Rough asper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• giant bamboo
• rough giant bamboo
• Asper
• Dragon bamboo
• Petung bamboo
• Rough bamboo
• Sweet bamboo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Arundarbor bitung
• Arundo aspera
• Calamagrostis piscatoria
• Schizostachyum bitung
• Gigantochloa aspera
• Arundo piscatoria
• Bambusa aspera
• Bambusa bitung
• Dendrocalamus flagellifer

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Its taxonomic hierarchy continues through the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Poales, placing it in the family Poaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Dendrocalamus as Dendrocalamus asper.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within East and South Asia. In China, it can be found spanning the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends to the island of Taiwan within the Eastern Asia region. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is documented in Bangladesh. Finally, its geographical range includes the island nation of Sri Lanka.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dendrocalamus asper is characterized by its presence within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating an ability to persist or thrive in environments modified by human activity. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Dendrocalamus asper is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning as a nanophanerophyte, phanerophyte, chamaephyte, hemicryptophyte, geophyte, hydrophyte, helophyte, therophyte, or lithophyte depending on specific environmental niche adaptations, though it primarily maintains a robust woody structure. As a member of the phanerophyte group, its buds are elevated well above the ground level, allowing it to thrive in competitive tropical forest strata. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year to maximize photosynthetic efficiency in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Dendrocalamus asper is characterized by its robust, woody structure and a graminoid growth form. It functions as a self-supporting, independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor requiring a host as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. This species exhibits significant verticality, typically reaching a mean plant height of 15 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 20 m. Despite its graminoid classification, its substantial woodiness and stature distinguish it from typical herbaceous plants, allowing it to stand firmly without the need for climbing mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dendrocalamus asper is characterized by a highly efficient metabolic framework optimized for rapid biomass accumulation and structural development. As a member of the Poaceae family, its physiological processes are centered around a C3 photosynthetic pathway, though it exhibits remarkable growth rates that often mimic more specialized metabolic efficiencies. The plant's nutrient acquisition strategy is primarily driven by an extensive, highly branched rhizome system that facilitates the uptake of essential minerals and water from the soil. Regarding its symbiotic capabilities, Dendrocalamus asper is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as Rhizobium) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Instead, it relies on the availability of nitrates and ammonium within the soil substrate to support its intensive nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production. Its physiological regulation of transpiration and water use is tightly controlled through stomatal conductance, allowing it to maintain turgor pressure and structural integrity during varying environmental moisture levels.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dendrocalamus asper has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Dendrocalamus asper has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Dendrocalamus asper has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli.

Bacillus cereus

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Escherichia coli

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Dendrocalamus asper has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts of leaves.

Ethanolic extracts of leaves

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)