Ochlandra travancorica
Ochlandra travancorica
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It requires a mean annual rainfall of more than 1500 mm[1]. Prefers a position in diffused light[1]. Requires good drainage for proper growth[1]. Seedling plants take 6 - 8 years to develop into full clumps, which then can last for a period of 25 years[1]. 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[PFAF]. The sprouting season for new culms is usually after pre-monsoon showers and during rainy season. The height growth of each culm is completed within two months. One year growth is sufficient for a culm to attain full size[1]. A comparative study for two years on growth of plants raised from seedlings and rooted cuttings showed 76 to 85% survival. Average 5 culms are produced from seedlings and 9 culms from the cuttings. The average height of culms in seedlings is found to be 93 cm and in cuttings 160 cm[1]. 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 plant flowers gregariously every 30 to 40 years, then dies down[2]. Another report says that it flowers every 7 years, but recorded dates of flowering are more random[1].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as they are ripe. They are sown in nursery beds filled with sand and soil mixture in partial shade initially for two months[1]. Seedlings can be transplanted into their permanent positions after a period of one year. Rhizomes can be separated from the culms during the onset of the monsoon and used for field planting. Two-noded culm cuttings of two year old plants treated with NAA or coumarin by cavity method and planted horizontally in nursery beds during summer gives 50 per cent rooting[1]. After one year, the rooted cuttings can be transplanted to the field[1]. During field planting, many plantlets are obtained from the rooted cuttings by separating the sprouts along with the rhizome[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ochlandra+travancorica>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Bamboos of India: A Compendium — Seethalakshmi K.K., Muktesh Kumar M.S. · Brill. · 2002 · http://www.inbar.int/publication/txt/tr17/default.htm · ISBN 8186247254 ↩︎A very good book giving botanical descriptions of the plants with brief notes on subjects such as uses, habitat and range. It is also available to view on the Internet.
- [2]The Commercial Products of India. — Watts. Sir George. · John Murray, London. · 1908 ↩︎A classic, with a comprehensive (as then known) listing of useful plants that were traded commercially at that time. It can be downloaded from various sites on the Internet.
- [3]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎