Oreobambos buchwaldii

Family

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Synonyms

Vernacular names

Large green bamboo (En).

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Origin and geographic distribution

Oreobambos buchwaldii is restricted to eastern and south-eastern Africa, where it occurs scattered in eastern DR Congo, Burundi, western Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe; it may also be present in South Africa (Northern Province).

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Uses

In Malawi the stems are used to make fences for livestock and flat, plate-like baskets. In Tanzania and northern Zambia they are used for construction including scaffolds and fencing, and less commonly for mats and basketry. People from Northern Provinces (South Africa) fashion ritual flutes from the stems of a bamboo species, possibly Oreobambos buchwaldii.

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Production and international trade

Oreobambos buchwaldii stems are only traded locally; the economic value of international trade is negligible, as is the case for other African bamboo products.

Botany

Bamboo growing in small dense patches or solitary clumps, with woody, green, hollow stems (culms) up to 20 m tall and up to 10 cm in diameter, usually spreading or drooping. Leaves alternate, simple; sheath initially covered with appressed, stiff, brownish hairs; blade lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 10–35 cm × 2.5–6 cm, acutely acuminate, pale green to slightly bluish green, with parallel veins. Inflorescence a large, loose raceme with alternate clusters of spikelets; bracts ovate-elliptical, involucre-like, up to 1.5 cm long. Spikelet lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 12–15 mm long, brown, 2-flowered with both florets bisexual; lower glume absent, upper glume 9–11 mm long, 11–18-veined; lemma broadly ovate to elliptical-ovate, 10–14 mm long, 11–23-veined; palea narrower, 8–12 mm long, 5–11-veined; stamens 6; ovary superior, hairy at tip and having a single stigma. Fruit a caryopsis (grain), with a tuft of silky hairs on apex.
Oreobambos comprises a single species, and seems most closely related to the large genus Bambusa, which has its origin in tropical Asia and America. It differs from Bambusa mainly in its spikelet clusters surrounded by involucre-like bracts.
Plants do not flower for many years after establishment. Gregarious flowering has been recorded in the Shire Highlands in Malawi, but in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania flowering plants can reportedly be found nearly every year. The plants die after flowering.

Description

Other botanical information

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Ecology

Oreobambos buchwaldii occurs in forest clearings and swampy forest, and along streams, at altitudes of 300–2000 m.

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Genetic resources and breeding

Oreobambos buchwaldii occurs scattered and is, as far as known, not planted, and might be liable to genetic erosion. In Zambia it has been extensively over-utilized and appears to be already extinct in some localities. The total area covered by Oreobambos buchwaldii in Tanzania has been estimated at 19,000 ha. Inclusion in germplasm collections is desirable.

Prospects

Oreobambos buchwaldii is one of the very few indigenous African bamboos. Very little is known about it. More research is needed on cultivation techniques and potential uses.

Major references

• Bystriakova, N., Kapos, V. & Lysenko, I., 2004. Bamboo biodiversity, Africa, Madagascar and the Americas. UNEP-WCMC/INBAR. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series 19. Cambridge, United Kingdom. 88 pp.
• Clayton, W.D., 1970. Gramineae (part 1). In: Milne-Redhead, E. & Polhill, R.M. (Editors). Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. 176 pp.
• Coates Palgrave, K., 1983. Trees of southern Africa. 2nd Edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. 959 pp.
• Launert, E., 1971. Gramineae (Bambuseae - Pappophoreae). In: Fernandes, A., Launert, E. & Wild, H. (Editors). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 10, part 1. Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee, London, United Kingdom. 152 pp.
• Williamson, J., 1955. Useful plants of Nyasaland. The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland. 168 pp.

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Other references

• Beentje, H.J., 1994. Kenya trees, shrubs and lianas. National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya. 722 pp.
• Bingham, M., Golding, J., Luwiika, B., Nguvulu, C., Smith. P. & Sichima, G., 2000. Red data list: spotlight on Zambia. SABONET News 5(2): 93–95.
• Chihongo, A.W., Kishimbo, S.I., Kachwele, M.D. & Ngaga, Y.M., 2000. Bamboo production-to consumption systems in Tanzania. [Internet] INBARs Bamboo and Rattan Development Programmes. http://www.in ar.int/publication/txt/INBAR_Working_Paper_No28.htm. Accessed July 2005.
• Kigomo, B.N., 1990. Bamboo resource in the East African Region. In: Ramanuja Rao, I.V., Gnanaharan, R. & Sastry C.B., 1990. Bamboos current research. [Internet] Proceedings of the international bamboo workshop held in Cochin, India from 14–18 November 1988. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India & International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada. http://www.inbar.int/publicat on/txt/INBAR_PR_02.htm. Accessed July 2005.

Author(s)

•	R.H.M.J. Lemmens PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Editors

•	D. Louppe CIRAD, Département Environnements et Sociétés, Cirad es-dir, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA C-DIR / B (Bât. C, Bur. 113), 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
•	A.A. Oteng-Amoako Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
•	M. Brink PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

General editors

•	R.H.M.J. Lemmens PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
•	L.P.A. Oyen PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
•	J.R. Cobbinah Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Correct citation of this article

Lemmens, R.H.M.J., 2005. Oreobambos buchwaldii K.Schum. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Louppe, D., Oteng-Amoako, A.A. & Brink, M. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .

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