Bamboo Species of Guatemala

5 genera, 17 species

Guatemala is a country with many species of native woody bamboos, the majority of them belonging to the genus Chusquea and the rest to the genera Arthrostylidium, Guadua, Otatea and Rhipidocladum.

Guatemala is one of the first Central American countries to focus its attention on bamboo as a potential renewable resource. Native woody bamboos are widespread in the country. Although 53% of the species belong to the genus Chusquea, only two: Chusquea longifolia and Chusquea nelsonii, are reported as useful.

Guadua is represented by Guadua aculeata, Guadua longifolia and Guadua paniculata. The largest in size is Guadua aculeata, which occurs at 50-500m elevations in the departments of Izabal, Quirigua, Retalhuleau and Suchitepequez. The species is locally called "taro" and used for house construction.

Guadua angustifolia was introduced into Guatemala from Panama in 1946 at the Experimental Gardens of the Instituto Agropecuario Nacional. In the same year, Guadua aculeata from Honduras was also brought and cultivated here. At present, 15 species of Asiatic bamboos are cultivated in the farms at Chocola, Colombia, La Maquina and Pantaleon.

Native Bamboo Species of Guatemala

Species	Diameter	Height
Arthrostylidium excelsum	∅ 3 mm	⇑ 5 m
Chusquea coronalis	∅ 20 mm	⇑ 10 m
Chusquea deflexa	∅ 8 mm	⇑ 2 m
Chusquea lanceolata	∅ 20 mm	⇑ 8 m
Chusquea liebmannii	∅ 25 mm	⇑ 10 m
Chusquea longifolia	∅ 60 mm	⇑ 15 m
Chusquea nelsonii
Chusquea pittieri	∅ 50 mm	⇑ 20 m
Chusquea simpliciflora	∅ 10 mm	⇑ 25 m
Chusquea sulcata
Guadua aculeata	∅ 200 mm	⇑ 30 m
Guadua longifolia	∅ 50 mm	⇑ 10 m
Guadua paniculata	∅ 70 mm	⇑ 10 m
Otatea fimbriata
Rhipidocladum bartlettii	∅ 8 mm	⇑ 10 m
Rhipidocladum pittieri	∅ 10 mm	⇑ 10 m
Rhipidocladum racemiflorum	∅ 10 mm	⇑ 15 m

Source: INBAR

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