Dendrocalamus

Dendrocalamus is a genus of large tropical bamboos in the grass family, Poaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Bambusoideae and the tribe Bambuseae. The genus includes about two dozen species distributed across Asia, from the Indian subcontinent through Southeast Asia to southern China and the Philippines. The name derives from Greek dendron, tree, and kalamos, reed, reflecting the woody nature of these bamboos.

Species are typically tall, woody bamboos that form clumps or, less commonly, spread by running rhizomes. Culms are robust and hollow, with distinct nodes and internodes; they often reach several meters in height, depending on species and climate. Leaves are long and narrow.

Native to tropical and subtropical forests and hills, Dendrocalamus species prefer warm, humid climates with well-drained soils and substantial rainfall. Like other bamboos, many species flower infrequently, sometimes with long intervals, and some species flower gregariously before senescence or die-back.

Dendrocalamus species are valued for timber, handicrafts, and edible shoots. Dendrocalamus giganteus, commonly called giant bamboo, yields very tall culms, while D. asper is used for construction and edible shoots in parts of Asia.

Cultivation and management: widely grown in tropical regions and in warm temperate zones. They require warmth, protection from frost, and ample moisture, and are often grown as landscape bamboo or for commercial timber; propagation is commonly by division or culm cuttings.