A locally common bamboo in cool broadleaved forests of western Bhutan, between 2,000m and 2,500m. This species can be distinguished from most others by the absence of hairs or auricles on the sheaths, the smooth culm sheath interior, and the absence of cross-veins on the leaves. The broad culm sheaths are bullet shaped, with a short broad ligule, and are often striped with yellow and purple lines. The young shoots of this species often have a thick glutinous covering. H. falconeri usually lacks any distinctive characteristics of its own, but the variety in western Bhutan has slightly ridged  

culms and light hairs at the base of the culm sheaths. The shoots of this species are edible and they are collected from the forest, which can sometimes conflict with the use of the older culms for weaving. Other similar bamboos have been collected in Shemgang and Tashigang districts, but mature culm sheaths were not available, so it is impossible to describe them properly. The Tashigang plants were very interesting as they had roots from the central branch bases. This is very unusual in small bamboos, and it could make propagation by culm cuttings a possibility.