Mula

Planted in the memory of Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

Overview & Habitat

Bambusa vulgaris, or Common Bamboo, is a ubiquitous species with a story spanning continents, from its native regions in Southeast Asia to its naturalization worldwide.
Initially cultivated in regions like Bangladesh, India, and China’s Yunnan province, B. vulgaris quickly became an international fixture.
It is recognizable for its towering height and distinctive yellow culms marked by green stripes.

Bambusa vulgaris forms clumps, though notably looser than other species, and has no thorns, making it an ideal candidate for ornamental planting.
The stems, while visually striking, are neither straight nor easy to split.
Their thick walls and tough exteriors suggest strength, but closer examination reveals a rigidity that limits their adaptability.
Culms grow to an imposing height, often reaching between 30 and 70 feet.
Despite their height, the bases tend to flex and bend, with drooping tips, complicating their utility.

Flowering in Bambusa vulgaris is rare, almost as rare as the viable seeds it produces.
The species undergoes a form of mass flowering once every several decades, a phenomenon that affects entire populations.
Despite this periodic bloom, the species struggles with low pollen viability, a result of irregular meiosis. This issue effectively halts any widespread reproductive success.

B. vulgaris is easily propagated through vegetative methods like rhizomes, stem cuttings, and clump divisions.
Culm or branch cutting is especially effective, leading to rapid spread outside its native range.

B. vulgaris is considered one of the more ‘primitive’ members of the grass family due to features like bracts and pseudospikelets.
Despite its global presence, its evolutionary timeline predates many related grass species.

By the 18th century, B. vulgaris was cultivated in European hothouses as one of the earliest bamboo species.
It was introduced to Hawaii during Captain James Cook’s voyages and to the U.S. in 1840 by Spanish settlers.
Today, it is popular as an ornamental plant in Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Small bamboo borers are a major threat, affecting regions like India, China, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan.
Bamboo weevil larvae devastate shoots, particularly in South China.
Other threats include leaf blight, basal culm rot, culm sheath rot, leaf rust, and leaf spots.

Beyond its environmental utility, Bambusa vulgaris is integral to local economies, especially in regions where it is harvested for its stems.
The plant’s culms are used in various ways, from construction materials to household items like baskets and furniture.
In India, its fibers are a critical component in the paper industry, with bamboo pulp boasting exceptional tear strength, rivaling even that of softwood paper.
Its edible shoots have also found their way into diets across Asia, where they are consumed both cooked and pickled.

Pests are a constant threat to Bambusa vulgaris.
Chief among them are the small bamboo borers, which bore into the stems in regions like India, China, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan.
Equally destructive are bamboo weevils, whose larvae devastate shoots, particularly in South China.
Other notable threats include leaf blight, basal culm rot, culm sheath rot, leaf rust, and leaf spots.

The plant contains taxiphyllin, a cyanogenic compound that can be highly toxic to humans and animals when released.
The lethal dose for humans is a mere 50-60 mg.
Reports from Brazil have documented instances of horses exhibiting severe neurological symptoms after ingesting the plant.
In parts of Africa, farmers prefer purchasing the bamboo rather than planting it, fearing it depletes the soil’s fertility — a belief steeped in both tradition and anecdotal evidence.