KEY TO DENDROCALAMUS SPECIES

Culm sheath auricles more than 2cm wide with long spreading bristles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sikkimensis
Culm sheath auricles less than 2cm wide:-

 culm sheath blade bent backwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . giganteus
 culm sheath blade upright:-

   culm sheath auricles small, rounded, with bristles:-

     culm and culm sheath with dense dark brown fur or hairs at first; nodes with
      many small rootlet buds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hookeri
     culm and culm sheath with light fur or hairs; nodes with two rings of white wax
      and few or no small rootlet buds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Bambusa clavata

   culm sheath auricles absent or small, triangular and naked:-

     culms remaining dull with persistent furry wax; culm sheaths triangular and
     naked; leaf sheaths with white hairs:-

       rings of white wax above & below culm nodes; few curving branchlets at culm
        nodes, leaf sheath ligule short or long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hamiltonii var. edulis
       no rings of white wax above & below culm nodes; many curving branchlets at culm
        nodes, leaf sheath ligule always long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  hamiltonii var. hamiltonii

     culms becoming shiny, furry wax deciduous; culm sheath auricles absent; leaf
      sheaths with brown hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . see Bambusa balcooa