Bambusa bambos (L.) var. gigantea (Bahadur &Jain

Bambusa bambos (L.) var. gigantea (Bahadur &Jain

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Monocotyledons
Order      : Poales
Family     : Poaceae
Genus      : Bambusa
Species    : bambos

Common Name:

Bamboo, Spiny bamboo, Thorny bamboo, Karmmaram, Mula, Muncha, Mungil, Kabu, Kaniyaram, Pattil.

General Information:

Culms from a thick stoloniferous rhizome, erect, to 30 m tall and10-20 cm across; culm sheaths broadly triangular, densely brownish-hairy within, and scattered hairy without. Leaves to 20 cm long; sheaths to 12 x .2 cm, linear, glabrous; ligule short, entire; petiole short. Inflorescence a compound panicle with the spikelets in heads. Spikelets 1-many-flowered, 0.8-2 cm long, oblong, terete. Bracts glume-like. Glumes 1-3, to 5.5 mm, broadly ovate, mucronate. Lemmas to 6.5 mm, lanceolate, mucronate, coriaceous, glabrous. Paleas to 7 mm, 2-keeled, ciliate. Stamens 6. Style 1; stigmas 3. Caryopsis linearly cylindric.

Economic Importance:

  • The plant contains high levels of silica and is used in many ways in Ayurvedic medicine.
  • The root is astringent and cooling.
  • It is used to treat joint pain and general debility.
  • The leaves are antispasmodic and emmenagogue.
  • They are taken internally to stimulate menstruation and to help relieve period pain.
  • They are also taken to tone and strengthen stomach function; to expel worms; and have the reputation of being aphrodisiac.