Network for Bamboo and Rattan)