1. Scientific Name: Bambusa balcooa

                 

Local Names: Baruwa (Manipur); Bhaluka (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal) ; Beru (Meghalaya); Bhalu bans (Nagaland); Barak (Tripura)

Uses: Scaffolding, construction, ladders, Agarbatti sticks, edible shoots, paper

Distribution: Indigenous to North eastern India but naturalized in many states of India

Soil type- Grows in a wide range of soil types but maximum productivity is seen when grown in heavy textured soil with good drainage.

Climatic conditions- Growth is profuse in tropical and tropical to sub tropical conditions

 

2. Scientific Name: Bambusa bambos

                 

Local names: Kotoha (Assam); Behor bans (West Bengal); Mula (Malayalam); Kanta bans (Orissa); Nal bans (Punjab); Saneibo (Manipur); Mungil (Tamil Nadu); Mulla veduru (Andhra Pradesh)

Uses: Construction, scaffolding, ladders, Furniture, Paper/pulp, edible shoots, leaf as fodder

Distribution: Most common indigenous species of the Indian subcontinent growing throughout the country in the plains. It covers about 28% of the total bamboo area in the country.

Altitude:- All along the plains up to 1200m above sea level.

Soil type- All most all types of soil with good drainage, however better growth is seen in slightly acidic soils, sandy loams and alluvial soils.

Climatic conditions–Growth is profuse in tropical and tropical to sub tropical conditions but comes up in dry areas as well.

 

3. Scientific Name: Bambusa vulgaris

                 

Local Names: Barak (Assam); Bakal (West Bengal ); Lam Sameibi (Manipur) ; Mirtinga (Tripura) Vairua(Mizoram); Sunderkania bansa(Odisha); Pachamula (Malayalam)

Uses: Construction, scaffoldings, pulp and paper, fencing, ornamental

Distribution: Found in states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Tripura, West Bengal. Can also be grown in south Indian states of Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Altitude- Grows well in plains and up to altitudes of 1500 m. it can be easily grown in the plains

Soil type- Prefers moist alluvial soil, also grows well in well drained sandy and clayey soils. Tolerant to salinity and water logging

Climatic conditions- It prefers a tropical climate.

 

4. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus sikkimensis

                 

Local names: Rawami, Sangaur (Mizoram), Wadah ( Garo), Pugriang ( Lepcha); Bhalu-bans ( Nepal)

Uses: Furniture, Handicrafts, construction, edible shoots Distribution: North eastern States of India

Altitude-.Grows well in plains and in hilly tracts up to 1200m.

Soil type– Loamy soils

Climatic condition–It prefers a tropical humid climate.

 

5. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus asper

                 

Local Name: Sweet Bamboo, Rough bamboo Thaitama Bans (Sikkim)

Uses: Mainly grown for the high quality edible shoots. Poles are strong and useful in construction.

Distribution: It is an exotic species cultivated in the North Eastern states as the shoots are very popular item of food. Can also be grown in south Indian states of Kerala, and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Altitude- Grows well in plains and in hilly tracts up to 1000m altitude.

Soil type- Prefers well drained black soils, Sandy clay loam or shallow lateritic soil mixed with fine sandy clay. Good drainage is essential.

Climatic condition- It prefers a sub tropical climate to tropical climate. Suitable for drier tracts

 

6. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus brandisiir

                 

Local Name: Bulka(West Bengal); Wanan (Manipur); Bilathimula (Malayalam)

Uses: Construction, handicrafts, edible shoots

Distribution:Found mainly in the states ofManipur and Andamans. Can also be grown in south Indian states of Kerala, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Altitude: Grows well in plains and in hilly tracts and upto 1300 m

Soil type: Prefers well drained sandy and clayey soils.

Climatic condition: It prefers a tropical climate and responds well to water availability.

 

7. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus giganteus

                 

Local Name: Worra (Assam); Maipo (Arunachal Pradesh); Bhalo Bans (Sikkim); Maribol (Manipur); Warok(Nagaland)

Uses: Handicrafts, containers construction, edible shoots, paper Rawnal(Mizorram)

Distribution:Found mainly in the states ofSikkim,Uttranchal,West Bengal. Its being cultivated in the North Eastern states for handicrafts and shoots. Can also be grown in south Indian states of Kerala, parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Altitude-.Grows well in plains and in hilly tracts up to 1200m.

Soil type– Prefers well drained loamy soils.

Climatic condition–It prefers a sub tropical to tropical climate.

 

8. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus longispathus

                 

Local Name: Rupai (Tripura),Khang (Bengali)

Uses: Handicrafts, thatching, basket making, kites, chicks for doors, house posts and mat making, floats for timber and rafts, edible shoots.

Distribution: Bihar, Bangladesh, Myanmar , West Bengal, Eastern India(Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura), Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Altitude- 400-500 m

Soil type- Fertile loamy soils common near streams

Climatic condition- It prefers a tropical humid climate.

 

9. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus stocksii

                 

Local Name: Kako/Hate (Arunachal Pradesh); Kako banh (Assam); Unap (Manipur); Aotsü (Nagaland); Choya Bans/Ban Bans/Dhungray bans (Sikkim); Phulrua (Mizoram); Pecha(Tripura); Chivari, Mes (Maharashtra); Konda (Karnataka); Oyi ( Kerala)

Uses: Furniture, Handicrafts, construction, edible shoots

Distribution: Coastal areas of Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka and Northern Kerala(Kasargode)

Altitude-.Grows well in plains and in hilly tracts up to 1200m.

Soil type– Lateritic soils. Climatic condition–It prefers atropical humid climate.

 

10. Scientific Name: Dendrocalamus strictus

                 

Local Name: Lathi bans (throughout North and North East India) ; Sandapa Veduru (Andhra Pradesh); Karal (Bengal); Nakur bans (Gujarat); Kallanmula (Kerala); Narvel (Maharashtra); Salia (Odisha); Kalmungil (Tamil Nadu); Tursing (Mizorram)

Uses: Furniture, poles for construction, ladders, Paper Edible shoots

Distribution: Found throughout India especially in the drier tracts. Grows well in the plains and in the foot hills.

Altitude-Grows well in plains and in the foot hills up to 1000m.

Soil type- Grows well in well drained coarse grained/stony/degraded/dry soils.

Climatic conditions- It prefers tropical climate.

 

11. Scientific Name: Ochlandra travancorica

                 

Local Name: Etta, Oda (Kerala); Eeral (Tamil Nadu); Konda (Karnataka)

Uses: Mats, baskets , flutes, paper, Bamboo ply, handicrafts

Distribution: Species grows in wild in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

Altitude: In the plains and foot hills.

Soil type: Dark brown, acidic, sandy loam with granular structure.The species thrives well in soils with high porosity, good aggregate stability and high water holding capacity.

Climatic conditions: It prefers tropical climates. It is a moisture loving species and responds well to irrigation.

 

12. Scientific Name: Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii

                 

Local Name: Ayayambu (Kerala); Ponmugil (Tamil)

Uses: Combs, toothpicks, edible shoots

Distribution: Species grows in location in Kerala and Tamilnadu

Altitude: In the plains andfoot hills from 900-1500 m.

Soil type: Rocky, soils on edges of streams and slopes of hills. Not widely planted in other types of soil

Climatic conditions: It prefers tropical climates. It is a moisture loving species and responds well to irrigation

 

13. Scientific Name: Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi

                 

Local Name: Erankol (Kerala); Chewa, Choomaree (Karnataka); Manga , Udhe (Maharastra)

Uses: Walking sticks , umbrella handles, props, furniture

Distribution: Species grows in wild in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

Altitude: In the plains and foot hills.

Soil type: Rocky, shallow soils on ridges and slopes of hills

Climatic conditions: It prefers tropical climates. It is a moisture loving species and responds well to irrigation.

 

14. Scientific Name: Thrysostachys oliveri

                 

Local Name: Lathi mula ( Kerala); Kanak kainch (Tripura)

Uses: Construction, Furniture, baskets, umbrella, fishing rods, Sport goods, Edible shoots

Altitude: From plains to upto 1500 m

Soil type: Well drained loamy soils.

Climatic condition: It prefers tropical climates.

 

 

Source: Kerala State Bamboo Mission