The most common small cultivated bamboo in Chirang district, up to 3cm in diameter and up to 7m tall. It can easily be recognised by the blue colour of the new culms, and by the long narrow necks of the tough culm sheaths. Drepanostachyum species have similar culm sheaths but the interior is rough at the top, and they have greener culms. Species from other genera with blue culms have much broader culm sheaths and leaves with cross-veins. It is found from 1,400m to 2,100m, occurring naturally in the forest in Sikkim, but mainly cultivated in Nepal and Bhutan. The principal use of this species is basket-making, although it also provides useful 

animal fodder. The culms have fewer branches than those of Drepanostachyum species, and they have longer internodes than Himalayacalamus falconeri. This makes the culms easier to split into weavable strips. It is planted in gulleys and on waste land, but can also be planted on terrace risers, where it is very effective in soil stabilisation, although it may grow quite large and shade field crops excessively. The lack of branches at the base of the culm makes propagation by the traditional technique a little more difficult. A longer pole must be used to ensure the successful development of branches from buds at the top.