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Dendrocalamus strictus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Dendrocalamus
Species:	D. strictus
Binomial name
Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees
Synonyms
Arundo hexandra Roxb. ex Munro nom. inval. Bambos stricta Roxb. Bambusa glomerata Royle ex Munro nom. inval. Bambusa hexandra Roxb. ex Munro nom. inval. Bambusa pubescens Lodd. ex Lindl. Bambusa stricta (Roxb.) Roxb. Bambusa tanaea Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. nom. inval. Bambusa verticillata Rottler ex Munro nom. inval. Dendrocalamus prainiana Varmah & Bahadur nom. inval. Nastus strictus (Roxb.) Sm.

Dendrocalamus strictus is a bamboo species belonging to the Dendrocalamus genus. The culms (stems) are often solid. Common names include male bamboo, solid bamboo, and Calcutta bamboo.

Habit

It is a tall, dull long green-colored bamboo species that grows in thickets consisting of many heavily branched, closely growing culms. It reaches a height of 6–18 m.

Appearance

Culms are green and covered with white blooms, which become dull green when mature and turn brown on drying. Young shoots are brown in color and covered with white blooms. Culms are straight. Branching occurs from the base to mid-culm. Aerial roots reach up to a few nodes above the ground. Internode length is 20–30 cm, and diameter is 2.5–12 cm. Culm walls are very thick. Nodes are not prominent.

Culm sheaths are green in young, and turn brown when mature, and are cylindrical. The sheath proper is 18–22 cm in length and 10–17 cm wide. Blade length is 3.5–6.5 cm. Auricles are absent. The upper surfaces of the sheath may or may not be covered with brown hairs. The lower surfaces of the sheath are not hairy. Sheaths fall early.

Distribution and habitat

It is widely found across South and Southeast Asia, particularly India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. It is also found in Cuba and El Salvador.

Uses

They are used for making house frames, rafters, tent poles, concrete reinforcement, walls, scaffolding, and fences. The leaves are used for thatching. Used by the British army in India for making lance shafts.

References

1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 2 January 2015.
2. De-Zhu Li and Chris Stapleton. "Dendrocalamus strictus". Flora of China. Vol. 22.
3. "Dendrocalamus strictus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
4. "Dendrocalamus strictus (male bamboo)". CABI. Retrieved July 8, 2015.

• Dendrocalamus