Common name – Hamiltonii

Usage – Edible shoots

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii , or Hamilton’s bamboo, is a species of bamboo, 12–15 cm in diameter and growing up to 15–18 m in height, found in South Asian countries such as, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and far eastern China. It is a tall, dull green-colored bamboo species with drooping tops, which grows in thickets consisting of a few closely growing culms. Culms are dull green covered with whitish-brown hairs, which become dull brownish-green when dry. Whitish bands occur below and above the nodes. Culms are noticeably zig-zag. Branching occurs from the base to top. Aerial roots are present in all nodes. Internode length is 30–40 cm, and diameter is 5–15 cm. Culm walls are 0.5–1.5 cm thick. Nodes of some culms are bent. Culm sheaths are green when young and turn yellowish brown when mature, and are long and gradually tapering upwards from a flattened base. The sheath proper is 18–45 cm in length and 15–28 cm wide. Blade length is 8–20 cm. Auricles are absent. Upper surfaces of the sheaths are covered with patches of blackish-brown hairs. Lower surfaces of the sheaths are not hairy. Sheaths fall off early.Culms are dull green covered with whitish-brown hairs, which become dull brownish-green when dry. Whitish bands occur below and above the nodes. Culms are noticeably zig-zag. Branching occurs from the base to top. Aerial roots are present in all nodes. Internode length is 30–40 cm, and diameter is 5–15 cm. Culm walls are 0.5–1.5 cm thick. Nodes of some culms are bent.

Culm sheaths are green when young and turn yellowish brown when mature, and are long and gradually tapering upwards from a flattened base. The sheath proper is 18–45 cm in length and 15–28 cm wide. Blade length is 8–20 cm. Auricles are absent. Upper surfaces of the sheaths are covered with patches of blackish-brown hairs. Lower surfaces of the sheaths are not hairy. Sheaths fall off early.

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 – 29°c, but can tolerate 15 – 34°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 – 3,600mm, but tolerates 700 – 4,500mm.
Succeeds in full sun and in light shade. Prefers a medium to heavy soil of at least moderate fertility. Prefers a pH in the range 5 – 6, tolerating 4.5 – 6.5.
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually – these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world.
Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 – 3 years before usually dying. The flowering cycle for this species is said to be 30 – 40 years.