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{{taxobox |name = Dendrocalamus giganteus |image = Giant bamboo forest - Fushimi Inari.jpg |image_caption = Giant Bamboo forest |regnum = Plantae |unranked_divisio = Angiosperms |unranked_classis = Monocot |ordo = Poales |familia = Poaceae |genus = Dendrocalamus |species = giganteus | binomial = Dendrocalamus giganteus 'Giant Bamboo,Dendrocalamus giganteus', (commonly known as giant bamboo or dragon bamboo), is a species of bamboo that is native to Asia. [1]
Distribution
[edit]Dendrocalamus giganteus is native to China, Myanmar, Thailand, and India. It has also been introduced to, and is currently present in Madagascar, Seychelles and Sri Lanka. [2]
Habitat and Ecology
[edit]Giganteus is a perennial bamboo species, which is found in humid and moist locations such as tropical rainforests and along the banks ranks of rivers. It is found on tropical highlands, and on the slopes of hills, usually around 1200m of altitude. If grown in lowlands, it is found in locations of high humidity. [1]
Morphology
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Individuals of this species have multiple culms, which usually grow to a height of 30-35cm and a diameter of 15-30cm. They grow in clumps: one dominant branch with several other slightly smaller branches surrounding it. The sheaths are thick, leathery, and covered in small brown hairs. Dendrocalamus giganteus is the tallest of all the bamboo species. Its leaves greatly vary in size, running between 15-50cm in length, and 3-10cm in width.
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Flowers and fruit
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“Dendrocalamus giganteus”, has a flowering period of approximately 40 years. It flowers sporadically. The flowers of this plant are arranged in spikes. Their flowers contain long filaments and hairy ovaries. Their styles, which are long, terminate into a purple feathery stigma. These grasses produce 6-8mm long caryopses, which are dry fruits. These fruits contain hair on them.
Usage
[edit]Dendrocalamus giganteus is cultivated and used for many purposes, which is why it is raised in many large-scale plantations. It is used for paper and vegetable production, scaffolding, boat masts, rural housing, water pipes, furniture, and water pitchers. In Thailand, the sheaths of the plant are often used for making hats. In several countries, this plant is used in the production of musical instruments and few other locations, the young shoots of the plant are used for consumption. Also, Dendrocalamus giganteus is commonly used for protection against soil erosion. This species of bamboo is also known for being aesthetically pleasing. It’s often used for decoration such as for flooring, doors, shelves and walls. [3]
Genetic Diversity
[edit]Dendrocalamus giganteus, has been found to produce very few seeds despite the fact that it flowers. In a study to test for variation in this plant, tissue was sampled from 7 different populations of Dendrocalamus giganteus. Several different tests including the running of PCRs were performed on the samples. It was found that Dendrocalamus giganteus has more variation than other species of bamboo. The coefficient of differentiation that was found was much higher than that of other monocotyledons. This species is not currently under threat of endangerment. The results lead to the idea that an increase in management of these plants could lead to in situ conservation (the conservation of genetic resources and the protection of a species that is or could become endangered). [6]
References
[edit]1. Encyclopedia of Life. Dendrocalamus giganteus. <http://eol.org/pages/1115322/hierarchy_entries/46200109/details> 2. Contu , S. 2013. Dendrocalamus giganteus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. 04 May 2014. 3.Wikipedia Commons . Category: Dendrocalamus giganteus. Apr. 2014. < http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dendrocalamus_giganteus >. May 2014 4.Guadua Bamboo.Dendrocalamus giganteus. 2007. <http://www.guaduabamboo.com/dendrocalamus-giganteus/ >. May 2014. 5. Brink, M., 2008. Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro. Database. In: Louppe, D., Oteng-Amoako, A.A. & Brink, M. Prota 7(1): Timbers/Bois d’œuvre 1. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. 6. Tian,Bo.ISSR Shows Low Genetic Diversity Versus High Genetic Differentiation. Springer Science. Vol 59.05. Jun 2012. <http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10722-011-9732-3 > May 2014.