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Bambusa nutans subsp. cupulata (Dz. jhushi, K. gren, Nep. mal bans)                          B1

 

The commonest cultivated bamboo in the lower hills of Bhutan from 300m to 1,500m. It is very similar to Bambusa tulda, both species having large wide culm sheath auricles. This subspecies can be recognised by the strongly cupped culm sheath blades, which are deciduous. The hairs on the culm sheath are blacker than those of similar bamboos. The poles reach a maximum diameter of 10cm and are up to 23m long. They are strong and highly prized for all constructional purposes. They can also be used for the weaving of rough baskets and mats, as the branches are small and the poles split easily. The poles are very straight and the un-raised nodes with small branches and small leaves

 

make it a very attractive and clean-looking bamboo. Leaves are widely used for fodder. The shoots are bitter and are not eaten. This is one of the most desirable bamboos for many end uses, because of its long straight culms and small branches. It will tolerate dry stony sites quite well, and it is common from the eastern Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. It is easiest to establish this subspecies by the traditional technique. In Zhemgang district a variety known as gren, with thicker walls and some thorny branchlets, is common, and this variety may represent the wild ancestor of cultivated clones in the hills, which are taller and straighter, with smaller branches.

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