Bamboo Genera

Types of BambooBamboo Genera
Written By Stéphane Schröder

Bamboo genera are groups of bamboo species that are strongly related or marked by common characteristics. All temperate, tropical and herbaceous bamboo genera (139) are listed on this page. They contain all the known bamboo species within their genus.

Bamboo belongs to the grass family POACEAE, which is divided into subfamilies. Among them the subfamily BAMBUSOIDEAE comprising both woody and herbaceous bamboos which currently counts 1,821 accepted bamboo species.

BAMBUSOIDEAE is divided into 3 tribes: 

  • ARUNDINARIEAE: Temperate woody bamboos (37 genera and 618 species).

  • BAMBUSEAE: Tropical woody bamboos (79 genera and 1,058 species).

  • OLYREAE: Herbaceous bamboos (23 genera and 145 species).

Although all woody and herbaceous bamboo genera are listed here, we will mainly focus on the woody bamboo types since they have the most economical value.

There have been significant advancements in the classification of bamboo genera and species in recent years. Researchers and botanists have engaged in extensive studies to better understand the complexities and variations within the bamboo family. These efforts have led to the discovery of new genera and species, challenging the traditional classifications established decades ago.

Through the use of advanced DNA analysis techniques, scientists have been able to uncover previously unnoticed genetic differences among bamboo species, which has resulted in a reevaluation of their placement within specific genera. This evolving understanding of bamboo taxonomy will undoubtedly contribute to the development of more accurate identification and classification systems, aiding conservation efforts and helping bamboo enthusiasts and professionals alike make informed decisions about their choice of bamboo species for various applications.

We use the data base from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to compile our bamboo genera and species lists which is the most accurate and official checklist for all the known plant and bamboo species in the world. (*Latest update 2/7/2023).

Complete List of Bamboo Genera

GenusTribeOriginClimateGrowth habitSpecies
AcidosasaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning12
ActinocladumBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping1
AgnesiaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
AlvimiaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping3
AmpelocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping14
AnnamocalamusBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
ApocladaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping1
ArberellaOlyreaeAmericaTropical7
ArthrostylidiumBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping29
ArundinariaArundinarieaeAmericaTemperateRunning3
AthroostachysBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping2
AtractanthaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping5
AulonemiaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping47
AulonemiellaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping2
BambusaBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping155
BashaniaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning4
BergbambosArundinarieaeAfricaTemperateClumping1
BoniaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping5
BorindaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping46
BrachystachyumArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning2
BrasilochloaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
BuergersiochloaOlyreaeAsia - AustraliaTropical1
CambajuvaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping1
CathariostachysBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping2
CephalostachyumBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping13
ChimonobambusaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning43
ChimonocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping19
ChloothamnusBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping11
ChusqueaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping196
CochinchinochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
ColantheliaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping11
CryptochloaOlyreaeAmericaTropical9
CyrtochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping7
DavidseaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
DecaryochloaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping1
DendrocalamusBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping73
DiandrolyraOlyreaeAmericaTropical3
DidymogonyxBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping2
DinochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping47
DrepanostachyumArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping10
EkmanochloaOlyreaeAmericaTropical2
ElytrostachysBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping2
EremitisOlyreaeAmericaTropical16
EremocaulonBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping5
FargesiaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping49
FerrocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning3
FilgueirasiaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping2
FimbribambusaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping4
FroesiochloaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
GaoligongshaniaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping1
GelidocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning15
Gigantocalamus (Hybrid)BambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
GigantochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping64
GlaziophytonBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping1
GreslaniaBambuseaeAustraliaTropicalClumping2
GuaduaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping33
GuaduellaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping6
HickeliaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping4
HimalayacalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping9
HitchcockellaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping1
HolttumochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping4
HsuehochloaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning1
IndocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning32
IndosasaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning18
KinabaluchloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping2
KurunaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping7
LithachneOlyreaeAmericaTropical4
MaclurochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping4
MaclurolyraOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
MelocalamusBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping16
MelocannaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping3
MerostachysBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping58
MniochloaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
MullerochloaBambuseaeAustraliaTropicalClumping1
MyriocladusBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping13
NastusBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping12
NeololebaBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping5
NeomicrocalamusBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping3
NianhochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
OchlandraBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping10
OldeaniaArundinarieaeAfricaTemperateClumping7
OligostachyumArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning18
OlmecaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping5
OlyraOlyreaeAfrica - AmericaTropical25
OreobambosBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping1
OtateaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping13
OxytenantheraBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping1
ParabambusaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
ParianaOlyreaeAmericaTropical36
ParianellaOlyreaeAmericaTropical3
ParodiolyraOlyreaeAmericaTropical4
PerrierbambusBambuseaeAfricaTropicalRunning2
PhuphanochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
Phyllosasa (Hybrid)ArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning1
PhyllostachysArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning63
PingaBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping1
PiresiaOlyreaeAmericaTropical6
PiresiellaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
PleioblastusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning26
PseudobambusaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
PseudosasaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning20
PseudostachyumBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
PseudoxytenantheraBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping5
PueliaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping5
RacemobambosBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping19
RaddiaOlyreaeAmericaTropical11
RaddiellaOlyreaeAmericaTropical8
RavenochloaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning1
RehiaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
ReitziaOlyreaeAmericaTropical1
RhipidocladumBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping22
RuhooglandiaBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping1
SarocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning6
SasaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning41
SasaellaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning11
SasamorphaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning5
SchizostachyumBambuseaeAfrica - AsiaTropicalClumping73
SemiarundinariaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning7
ShibataeaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning7
SinobambusaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning13
SinosasaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning7
SirochloaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping1
SoejatmiaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
SokinochloaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping7
SphaerobambosBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping3
StapletoniaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping3
TaquaraOlyreaeAmericaTropical2
TemburongiaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
TemochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
ThamnocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping4
ThyrsostachysBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping2
TibisiaBambuseaeAmericaTropicalClumping3
TongpeiaBambuseaeAsiaTemperateClumping3
ValihaBambuseaeAfricaTropicalClumping2
VietnamocalamusArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateRunning1
VietnamosasaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalRunning3
WidjajachloaBambuseaeAsia - AustraliaTropicalClumping1
YersinochloaBambuseaeAsiaTropicalClumping1
YushaniaArundinarieaeAsiaTemperateClumping91

Source: Kew Science

Most Cultivated Bamboo Genera

Featured
Bamboo Genera
Bamboo Genera

All 139 bamboo genera are listed here. Learn more about the different types of bamboo and their typical growth habits, origin and optimal climate conditions.

Read More →
Bambusa
Bambusa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Bambusa
Bambusa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical

Bambusa is a medium to large size bamboo genus, and very popular among growers and cultivators. They are usually very strong and have thick culm walls, with small branches and small leaves.

Read More →
Bambusa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Cephalostachyum
Cephalostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Cephalostachyum
Cephalostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical

The genus Cephalostachyum is a primitive tropical and subtropical bamboo. Species of this bamboo grow in dense clumps with thin-walled weak culms.

Read More →
Cephalostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Chimonobambusa
Chimonobambusa, Running, Asia, Temperate
Chimonobambusa
Chimonobambusa, Running, Asia, Temperate

Bamboo species of the genus Chimonobambusa are running bamboos with swollen nodes that bear thorns in many species, they have 3 branches at the nodes.

Read More →
Chimonobambusa, Running, Asia, Temperate
Chusquea
Chusquea, Clumping, America, Tropical
Chusquea
Chusquea, Clumping, America, Tropical

Bamboo species of the genus Chusquea are mountain clumping bamboos native to the tropics and subtropics of South and Central America. Unlike most other bamboos, the stems of Chusquea species are solid, not hollow.

Read More →
Chusquea, Clumping, America, Tropical
Dendrocalamus
Dendrocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Dendrocalamus
Dendrocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Tropical

Bamboo species of the genus Dendrocalamus are large clump-forming subtropical bamboos with large branches and leaves, and are usually tick-walled. Most species prefer high humidity and mountain areas.

Read More →
Dendrocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Fargesia
Fargesia, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Fargesia
Fargesia, Clumping, Asia, Temperate

Bamboo species of the genus Fargesia are medium to small mountain clumping bamboos, found in the alpine conifer forests of East Asia (China, Vietnam, and Burma). In China they are known as 'jian zhu' (arrow bamboo).

Read More →
Fargesia, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Gigantochloa
Gigantochloa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Gigantochloa
Gigantochloa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical

Gigantochloa is a tropical genus of giant clumping bamboo, similar to the genus Bambusa. Bamboo species of this genus grow native in South and South-East Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, India, and Bangladesh.

Read More →
Gigantochloa, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Guadua
Guadua, Clumping, America, Tropical
Guadua
Guadua, Clumping, America, Tropical

The genus Guadua contains the largest bamboos in tropical America. Stems can reach up to 30 m in height and to 20 cm in diameter. The name Guadua (pronounced 'gua-du-a') comes from the common name used by the people of Colombia.

Read More →
Guadua, Clumping, America, Tropical
Himalayacalamus
Himalayacalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Himalayacalamus
Himalayacalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate

Bamboos species of the genus Himalayacalamus are temperate mountain clumping bamboos. They are found growing at lower altitudes of the Himalaya; India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

Read More →
Himalayacalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Indocalamus
Indocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Indocalamus
Indocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate

Bamboo species of the genus Indocalamus are native to China, Japan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The name Indocalamus derives from the Latin words "indo", of India (in its ancient sense: extending from the East Indies to China), and "calamus" (Greek: kalamos) reed.

Read More →
Indocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Nastus
Nastus, Clumping, Africa, Tropical
Nastus
Nastus, Clumping, Africa, Tropical

Nastus is a genus of slender, erect, scrambling or climbing bamboo. It comprises of 12 species, mainly found in the tropical mountain forests of the Southern Hemisphere from Madagascar and Réunion to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Read More →
Nastus, Clumping, Africa, Tropical
Otatea
Otatea, Clumping, America, Tropical
Otatea
Otatea, Clumping, America, Tropical

Otatea is a genus of clumping bamboos native to Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and possibly Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well. The name derives from the nahuatl otatl, meaning "bamboo".

Read More →
Otatea, Clumping, America, Tropical
Phyllostachys
Phyllostachys, Running, Asia, Temperate
Phyllostachys
Phyllostachys, Running, Asia, Temperate

Phyllostachys comes from 'phyllon', meaning leaf, and 'stachys', meaning spike. In China, where this bamboo grows native, it is also called Gangzhu Shu, meaning firm bamboo genus.

Read More →
Phyllostachys, Running, Asia, Temperate
Pseudosasa
Pseudosasa, Running, Asia, Temperate
Pseudosasa
Pseudosasa, Running, Asia, Temperate

20 bamboo species are currently assigned to the genus Pseudosasa. These bamboos are small to medium running bamboo, originating in Japan, China, and Korea.

Read More →
Pseudosasa, Running, Asia, Temperate
Schizostachyum
Schizostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Schizostachyum
Schizostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical

Bamboo species of the genus Schizostachyum are tall or shrub-like tropical clumping, and sometimes climbing bamboos. They grow native in the tropical and subtropical regions from Madagascar to the Pacific Islands with South-East Asia as the centre of distribution.

Read More →
Schizostachyum, Clumping, Asia, Tropical
Semiarundinaria
Semiarundinaria, Running, Asia, Temperate
Semiarundinaria
Semiarundinaria, Running, Asia, Temperate

Semiarundinaria is a genus of tall or shrubby running bamboos. The species are found in temperate and subtropical regions of China and Japan.

Read More →
Semiarundinaria, Running, Asia, Temperate
Thamnocalamus
Thamnocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Thamnocalamus
Thamnocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate

Thamnocalamus is a genus of clumping bamboo. The generic name, derives from the Greek "thamnos" (thicket, shrubbery), and "kalamos" (Latinised "calamus", reed, cane), referring to the habit of the species.

Read More →
Thamnocalamus, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Yushania
Yushania, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Yushania
Yushania, Clumping, Asia, Temperate

Bamboo species form the genus Yushania are spreading temperate to subtropical bamboos, native from the Himalayas to Taiwan and the Philippines. They also occur in Southeast Africa and Madagascar.

Read More →
Yushania, Clumping, Asia, Temperate
Stéphane Schröder

Guadua Bamboo SAS

Previous

How to Determine the Height of a Bamboo Culm?
Next

Dendrocalamus peculiaris