Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees

കല്ലന്‍മുള

Family : Poaceae

Synonym : Bambos stricta Roxb.

Common Names : Cheriyamula, Kallanmula, Solid bamboo

Flowering Period : December – January

Distribution : Indian subcontinent and Java

Habitat : Deciduous forests, also grown in the plains

Uses : Dendrocalamus strictus is extensively used as raw material in paper mills and also for a variety of purposes such as light construction, furniture, musical instruments, bamboo board, mats, sticks, agricultural implements, rafts, baskets, woven wares and household utensils. Young shoots are edible and used as food. Leaves are used as forage, and decoction of leaves and nodes and silicious matter is used in traditional medicine.

Key Characters :

Culms to 15 m high, unarmed. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, apex long acuminate, spinescent; ligule dentate. Heads of spikelets globose; spikelets ovate, lower glume 4 mm, upper 4.5 mm, ovate, lemmas 2, 5 mm, broadly ovate with a mucro; stamens 6, filaments free, 0.2 mm, anthers 2.5 mm, oblong.