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Dendrocalamus hookeri (Dz. pagshi, Nep. bhalu, kalo bans)                                          D1

 

An infrequent species of southern and eastern Bhutan, similar to D. sikkimensis. Both species have dense furry wax on the culms and thick brown hairs on the culm sheaths. These hairs are not so dense in D. hookeri, and are often in a distinctive chevron pattern where they have rubbed off during growth. It can be distinguished from D. sikkimensis by the much smaller auricles on the culm sheaths, and by the leaf sheaths which have fewer bristles. D. hamiltonii is similar, but has no bristles on the culm sheath auricles and longer leaf sheath ligules. Bambusa clavata is also similar but has lighter culm sheath hairs and a wider culm sheath ligule. The culms can reach a maximum diameter of 16cm and a top height of 

 

25m when unthinned, but they are usually 8-9cm in diameter and 15-18m tall. Culm walls are thin but not very flexible, so it is used for general construction and fencing, rather than weaving. The leaves are large and can be an important fodder source in winter. Sections of larger culms are often used as containers. Although this species appears very similar to D. asper, which is widely grown for its edible shoots, the shoots of D. hookeri are bitter. Propagation by all the vegetative techniques is easy because of the abundance of aerial roots and very strong branching. This species can even be propagated from the bases of the large branches on their own. Found from 1,200-2,000m.

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