There are two main types of bamboo: sympodial and monopodial. Sympodial bamboo grows in clumps and produces culms faster, while monopodial bamboo spreads via underground rhizomes. Over 67% of bamboo in India is sympodial, including the dominant species Dendrocalamus strictus. Common sympodial species form clumps with younger culms on the outside and older ones in the center.

1. Types of Bamboo

2. There are two types of bamboo in the world with approximately 1500 species

4. Pattern of Clumps can also vary in case of Sympodial bamboo where bamboo culms within a clump can be closely spaced (Bambusa bambos) or loosely spread out (Bambusa vulgaris)

5. Colder Climate Countries (China & Japan) host Monopodial bamboo, also known as Runner bamboo, as it sends long underground Rhizomes, individual shoots come out of these underground Rhizomes.

6. Sympodial bamboo grows faster, produce higher yield and can become fully rejuvenated within few years of harvesting.

7. Sympodial bamboo grows in clumps, outer layers of the clumps contain younger bamboos and the inner layers contains mature bamboo.

8. Monopodial bamboos can be easily segregated by maturity period, harvesting is much simpler, vice versa in case of Sypodial bamboo.

9. 9607 9109 Total 3170 3006 Monopodial Bamboo 6437 6103 Sympodial Bamboo Year 2005 ( in ‘000 hectares) Year 2000 ( in ‘000 hectares) Bamboo in Forest Land (India)

10. In India, Sympodial bamboo constitute over 67% of the total growing stock and Monopodial bamboo constitutes the remaining 33%.

11. 5 Bambusa tulda 6 All other species 4 Bambusa Pallida 7 Dendrocalamus hamiltonii 13 Bambusa bambos 67 Dendrocalamus Strictus % growing Stock In forest land Sympodial Bamboo in Species in India

12. Melacona baccifera, is a non clump forming Sympodial bamboo, with long spread out neck leading to spread out culms, accounting for 20% of bamboo growing stock in the country.

13. Thank You www.bamboohouseindia.org www.greenlivelihoods.org Hyderabad India