Nepalese bamboos

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bengal bamboo
• spineless Indian bamboo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dendrocalamus tulda

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, scientifically known as Bambusa tulda, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Its classification is completed by its placement within the genus Bambusa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Bambusa tulda, exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions. In Western Asia, it can be found specifically within the borders of Iraq. Its presence is also significant in China, where it grows throughout the South-Central regions and the Tibet plateau. Within the Indian Subcontinent, the species is well-established in Assam. Additionally, this medicinal bamboo is commonly distributed throughout Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bambusa tulda is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1400 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to varied landscapes, notably displaying a presence within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), where it can integrate into human-modified environments. Its distribution across these different elevations and its capacity to colonize disturbed or human-influenced habitats suggest a resilient ecological nature capable of navigating both natural and anthropogenic terrain.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Bambusa tulda is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain its presence in the ecosystem over many years through continuous vegetative growth and an extensive rhizome system. As an evergreen plant, it maintains its foliage throughout the year, providing consistent canopy cover and photosynthetic activity regardless of the season. This perennial nature, combined with its evergreen habit, ensures a stable and enduring lifecycle that supports its long-term establishment in tropical and subtropical environments.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bambusa tulda is characterized by a woody, graminoid growth form that functions as a self-supporting, tree-like structure. It typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 15 m, growing in a terrestrial habitat rather than being aquatic, epiphytic, or parasitic. As an independent organism, it does not rely on other plants for nutrients, maintaining a robust, self-supporting habit throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bambusa tulda is characterized by a highly efficient carbon sequestration process and a rapid growth cycle driven by its unique rhizome system. As a perennial woody grass, its metabolic activity is centered around the development of extensive underground rhizomes that serve as both nutrient storage organs and the primary mechanism for vegetative propagation. Through a complex process of cell division within the intercalary meristems located at the base of each culm, the plant achieves its characteristic rapid vertical elongation. Regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, Bambusa tulda is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and therefore relies heavily on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate to support its high biomass production. The plant's photosynthetic efficiency is optimized through a C3 metabolic pathway, which supports its ability to build dense, lignified tissues essential for its structural integrity.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bambusa tulda is characterized by its specific seed production patterns, which are essential for its propagation and lifecycle. The seeds produced by this species are notably uniform in their physical properties, exhibiting a highly consistent weight distribution. Specifically, the seed mass is documented with a mean value of 0.01355 g, a figure that is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values of 0.01355 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output regarding individual seed size, which plays a critical role in the establishment and germination success of the plant in its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.01355 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bambusa tulda has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BBT.

BBT

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Preparations

Bambusa tulda has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Bambusa tulda extract, Bambusa tulda methanolic extract (BBT).

Bambusa tulda extract

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Bambusa tulda methanolic extract (bbt)

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine